Kate's First Public Speech as a Working Royal

Yesterday, Kate opened The Treehouse children's hospice in Ipswich, Suffolk and gave her first public speech as a working member of the Royal family.

The Duchess delivered her speech carefully, sticking to the script. As she stepped down from the podium, she gave an audible sigh of relief , and told one guest: “I find doing speeches nerve-racking.”

Kate also fulfilled another traditional royal task — tree planting — for the first time in Britain, having done so last year in Canada.

Instead of buying a new dress for the landmark occasion. the Duchess wore a, cobalt blue, four-year-old dress from Reiss (originally costing £139). Kate loaned the dress to her mother, Carole Middleton, in 2010 who wore it to Royal Ascot. The Duchess and her mother regularly borrow clothes from each other.

Kate accessorized the dress with a black, Reiss, waist-cinching belt, black Episode ‘Angel’pumps and a black clutch.

Her jewelry was kept to a minimum. She wore her matching sapphire and diamond earrings (the ones we think once belonged to Princess Diana), her diamond cross pendant, her Tiffany Diamonds by the Yard bracelet, her sapphire and diamond engaement ring and a fundraising bracelet from EACH (£7 and available on the EACH website http://www.each.org.uk/how-to-help/shop_for_each/online_shop/product_pages/each_bracelet.htm)

Kate Presents Shamrocks to Irish Guards in Aldershot

Today was Kate's first solo military engagement. She presented shamrocks to soldiers to mark St Patrick’s Day.

The Duchess watched the ceremonial military parade before handing out lucky three-leafed clovers to 40 officers and NCOs (non-commissoned officers) at Mons Barracks in Aldershot. Even their Irish Wolfhound mascot got one.

During the event, 450 soldiers marched into the square at the barracks wearing their scarlet tunics and bearskin busbies. They were followed by the band of the Irish Guards, along with Conmael, the Irish Wolfhound regimental mascot.

Kate spent time speaking to members of the Regiment Association and the Mini Micks cadets on the parade ground before being photographed with 100 Sergeants and then with 40 Officers.

Kate chose to wear a dark green Emilia Wickstead coat dress (Fall/Winter 2011 Collection). She accessorized her look with chocolate brown bespoke suede heels by Emmy and matching'Betty Boop' chocolate brown pillbox hat with bow by Lock and Co (£245).

She topped off her look with a green belt (we suspect it could possibly also be by Emilia Wickstead), a frothy shamrock and her favorite amethyst and diamond earrings by Kiki McDonough.

As for that gold cartier shamrock brooch, it's actually owned by the Guards, and loaned out by them, having previously been worn by the Queen Mother and Princess Anne.

Update 3/22/2012

Kate's chocolate brown Emmy shoes are now available on their website www.emmyshoes.co.uk They are the 'Valerie' Chocolate brown kid suede shoes (heel height 11.5cm). They currently retail for £400.

 

 

Update 4/9/2013

 

Lyst

 

Kate's belt has been ID'ed (thanks to a follower on WKW). Her belt is a 'Black Crocodile Embossed Leather Waist Belt' by Emilia Wickstead. The belt is currently available in red from Matches www.matchesfashion.com for $100 (marked down from $254).

Kate Visits the Dulwich Picture Gallery

After her visit to Olympic Park, Kate travelled to south London where she joined Prince Charles and Camilla on a visit to the Dulwich Picture Gallery. The gallery is one of the country's oldest public art galleries.

The main purpose of the visit was to introduce the Duchess of Cambridge to the work of one of Prince Charles' education charities called The Prince’s Foundation for Children and the Arts.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by hundreds of cheering schoolchildren waving Union flags.

They watched children painting pictures that will be submitted to the Face Britain project. This will, eventually be combined into a montage image of the Queen that will be projected onto Buckingham Palace as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

In addition, the art work will also be displayed on 400 big screens in city centres, shopping malls and train stations across the UK.

Kate wore a sophisticated 3/4-sleeved grey dress (fall 2011 collection) by Irish designer Orla Kiely ($250). It had a pleated skirt and black flowers embroidered along the neckline in a necklace-like fashion. She paired it with black suede Episode ‘Angel’ platform heels and a matching clutch.

Kate kept her jewelry choices simple and chose to wear her Links of London Hope Egg earrings, Tiffany Diamonds by the Yard bracelet, and her sapphire and diamond engagement ring.