The Royal Couple Honor the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to the South Pole

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted the crowd at Goldsmiths' Hall in London on Thursday. The two attended a reception to honor the Scott-Amundsen Centenary Race to the South Pole, which raised funds for the British Legion.

The teams were completely unsupported during the trek, carrying their food and fuel across the ice for 70 days in sledges weighing 140kg each. Both groups retraced the exact routes of the original explorers and carried copies of Scott and Amundsen's diaries from the original expedition, reading extracts each evening when they rested.

Photo credit: WKW

Kate suited up in an indigo tweed Rebecca Taylor (Australian-born, New York-based designer)skirtsuit from her pre-fall 2012 collection (Original: $450, On sale for: $270). The jacket has floral accents on the round neckline, a frayed trim and hook-and-eye front. It was available on the Neiman Marcus' website but sold out within 30 minutes.

Description of the Rebecca Taylor from the Neiman Marcus website:

'Rebecca Taylor Tweed Jacket Style # NMS12_T41F3

The rich shade of navy blue on this Rebecca Taylor jacket is just what your look needs to perfect it for the season.
Wear this timeless but versatile topper with pencil skirts and skinny jeans alike.•Navy tweed with floral accents at neckline and fringe trim.
•Round neckline; hook-and-eye front.
•Three-quarter sleeves.
•Fitted silhouette.
•Hem hits below hip.
•Cotton/acrylic/polyester.
•Imported of Italian material'

Photo credit: The Royal Wedding Dress

Pinned to her jacket, Kate wore a £25 enamelled poppy brooch. The red flower is a symbol of the Royal British Legion charity which can be purchased online for $40. http://www.poppyshop.org.uk/favorites/favorites-list/large-crystal-buckley-brooch.html

Description from the Poppyshop website:

'This stunning Buckley-designed poppy brooch is the must have jewellery item this year. Much larger than the original Buckley brooch, it is plated with 18 karat gold and inlaid with crystals. The brooch measures 65mm x 39mm.'

She also brought along her favorite blue Anya Hindmarch 'Marano' clutch bag and wore her blue Prada shoes.

Kate finished off her look with a pair of new (we've not seen them before) pearl earrings.

Photo credit: Dianas Jewels

Update 4/30/2012

Rebecca Taylor has reissued Kate's tweed jacket and skirt seen above. The items were from the designers resort 2011/12 collection and are available on the Rebecca Taylor Website www.rebeccataylor.com/

The tweed jacket retails for $450 and needs to be pre-ordered by calling customer service.

Description from the Rebecca Taylor Website:

'Classically chic, this polished tweed jacket updates a timeless style with feminine detailing like eyelash fringe trims and bead-dotted rosettes at the collar. Tailored, cropped fit & concealed snap button closure.

•Imported.
•Shell: 60% cotton, 25% acrylic, 5% polyester, 5% polyamide, 5% other.
•Contrast: 100% cotton.
•Dry clean only.

#rt811502j650'

The tweed skirt retails for $265 and is available.

Description from the Rebecca Taylor website:

'Ultra refined and endlessly sophisticated, this chic tweed pencil skirt reimagines a timeless style with a modern, feminine eyelash fringe trim and rich navy hue.

•Imported.
•Shell: 60% cotton, 25% acrylic, 5% polyester, 5% polyamide, 5% other.
•Contrast: 100% cotton.
•Dry clean only.

#rt811502s725'

In addition to the tweed skirt and jacket, the label is also selling a shift dress version of the design, for $425.

Kate & William Attend the Premiere of 'African Cats'

This afternoon William and Kate attended the red carpet premiere of 'African Cats.' The event was to raise funds for the Duke's UK-based animal conservation charity Tusk Trust.

The wildlife film tells the story of life on Kenya's plains for a pride of lions and a family of cheetahs as they battle for survival.

Photo credit: WKW

Kate wore a customized, light gray Matthew Williamson Pre-Fall 2012 dress with three-quarter-length sleeves. The British designer added the deep turquoise and gold beaded detail around the neckline to match the cuffs. It also features a subtle peplum detail. www.matthewwilliamson.com/home/

Kate accessorized with dark grey Emmy bespoke heels and a matching dark grey clutch.

The Duchess' hair and make up were impeccable as always and she wore never before seen earrings. Her earrings are 'Kiki Classic' Peridot, Blue Topaz & Diamond Earrings by Kiki McDonough £1,200.00 (thanks to 'My Small Obsessions' on FB for the ID).

Additional pictures

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)