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| London 2012 |
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| London 2012 |
Film Director Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) headed the team behind the ceremony. Called 'Englightenment', the programme celebrated the inclusivity of the Paralympics. Over 3,000 volunteers, rehabilitating soldiers and children took part. Over 2.5 million tickets were sold for the event.
William and Kate attended a reception ahead of the ceremony.
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| PA |
Kate met with volunteers and staff who have worked tirelessly over the past number of weeks.
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| PA |
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| London 2012 Facebook |
'Aerobility', a British charity that trains disable people to become pilots, flew over the Olympic Stadium.
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| London 2012 |
William and Kate were seated next to Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha.
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| London 2012 |
There was an introduction by Stephen Hawking, a British theoretical physicist and author. He was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 21. Stephen's determination and courage has inspired people all around the world.
During the introduction Stephen said
'Look up at the stars, and not down on your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder what makes the universe exist. Be curious'.
A sea of umbrellas creates an image of the Union Flag.
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| London 2012 |
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| London 2012 |
Around 18,000 LED lights were used in the performers' hat brims.
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| London 2012 |
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| London 2012 |
Kate chose to recycle for the event choosing the pale gold coat by Day by Birger/ Mikkelsen, she wore to Zara Philips and Mike Tindall's wedding last year, Mel Nicholson's 2010 wedding and to the 2006 wedding of Laura Parker Bowles. Again Kate obviously wanted the attention firmly on the athletes and not her sartorial choices hence recycling a piece that has been seen three times before.
A closer look at the coat.
Kate wore her favourite LK Bennett Sledge Pumps.
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| LK Bennett |
Kate carried her Wilbur and Gussie gold envelope clutch.
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| Wilbur and Gussie |
It was a wonderful ceremony and I'm delighted to see the Paralympic Games getting the attention it receives. What did you all think of the ceremony? See you all tomorrow :)
Thank you for the first pictures! Again, you did a great job : )
ReplyDeleteThat coat is too big on her. Thus, doesn't look good.
ReplyDeleteI like the color- totally appropriate for the event. Kudos for wearing something old, but would it kill her to do something with her hair?
This is first time I feel the Queen looks even better than beloved Kate. :)
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteI think this is a beautiful coat and I love it every time I see it.
ReplyDeleteThe arms of the coat dress are just too loose on her.
ReplyDeleteThe brocade fabric is like a pair of curtains to be honest. In the beginning I liked it on her.... It was rightly formal for the weddings she attended, in an appropriate and tentative sort of way. However it now feels incredibly dated. This last year should have given her more confidence, instead she is appearing to painfully not want to step a foot wrong in the fashion/recycle/upcycle stakes. Wear one/recyle one/accesorise one has become a trend in itself.
The coat was wrong for this event. Simple.
I agree about the coat. It doesn't seem youthful at all and the pattern makes me think of a sofa or something. Also I really wish she had done something with her hair...not the duchess's best look I'm afraid. But it's great to see them make an appearance as always. Can't wait for the upcoming royal tour!!!
DeleteThe Duchess is so beautiful and looks stunning in the coat everytime she wears it.
ReplyDeleteAnd thats for the great post. We are not getting these games here in the US. Not to happy with NBC.
Seriously??! I've been so busy with school but I've been assuming I could tune in and watch them on tape delay or something. @#*()$*@(#*$(#!!!!!!!!!!! sigh - I'm just glad I was able to jump the wall and watch the Olympics on BBC.
DeleteAhem, that said, Kate looks lovely. This is one of my more favorite pieces from her coat-dress collection, and I've never noticed how beautiful the embroidery is.
Looking forward to more pictures surfacing soon, and as always, thank you Charlotte :)
-Sarah
Sarah- I am so up set that we will not get to see these credit Olympians. I guess NBC does not see them as Olympians. And that really pisses me off.
DeleteNBC really upsets me to - grrr! *#%~|\@&-/
DeleteYour blog is great, I check daily so keep up.the good work!
ReplyDeleteThe Queen looks fantastic, and although Kate's coat is a bit big she still looks lovely :)
This is a beautiful coat, especially when you look at it more closely,loved the material and she looked great in it in 2006 when it fit her, now it is plainly too big for her, and doesn't look that good.
ReplyDeleteThanks again, Charlotte. Great post :-)
ReplyDeleteA fan in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
This coat hasn't been seen 3 times, it has been seen four times, Zara's wedding, now, a wedding in 2006 and a wedding in 2010.
ReplyDeleteYes I wrote 'recycling a piece that has been seen three times before'.
DeleteOh my, your readers are starting to nitpick! And for the record, I think the coat is gorgeous and fits just fine!
DeleteThis coat is somewhere between the Queen's evening look and Sophie's day time look. But I tend to agree that it is a little big on her. Kate is very slender and this material and cut appear to be too "heavy" for her frame. I thought the feathery fascinator she wore it with at the 2006 wedding was a perfect match and it made the overall look more youthful. Oddly enough, without an interesting hat to add some pizzazz, the coat does look dated. OR...........maybe this was just a tongue in cheek response to the criticism of her skinny jeans. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, the coat needs a fascinator, hat or maybe a different hairstyle to add some youthfulness to her. The coat is pretty, but someone already mentioned it would be great on Camilla . I can even picture the Queen in it. But it doesn't favor Kate now that it looks big on her, and with her hair down - she makes me think of my grandma in a night robe.
DeleteI am glad Kate finally married P William, she can finally smile when she is being photographed... (I honestly think she was *asked* to remain serious at all times for the paparazzi, what a pain)
So beautiful . Thanks for your blog
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely coat. Kate looks beautiful and elegant, but back in 2006 it was a perfect fit, now it's just too big on her. But still lovely.
ReplyDeleteWell done you are fabulous as usual. When you look at the coat in close up you can see how beautifully made it is. A real treat. Well done again looking forward to your paralympic blogs. Thanks Donna
ReplyDeleteHi, everyone!
ReplyDeleteI was so excited about tonight's event! An amazing opening!
The Duchess was lovely, as usual, but I'm not very fond of that coat-dress of hers. It does not fit her well. But I must admit, the embroidery is so delicate and elegant...
Thank you for this awesome coverage, Charlotte!
A good evening to y'all!
@Anonymous who cares how many times the Duchess wears a dress. I give her alot of credit for recycleing her clothes. To me it just shows how down to earth she really is.
ReplyDeleteThis is not my favorite outfit on her. The color and lace is matronly and poorly constructed. I think it's time to give it to Camilla, it's too old even for her mother. I love her in brighter colors and hope to get a better view of the red Beulah dress with bell sleeves she wore to a wedding few months ago. She certainly has grown into a very chic and sophisticated lady, but I like the way she looked with less eye makeup and bronzer too. very fresh and young.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Yes we would NEVER see Carole Middleton in something like this coat, makes me laugh just to picture it. I absolutely agree, Camilla is more like it ;)
DeleteHey Charlotte- Did you notice that in some pictures it look's like the Duchess does not have her engagement ring on. I have not seen a real good picture to tell but the ones I have seen it does not look like it is one her finger. She has a ring one but not the engagement ring. Can you look and let me know. I am just wondering.
ReplyDeleteI saw pictures where she was for sure wearing the ring, but in some photos it is rotated inwardly.
DeleteHi Pauline,
DeletePlease scroll down the link below:
http://myroyal-myroyals.blogspot.fr/
Kate does wear her engagement ring.
Best regards!
Pauline,
DeleteA picture elsewhere does show her engagement ring.
The stone just slips round.
Jean
Thanks everyone for the input on the ring. I went back and looked at some other photos taken by a different person and there it was on her finger.
DeleteOnce again Kate looked great. This is a lovely coat and of course her hair was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe coatdress looks great on her,I agree she has recycled it before but she looks pretty every time she wears it. Charlotte is there a video to the reception event?
ReplyDeleteThanks, this blog made my day :)
Spotted the Duke and Duchess at the velodrome. She appeared to be wearing the red team shirt, whilst William had the blue one.
ReplyDeleteJean
It is interesting that ever since the jubilee boat regatta (where Kate's dress slightly outshone the Queen's), HRH and Kate seem to coordinate. First the mint for the party and olympic opening, and the patterned creme for this.
ReplyDeletebeautiful coat, i like the double-breasted look, and i esp like the brocade material.
ReplyDeleteBUT, i'm with the posters who think the coat is a little too big on her. the overall look is not as tailored and fitted as i think it should be.
Gorgeous woman
ReplyDeletelove is recycle all her clothes from the jubilee week down Olympics and now paralymics
ReplyDelete