Kate Middleton M Missoni Dress Comes As A Surprise (PHOTOS)

Kate Middleton has certainly kept herself busy while Prince William's away in the Falkland Islands , stepping out at the rate of one coat dress a week on visits to the various charities she supports.

Today she stopped by Fortnum & Mason, a luxury department store in London, to greet UK military members and take tea in the store's renamed "Diamond Jubilee Tea Station" (named, of course, in honor of Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee this year ).

But as typically British as greeting military and taking tea are, Catherine surprised us by choosing not a British designer, as per usual, but by going Italian in a tasteful blue M Missoni coat dress.

Why an Italian designer and not a Brit? Unclear, but we're guessing she was just been in the mood to wear something blue, as the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall, also in attendance, chose azure outfits too. (Matching! Too cute!) The Queen wore a powder blue suit by fave designer Angela Kelly, while Camilla chose a striped crepe coat by her fave, Bruce Oldfield.

At least Kate was in a formal coat dress, her favorite style this winter. Since beginning her busy 2012 schedule, she's stepped out in a gray jacket/dress by Jesire at the National Portait Gallery ; a brown Orla Kiely coat dress at Oxford's Rose Hill Primary School ; and a long, sleek coat from Hobbs on a solo visit to Liverpool .

But we'd venture to say that we like this M Missoni style the best, if just for the vivid color (which Kate paired with her Rupert Sanderson heels ).

Check out the royals' true blue moment -- do you like this look for Catherine?

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated that coat was Missoni. The coat is actually M Missoni, the label's diffusion line. Thanks, Grazia !