Duchess Attends Gala Dinner on Behalf of Action on Addiction...

This evening the Duchess of Cambridge attended the Autumn Gala Evening dinner and reception at L’Anima Restaurant on behalf of Action on Addiction. She has been patron of Action on Addiction since January 2012. Action and Addiction is the only charity in the UK to be work with prevention, treatment, professional education and family support.

photo from Clarence House's Twitter

photo from the Daily Mail

Tonight the Duchess walked the pink carpet, which is significant because pink is the colour of the charities logo.

photo from Action on Addiction's Twitter

The Duchess was handed a bouquet in the same colour pink as the logo. A lovely touch. The colour of the flowers look amazing with Kate's dress. They add a real pop of colour!

photos from the Daily Mail

The Duchess wore another new dress, that 3 new outfits in the last 3 days - which is unusual for the Duchess. She wore a rather daring new cocktail dress from Temperley London. It featured nude panels underneath a black dress. The Temperley London Emblem Flare Dress retails for £595 and has certainly caused mixed opinions across Kate fans everywhere.

photos from the Temperley London website

Kate teamed the cocktail dress with her Jimmy Choo Cosmic Pumps which retail for £450 and are still widely available. She also chose a new clutch (again 3rd new clutch this week - although it is believed to be an older piece that Kate has owned for many years but new to us) which was heavily beaded. I think the clutch added a little extra bit of sparkle to the outfit.

Kate's jewellery also added a bit of sparkle. The earrings she wore are believed to have been a wedding present from Prince Charles. The Duchess has worn them on many occasions. Although they are not an exact match, these Tiffany & Co. Circlet Drop Earrings are very similar. They retail for £5,850, definitely a splurge.

photo from Tiffany & Co.'s website

Kate had her long hair in loose curls - a classic style for the Duchess.

photo from the Daily Mail

The Duchess showed off the first hint of a baby bump tonight, but this could have been more to do with the style and shape of the dress.

photo from the Daily Mail

Personally I liked the Duchess's outfit but I know that it has split some people's opinions.

photo from the Daily Mail

photo from the Daily Mail

Copy Kate

Tonight's outfit was a classic for anyones wardrobe. I have found a dress quite similar to Kate's as it has a nude slip underneath a black dress with an open pattern to show the slip through the dress. The dress is Coast's Blair Long Sleeve Dress and is currently in the sale for £49 (was £85). Kate teamed the outfit with platform black suede pumps, these ones from Dune, Head Over Heels BamBam Stiletto Heel Platform Court Shoes, are a good substitute at the much more affordable price of £55. For a sparkly clutch, an essential as the Christmas party season approaches, Star by Julian McDonald Black Beaded Clutch Bag, is the perfect one. To add some bling to your outfit choose Accessorize's Bling Teardrop Earrings for £15. They are very reasonably priced and will sparkle up any outfit. 

The Duchess looked even healthier tonight which hopefully shows even better signs towards Kate's recovery. This could also mean an increase in royal duties in the next few months. I will keep you updated with any upcoming engagements and sightings.

Kate Middleton Attends Wildlife Photographer of The Year Awards...

The Duchess of Cambridge attended the Wildlife Photographer of The Year Awards tonight at the National History Museum, of which she is patron.

The Wildlife Photographer of The Year Exhibition "blends new and historic award-winning images to tell the story of how photographing the natural world has changed". It includes "challenging documentary, intimate protracts, animals behaviour and atmospheric landscapes. The exhibition will showcase the power of the image to magnificent effect," says the National History Museum.

The exhibition opens on October 24 2014 until August 30 2015, 10am - 5:50pm. Ticket prices are;
       Adults - £12.60
       Child and Concession - £6.30
       Family - £34.54 (up to 2 adults and 3 children)
       Free for members, patrons and children under 4
You can buy tickets for the exhibition here.

During Kate's public outing tonight many people noted that there was no sign of a baby bump yet, the Duchess is speculated to be around 12-14 weeks pregnant. 

However, tonight she wore a figure-hugging dress which showed of the smallest signs of her pregnancy (if you look really closely that is).

via Twitter

photo from the Daily Mail

The Duchess and Sir David Attenborough both helped to present the awards.

photo from the Daily Mail

photo from the Daily Mail

The Duchess looked to have a lovely time at the event tonight. She looked very happy and healthy. This makes us hopeful of more engagements being announced very soon.

photo from the Daily Mail

The Duchess wore another bespoke piece for this evening's engagement, this time by Jenny Peckham. It is a beautiful floor length gown with a v-neck and long front split, showing off her slender legs. The dress also had rucking detail, which hid most signs of a bump.

photo from Rookie on Twitter

The Duchess wore her LK Bennett Agata Sandals in Rose Suede, which we haven't seen since the ARK Gala Dinner back in June 2011. They are now no longer available. 

The Duchess carried a new bespoke Alexander McQueen pale pink satin clutch. This clutch is very similar in style to the one Kate carried.

She accessorised with a silver necklace and earrings set which we haven't seen before. HRH Countess of Wessex Blog identified the earrings and necklace as being by Monica Vinader. The Riva Diamond Cluster Drop Earrings are available for £745. However, HRH Duchess Kate Blog has noted that necklace is a Harrods exclusive and not yet available on their website. The necklace is now available at Harrods - I have done a post on this which you can see here.

photos from the Monica Vinader Website

She wore her hair in loose curls around her shoulders.

photo from the Daily Mail

Copy Kate

I have now discovered that it is harder to replicate this gorgeous look than I originally thought, however I have given it my best shot! This Coast maxi dress is a beautiful gown in a lovely shade of pale blue (very similar to Kate's). I cannot find any pale pink suede sandals, so I decided to go with silver instead because I think silver accessories would look just as nice. I chose these Kurt Geiger sandals, which are currently on sale for £49 and a matching Kurt Geiger satin clutch bag, which retails for £40. These statement earrings from Links of London are affordable and gorgeous. I haven't included a statement necklace like Kate wore because this dress doesn't need one because of its slimmer neckline.

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge Welcome the President & First Lady of Singapore...

Today the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted The President of the Republic of Singapore and Mrs Tony Tan Keng Yam on behalf of The Queen at the Royal Garden Hotel. 

The couple then travelled with The President and Mrs Tan to Horse Guards Parade, where The President received a Ceremonial Welcome. They then carried on to Buckingham Palace where they had a private lunch together.

photo from the Daily Mail

The Mirror reports that;

During the meeting Kate made the president laugh by telling him, "It's a bit colder than our last meeting", and he replied: "The weather is lovely."

Mrs Tan said she was glad Kate could make the engagement and the Duchess replied: "So am I. I've been looking forward to getting out of the house, that's for sure."

The couples then sat down to tea and posed for an official picture.

The room at the Royal Garden Hotel where they met had a panoramic view of Kensington Gardens and the London skyline, with the Shard, London Eye and BT Tower standing out.

The president commented on the beautiful view of Kensington Palace from the hotel and William joked: "You can probably see into our bedroom window which is a bit worrying - I wouldn't look too closely."

photo from the Daily Mail

As you can see above the Duchess wore her hair in a low curled ponytail with hair wrapped round the base of the ponytail. I liked this look, a break from her usual styles. Also, with the wind that is sweeping through the whole of Britain from Hurricane Gonzalo, her hair would never have stayed in place unless tightly secured!

The Duchess wore a bespoke dress coat by Alexander McQueen, in what I believe is the 'Prince of Wales Check' pattern. There is a similar style Alexander McQueen coat available now at Harvey Nichols which retails at £2,340.

photo from Harvey Nichols website

Underneath the coat Kate wore a simple black dress.

photo from the Daily Mail

The Duchess also wore a wore a grey bespoke Jane Taylor hat that she was first seen wearing the couple's tour of Australia back in April.

photo from Jane Taylor's blog

The Duchess chose to wear her Prada Black Suede Round Toe Pumps which are now sold out at Bergdorf Goodman.

She carried a new clutch which featured pleating detail. 

photo from the Daily Mail

Jenny Packham confirmed today that the Duchess was carrying the Roxy Clutch in black suede.

photo from Jenny Packham's twitter

The bag is described on the website as; 'a pleated, material design featuring a baguette cut, golden shadow Swarovski crystal clasp, the bag has a detachable long snake chain. Available with silver or gold hardware'. It can be pre-ordered now for £378.

photo from Jenny Packham's website

The Duchess opted to wear her Annoushka Favourites Pearl Drop Earrings which retail at £1,090 and her Mappin and Webb Empress Classic White Gold & Diamond Pendant which retails for £1,450.

Copy Kate

Hobbs have a couple of piece this season which feature a similar check to that used in the Duchess's coat dress; a coat and a dress. I have chosen these black suede heels from Aldo, which are a similar style to Kate's as they have an almond toe and a covered heel. For the jewellery I think that Links of London's Diamond Essentials Pave Round Necklace and Effervescence Pearl White Earrings are good matches for a much cheaper price.

The Duchess was smiling throughout the whole day, which hopefully showed signs of her feeling much better. I will be back later with a post on the Duchess' evening engagement. I leave you with one of my favourite pictures from the day - they are completely in synch and I love it!!

photo from the Daily Mail

Baby No. 2 is Due in April 2015 & The Duchess to Attend Photography Awards!

It has been confirmed today, by Kensington Palace, that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will welcome their second baby in April 2015.

The pregnancy was announced last month, but the due date has only just been released. However, it had been wildly speculated that the baby would be due in April 2015, shortly before the couple's fourth wedding anniversary. 

The Duke and Duchess' baby will be fourth in line to the throne, behind one-year-old Prince George.

A source has told the Daily Mail: 

'Don't be fooled by the fact that she hasn't been admitted to hospital this time. She is just as poorly. The difference is that her doctors have been able to diagnose and treat her quicker. She really hasn't been at all well, though.'

The Duchess was hospitalised with hyperemesis gravidarum and severe dehydration during her first pregnancy with George, however during her second pregnancy she has stayed at Kensington Palace under medical supervision. It has also been suggested that doctors have treated her with a drip at home. 

Caitlin Dean, of the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support, told the Daily Mail: 

'Hyperemesis gravidarum is not morning sickness. It is a chronic and debilitating condition that can cause sufferers to vomit up to 30 times a day.' 

I cannot wait for the little bundle to arrive next April!

photograph from the Daily Mail

Today, the Palace also announced that the Duchess of Cambridge will attend the Wildlife Photographer of The Year Awards Ceremony at the National History Museum. Two engagements in one day shows that the Duchess's condition is definitely improving.

screen shot from the Duke & Duchess's website

I will be back tomorrow with a post on both engagements, the Duchess's outfits and details about what each engagement entailed...

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge's Doctors Visit

On Wednesday evening the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were photographed leaving a London clinic late in the night. It is believed that they were visiting royal obstetrician Alan Farthing. Prince William was seen holding an envelope which is likely to be the first ultrasound images of the baby.

However, the photos have caused controversy. Newspapers in the UK have not published the photographs as they believe that they are a violation of the Duke and Duchess's privacy. The Daily Express' royal reporter said: “Our head of news and news editor feel there is nothing more private than a woman going for a pregnancy scan, if that is what was happening.”

It has also been reported that other papers in the UK were offered to buy the pictures but they all turned them down. However, the New York Daily News had published the pictures. These pictures can be viewed here.

Screen shot from the Daily News website.

If it was the twelve week scan then we can expect official confirmation from Kensington Palace soon which should include confirmation the month William and Kate's second child will be born. It is believed that the baby is due in late April, which will be close to the couple's fourth wedding anniversary on 29th April.

It is the first time that the Duchess has been seen publicly since the pregnancy announcement six weeks ago. The Duchess has been spending most of her time at her parent's home in Bucklebury. She has had doctor supervision throughout her second pregnancy. 

The pictures are quite blurry and obviously dark, so it is difficult to see what the Duchess is wearing, however it had been suggested that the Duchess wore Libelula's Black Clasp Jacket, with black jeans, most likely J Brand.

She also wore her New Dry Fur Trim Wedge Boots which are available at Russell & Bromley which retail at £225. The Duchess was last seen wearing these boots last December during a visit to Shooting Stars.

This sighting of Kate, and the fact that she is back in London, is hopefully a good sign that she will be well enough to join Prince William on Tuesday 21st October, to greet President Tony Tan and his wife Mary Chee Bee Kiang at the Royal Garden Hotel. 

from the Daily Mail

The hotel is very close to Kensington Palace and the scheduled engagement is reasonably short, so hopes are high that the Duchess will be there. However, the Palace has said that the engagement could be cancelled for the Duchess if she is not well enough. They have said that "she very much hopes to undertake the engagement" and "it will be reviewed closer to the time".

Hopefully, we will be back on Tuesday with a post on the Duke and Duchess's appearance!

Official Engagement Scheduled for the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge...

Shortly after publishing my post earlier, new came to the light that the Duchess of Cambridge has a schedule upcoming event.

The Palace has said that the Duchess is now well enough to return to work and, alongside the Duke of Cambridge, will formally welcome the President of Singapore Tony Tan. The President will arrive in Britain in two weeks time for a four-day visit. The Duke and Duchess met the Singaporean President back in September 2012, during their Diamond Jubilee Tour of Singapore.

They will greet President Tan and his wife, Mary, on the 21st October, at the Royal Garden Hotel in London upon their arrival.
.

photo from the Daily Mail

However, Kensington Palace have said that the Duchess may yet be forced to cancel this latest engagement as her appearances are still being reviewed on a 'case by case' basis. Although, there is still two weeks before the schedule engagement, which means the Duchess is likely to have passed the 12 weeks stage and be starting to feel much better, as morning sickness is usually most present during the first trimester.

I am very much looking forward to seeing the Duchess after such a long time away from the spotlight, we may even have our first glimpse of a baby bump!

The Duchess Cancels Another Engagement & Possible Trip To New York??

The Duchess had to pull out of another official engagement due to her still suffering from acute morning sickness. The Duchess of Cambridge is thought to be around 11 weeks pregnant, with the couples second child reportedly due in April 2015. 

Although the engagement had not been announced, the Duchess was meant to be visiting Sir Ben Ainslie's America's Cup team at it's new £12million headquarters at Camber Docks in Old Portsmouth. Back in June the Duchess attended a breakfast reception in honour of Britain's attempt to win the America's Cup with Ben Ainslie.

image from the Daily Mail's story.

The Express reported that a royal source had confirmed the Duchess's trip to Portsmouth had been cancelled and that she had no plans to undertake any other official engagements before next week.

Kensington Palace said: 

"Her engagements are being reviewed on a case by case basis. Any future engagements will be announced in due course."

***

There are also rumours circulating that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are planning an official trip to New York before the end of the year. However, it is thought that the Duchess will only attend if her severe morning sickness has subsided. 

According to the Mirror Online:

"Kate is now planning a show-stopping visit to the Big Apple at either the end of November or the beginning of December and will stay in the world famous city for several days."

A royal source revealed: 

"This trip is in the early planning phase but it’s a clear sign that she is on the mend. However, if there is any suggestion that the duchess isn’t well, it will be cancelled immediately."

If any other news comes to light on the New York trip or any upcoming engagements I will update this post as quickly as I can.

Hopefully we will see the Duchess out and about soon.

Duchess of Cambridge Pulls Out of Art Room Visit & Are the Duke & Duchess Having Twins?

Unfortunately today, the Duchess of Cambridge had to pull out of another engagement as a result of her acute morning sickness. She was meant to attend the launch of the new Clore Art Room in London. The Art Room was one of the first charities the Duchess chose to support and she has been Royal Patron since 2012. Kensington Palace said today that the Duchess was 'hugely disappointed' at having to pull out.

The Duchess sent a personally-penned message to apologise for not being there;

'I wanted to share my congratulations with you all for the launch of the new Clore Art Room. I was looking forward to joining you all for this particularly special day as part of The Clore Duffield Foundation's 50th Anniversary year. I am truly sorry that I cannot be with you all today as you celebrate this milestone. As Patron of The Art Room I feel great pride to see the work that the charity is doing. Vulnerable children flourish in the safe havens that The Art Room provides; this highlights just how important it is to support children at a time when they most need help and support. This partnership with The Clore Duffield Foundation is a significant moment for The Art Room. As I cannot thank the Foundation in person today, I would like to extend my thanks to Dame Vivien and her Foundation for supporting a cause so close to my heart, and making such a transformational facility available to the children of Barlby Primary School. It really is hugely exciting to look to a future with even more Art Rooms, where the lives of many more challenging and vulnerable children will be transformed. I hope that you have a wonderful afternoon. My sincere apologies for not being able to join you but I hope that I will have an opportunity to visit Barlby and see the Clore Art Room soon.'

This news came shortly after rumours that the Duchess is expecting twins. Last night bookies suspended bets on the Duchess expecting twins after a sudden surge in bets being placed, with the thought that an insider had leaked some information. Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Andrew Paterson told the Daily Mail that; 'HCT is a pregnancy hormone secreted by the placenta and in twins, far more of this hormone is released. As HCT is associated with nausea women carrying twins can experience worse morning sickness. In fact one of the first things we do if a woman comes to me experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum is scan them, not only to check the baby but also to check for twins. It is obviously not a hard and fast rule and pregnancy differs with every woman.'

Hopefully, the Duchess will be feeling much better soon and will be able to start carrying out more engagements. I will keep you posted as more information is given!