Kate Wears Beulah for Alice St John Webster's Wedding

William, Kate and Pippa attended the wedding of school friend Alice St John Webster in Taunton, Somerset today. Alice was in the same years as Kate at Marlborough College and was given a prime seat at the royal wedding in the Statesmen's Aisle. She married her long- term partner Gerald Alvenel.

@OfficialFreyja Twitter

A huge thank you to Freyja McLennan who kindly shared photos via Twitter. 

@OfficialFreyja Twitter

The wedding took place in St Mary's Church, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset. The church dates from the 14th and 15th centuries and has been designated as a Grade 1 listed building. A beautiful church for an intimate ceremony.

Wikipedia

A look at William and Kate inside the church.

@OfficialFreyja Twitter

Always the gentleman Prince William shielded Kate from the dismal weather by holding an umbrella over her. 

@OfficialFreyja Twitter

Kate wore the printed silk chiffon Beulah Blossom Dress (With thanks to the wonderful Bella)  It is currently reduced from £490 to £415 and is described as

'With long billowing sleeves and knee length style, this dress is the perfect piece for any smart, summer occasion. The unique print and cut makes this dress original, flattering and feminine in a versatile way that can be worn from day to evening'.

Beulah

Interestingly the label was started by Prince William's former girlfriend Natasha Rufus Isaacs. This is the second time Kate has chosen a Beulah dress (She wore their Sarai dress for a gala fundraiser last October) so obviously there's no hard feelings :)

Jenny Sanderson Twitter

Kate wore her favourite LK Bennett Sledge shoes.

LK Bennett

Kate recycled the Jane Corbett hat she wore to the Order of the Garter.

Kate appears to be carrying a white shawl and possibly her LK Bennett Natalie Clutch.

LK Bennett

A look at Pippa's outfit. 

Tom Higham Twitter

Pippa wore the Temperly Rana Shirt Dress (With many thanks to Shelby) The embroidered dress with 3/4 length sleeves was reduced from €475 to €285 but is now sold out.

Temperly

You can view photos more from the wedding at the Daily Mail. Kate is expected to attend a Wimbledon match so we should have another sighting very shortly!

Kate Loves: Polo

Kate's attendance at William's polo matches over the years has been a highlight for fans of the couple. It is one of the rare events where we have the opportunity to see the couple relaxed amongst friends and enjoying 'off duty' time. Let's take a look at some of the matches Kate has attended over the years, the locations and of course her sartorial choices.


Kate attended a number of William's matches in 2006. Rumours of a romance were circulating and William was reportedly eager to impress Kate at his polo matches. Below we see Kate wearing a beautiful strapless dress with striking accessories.

Marie Claire/Rex Features

Kate looking elegant in a black dress at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire. 

Re Features

Chatting with William after the match.

Rex Features

The Beaufort Polo Club is a favourite of the Princes with its scenic location and close proximity to Prince Charles' residence Highgrove (William celebrated his 30th at Highgrove).

Beaufort Polo Club

In June 2006, twenty four year old Kate attended a Chakravarty polo match in Richmond wearing a gorgeous red halter wrap dress with white polka dots and LK Bennett espadrilles wedges. Kate was accompanied by her sister Pippa and they both looked lovely in summer dresses. One of my all time favourite 'Kate looks'. Eye catching and sophisticated.

Aussie Finder

William also played in a match in aid of his patronage 'Tusk Trust' in June 2006.

Baeur Griffin

In July 2006 Kate and Chelsy Davy watched the Princes play polo at the Tidworth Polo Club in Wiltshire. Kate wore a halterneck summer dress and her hair pinned up. 

Tidworth is one of the oldest polo clubs in the country, having been the home of military polo for many years since 1907. Set in the stunning grounds of Tedworth Park, the club is known as a scenic, relaxing place with a relaxed atmosphere and reasonable cost.

Tidworth Polo

Kate relaxing with friends at the Beaufort Polo Club in 2008. 

ABC

Enthusiastically cheering on her Prince. Adorable shot!

Now

Kate supported William at a charity match in Coworth Park in 2009. The couple enjoyed private time together after the match.

Kate wore a delicate lace top with pearls for the Dorchester Trophy match at Cirencester Park Polo Club in July 2009.

A look at the gates of Cirencester Park.

Wikipedia

And the following week we see Kate looking rather tired at Beaufort :)

Just months before the announcement of the royal engagement Kate proudly cheered on her prince at  the Beautfort Polo Club wearing a stunning mint green Joseph dress.

During the couple's brief visit to the US after the royal tour of Canada, William played in a charity polo match in Santa Barbara. The Prince scored four goals for the winning team and was rewarded with a kiss from his wife who was wearing a hand painted silk Jenny Packham dress.

PA

This summer we have seen the couple attend two polo matches thus far  (See here and here to read posts on these events) with Lupo accompanying Kate to both :)

Popsugar

Looking forward to the next match!

The Queens Tells Kate to Curtsy to 'Blood Princesses'

Duchess Kate is married to the future King and will one day be Queen Consort but newly updated protocols reportedly approved by the Queen state that there are several women in the royal family  to whom she must show reverence. A document has been privately circulated to clarify Kate's status meaning she will have to curtsy to the 'blood princesses' when Prince William is not present. The aforementioned 'blood princesses' are the Princess Royal, Princess Alexandra, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Royal historian Brian Hoey predicted when William married Kate that

'Kate will take the rank of her husband, which means that when she's at court, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie should curtsy to her. But I don't think there's any chance they will. While William feels warmly towards his cousins, Beatrice and Eugenie, he's conscious of the fact that they are lesser royals. As future King, he will will wish to see them behaving correctly towards their future Queen - but their attitude is likely to be : "Why should I? I was born royal - Kate wasn't".

It would seem Mr Hoey's prediction was correct. The Order of Precedence was last updated in 2005 after Charles married Camilla so that neither the Princess Royal nor Princess Alexandra would have to curtsy to Camilla when Charles was not present. Despite being married to Princess Edward, the Queen's son, the Countess of Wessex will have to curtsy to Kate. 


MP Ian Austin shared the news via Twitter.

Ian Austin Twitter

From The Telegraph Article

'The Order of Precedence affects other aspects of royal protocol, such as who arrives first at an event. For example, Camilla was forced to wait in the drizzle outside the Guards Chapel, Windsor for the arrival of Princess Anne at a memorial service in 2006, because Charles had not accompanied her'.

Kate curtsying to the Queen at the royal wedding.

AP

Protocol is taken extremely seriously by the royal family and the recent 'update' is reportedly to avoid a battle of egos. While I think it is appropriate for Kate to curtsy to the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall because of their seniority within the royal household I disagree with the notion she should curtsy to Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie when unaccompanied by William. As future Queen Consort I believe the Duchess should be of the same rank as William at all times, not only in his presence.


In accordance with the Queen's wishes only seven royals appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the jubilee weekend because Her Majesty wanted to focus on the direct line of succession and the future of the throne. Not one of the ladies Kate is required to show reverence too was asked to join the senior royals on the balcony, so one must wonder why Her Majesty presented such a united front to the public yet in private had chosen to update the protocol which would disgruntle William. Royal observers said the Prince would be 'less than happy'.


I would love to hear your thoughts on this, looking forward to your comments.

William's 30th Birthday, Summer Sales and More

Good evening Duchess Kate readers,
Prince William celebrated his 30th Birthday yesterday with a low key dinner in Prince Charles' Tetbury home Highgrove House. William has been undergoing a three day Search and Rescue course at a nearby base in Gloucestershire. It is thought the Prince invited his closest family and friends to celebrate. Prince Charles commissioned artist Nicky Philips to paint a portrait of Kate as a special gift for his eldest son and Kate reportedly gave William a watch and treated him to breakfast in bed.

The British Monarchy Flickr

Kate was spotted shopping in Tesco, Tetbury, perhaps for William's birthday meal? Many locals were disappointed to have missed catching a glimpse of the Duchess.

Richard Norris Twitter

Kate spent time browsing in a local antiques shop.

HolaShelby_ Twitter

Singer Lily Allen's reaction to seeing Kate was simply 'Wowsers' :)

Lily Rose Cooper Twitter

A look at Tetbury's market place and town-hall.

Wikipedia

It is being widely reported Kate will throw William a bash tomorrow night and will make a speech. It is difficult to gauge the veracity of this rumour but if it's true there's always a possibility we will see a photo or two :)

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I don't know about you but one of my favourite things about summer is the sales. The Reiss sale began earlier this week and features countless items which are 'very Kate'.

Reiss

LK Bennett shared a photo of their shoe display from their Brook Street store when announcing their sale. There is up to 50% off selected items at the moment and Kate's favourite Sledge are reduced from £185 to £145 in off white.

LK Bennett Facebook

The Temperly sale features amazing reductions on everything from shorts to stunning evening gowns. 

Temperly

The Oasis sale is well worth a look. I've been incredibly impressed by their latest collections and ability to provide excellent quality at reasonable prices. 

Oasis

Take a look at the Topshop sale here.

Topshop

A number of items in Jenny Packham's Debenhams Collection are currently on sale.

Debenhams

Kate's Malone pumps (along with many pairs of gorgeous shoes)  feature in the Rupert Sanderson sale. They are available in caramel. I'm sure you all recall Kate wore them in grey suede.

Rupert Sanderson

Happy Shopping :)

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A lovely photo of Kate and the Queen from their Nottingham visit graces the cover of Hello! Magazine this week.

Hello

The couple did not attend Royal Ascot during the week and are not expected to tomorrow. Unless new photos surface we'll continue with our 'Kate Loves' series next.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend :)

Kate Recycles McQueen for Order of the Garter

Kate watched William take part in the annual Order of the Garter ceremony at Windsor Castle today. 

Grazia

Kate enjoying a chat with Camilla and Sophie. All three ladies wore nude heels today.

Grazia

The Knights which include the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex joined other Knights of the Garter in a procession to the chapel.

Rebecca English Twitter

The couple shared a romantic moment as William walked past :)

Rebecca English Twitter

We see a glimpse of that moment in the photo below :)

British Monarchy Facebook

The household cavalry parading downhill at Windsor.

Rebecca English Twitter

We have all been eager to find out how Prince William will be spending his 30th birthday. Apparently he will be working so it will be a low key celebration.

Max Foster Twitter

The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348 by Edward III, is the highest order of chivalry existing in England. St George is the patron saint of the ceremony. The Queen appoints the Knights of the Garter without advice from ministers and this year there will be no new Knights installed into the order. Interestingly Prince William was the 1000th Knight in the register when he joined the Order in 2008. There can only be 24 members of the order at a given time, so it is a huge honour to be chosen.

Wikipedia

The Order's members must wear vestments for ceremonial occasions. Members have worn the blue velvet robe since the 16th century. The heraldic shield of St. George is sewn onto the left shoulder of the robe. The hat is a Tudor Bonnet of black velvet with a plume of white ostrich and black heron fathers. 

Wikipedia

Thousands lined the streets to watch the procession.

British Monarchy Twitter

The couple look incredibly happy today. Lovely to see them all smiles.

Reuters

Before the service Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted a lunch in The Waterloo Chambers at Windsor Castle. The Queen's Sovereigns' Luncheon was also held there on May 18th. You can take a virtual tour of the chambers here. They were joined by other royals and members and officers of the Garter.

Royal Gov

A look at St George's Chapel, Windsor where the service was held.

Wikipedia

After the ceremony the royals travelled in a carriage procession. William and Kate joined Charles and Camilla in the second carriage.


Kate's parents were spotted at the Garter.

Mark Stewart Twitter

Kate first attended the ceremony in 2008 when William was installed as a Knight wearing a black polka dot tailored suit and a Philip Treacy hat. Last year she attended for the first time as Duchess of Cambridge wearing a striking Katherine Hooker suit. Which garter outfit is your favourite?

Wiki

Kate recycled the Alexander McQueen cotton and wool blend piqué coat she wore to Trooping the Colour last year. We never saw the coat fully at Trooping and I must say it is a beautiful piece, sophisticated and elegant yet the shorter length gives it a youthful flare. The sculptured coat dress was available for €1,676 reduced from €2,395 and is described as

'Alexander McQueen's sculpturally tailored white cotton and wool blend piqué coat is an exquisite choice for a modern bride. Step into pumps to accentuate the elegantly tiered Samurai skirt and accentuate the sharp shoulders with chandelier earrings'.

Net a Porter/British Monarchy Flickr

Many thought Kate wore her Reiss Peacock dress underneath.

Reiss

Kate wore a cream hat by couture milliner Jane Corbett (With many thanks to the amazing Anna from My Small Obsessions) 

Jane Corbett

The Duchess wore a similar blue hat by Ms Corbett for Trooping the Colour and the milliner expressed her delight via her blog.

Jane Corbett Blog

Kate wore her favourite £185 LK Bennett Sledge shoes.

LK Bennett

Kate carried her £160 LK Bennett Natalie Clutch.

LK Bennett

Kate wore her beautiful green amethyst Kiki McDonough 18ct gold and diamond drop earrings. They were reportedly a Christmas gift from William. They were available for €2,2271 and are described as

'Make a satorial sparkle with these 18ct gold, citrine and diamond earrings by Kiki McDonough. It will make a precious gift for any style savvy women. These diamond pave small hoop earrings are set in 18ct gold'.

Kiki McDonough

I thought the entire look was wonderful, absolutely love the McQueen coat dress. What did you think?

AP

You can watch a video from the event at ITN Source.

In other news, Kate's visit to the Widehorizons Adventure Centre has made the front of several newspapers today.

Daily Mail/Daily Mirror/Daily Express

Royal Ascot commences tomorrow, Tuesday the 19th and runs until Saturday 23rd. It is definitely possible William and Kate will attend but there has been no official confirmation thus far.