Kate Update Bumper Post...

I return with a rather large blog post, so I will apologise for that in advance!

I will start with the most recent news! Today it was announced that Princess Charlotte's christening will take place on Sunday 5th July at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. It will be performed by The Archbishop of Canterbury.

Prince George's christening took place at St James' Chapel in London, however as the family of four are spending more time in Norfolk - and Prince William now flies for the East Anglian Air Ambulance - it is probably for convenient to hold the christening at Sandringham this time.

St Mary Magdalene's Church is the church used for the Christmas Day service attended by the Royal Family each year.

It is very likely that Princess Catherine will wear the same gown as Prince George, and all royal babies before him.

I am looking forward to seeing what the Duchess wears. The colour theme for Prince George's christening was blue and cream, it is thought that the theme this time could be pink and cream, but we will have to wait and see.

photo via The Daily Mail

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In other Princess Charlotte related news, it has now been 4 weeks since she was born and it was around this time with Prince George that a family photograph was released. It is thought a photo could be released any time now, followed by a separate photo of George and Charlotte July - possibly to celebrate his 2nd birthday on 22nd July.

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Prince William has returned back to royal duties these last couple of weeks. He has been very busy and began his return, on May 18th, with a visit to Switzerland for a meeting on behalf of United for Wildlife.

The next day, May 19th, he carried out an investiture at Buckingham Palace, on behalf of the Queen.

Prince William was out again the next day, May 20th, when he visited St George's Park to meet the England Women's Senior Football Team ahead of the Women's World Cup this week.

On May 21st, Prince William carried out another investiture at Buckingham Palace and then in the evening he attended a reception at Windsor Castle to mark the 25th Anniversary of Tusk Trust.

Last weekend, both Prince's played in the Audi Polo Challenge, raising money for their respective charities. Prince William was given a miniature pair of Hunter wellington boots for Princess Charlotte.

The wellington boots are available at Hunter for £32.

Also at the weekend as President of FIFA, Prince William attended the FA Cup where he watched his own team, Aston Villa, play Arsenal. Unfortunately, for Williams, Arsenal won and he presented the cup to them.

photo via The Daily Mail

A busy month for the Prince!!

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There have been a few engagements announced for Prince William in June, however no official announcements for Catherine. But, it is thought that she will attend Trooping the Colour - the Queen's annual birthday parade - on Saturday 13th June. She has attended every year since 2011.

It has been rumoured that Prince George will make his first appearance on the balcony this year - it would be a real treat if he did!

It is also possible that on Monday 15th June, Kate will attend the Order of the Garter. She does not always attend, but it is a possibility.

Last year, Prince William played polo on Father's Day, if this is the case again this year - Sunday 21st June - then we may get to see George and/or Charlotte. However, it is thought unlikely that we will see Charlotte before her christening - unless in a family photograph!

End of June and the beginning of July brings around Wimbledon - a firm favourite of the Duke and Duchess an dI would be very surprised if they don't make an appearance there too! Kate attended in 2011, twice in 2012 and twice in 2014. She didn't go in 2013 because she was pregnant with Prince George. She usually wears white, and also usually  repeated outfit, although last year she wore a patterned Jonathan Saunders dress too!

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There is also news that we will start to see Prince George more in an official capacity. The first thought is that he will make his first appearance on the balcony for Trooping the Colour this year.

It is also thought that he may attended the Royal Norfolk Show with his parents. This takes place on 1st and 2nd July. It is a possibility but nothing has been confirmed!

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The family are currently back in London, no doubt because of Prince William's busier schedule in London. Prince George and the Duchess were spotted at Holland Park on Saturday.

An onlooker said that they were having lots of fun and were dressed in matching outfits of waxed green jackets, jeans and boots - very cute!

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I am looking forward to seeing the released picture and hopefully news that Kate will be undergoing some engagements - even if it is just Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter - this month!!

Repli-Kate Essentials for Summer...

If you want to emulate the Duchess of Cambridge's style this Summer then there are some repli-Kate essentials that you are going to need.

Earrings

Let's be honest, Kate has an earring collection to be envious of, and I am! But let's look at some of the earrings that started off her collection as a newly announced Royal. Back in 2010, Kate wore the Links of London Hope Egg White Topaz Earrings. Since then she has worn them for many occasions and have become a firm favourite. You can still buy these earrings online from Wakefield's Jewellers for £275.

Another of Kate's favourite earrings are the Links of London Effervescence Bubble Stiletto Earrings which are still available at Links of London for £130. She first wore them back in 2011 for the couple's first black-tie event and has worn them for day and evening events ever since.

An earring essential is the pearl earring. Kate has several pairs but the ones that made the most appearance in the Summer was her pearl stud earrings that became an essential part of her Olympic uniform in 2012. Since then she has tended to have chosen drop earrings, but I still love a stud for Summer because it can be worn day or night! My favourites are the Tiffany & Co. Ziegfeld Pearl Stud Earrings which are available for £185.

Shoes

Now, everyone knows that a repli-Kate wardrobe would not be complete without a pair of nude pumps. Kate's nude pumps of choice are the LK Bennett Sledge Patent Leather Platform Court Shoes which are still available for £195. However, a very good, but slightly cheaper, pair would be Aldo's Kohlmann High Heel Shoes in Bone which are available for £60.

Another of Kate's popular Summer footwear choice is her wedges. Kate often wears the Pied a Terre (now Dune Black) Imperia Espadrille Wedges in Neutral for a very similar pair which is slightly cheaper try the Dune Karley Espadrille Wedges in Cream.

Bags

To match her nude shoes, Kate would choose a nude clutch and one of her favourite's, since her wedding and beyond, is the LK Bennett Natalie Raffia Box Clutch which is back at £185. This clutch has been seen since 2011 and many, many times since. A good alternative for the Natalie clutch is the Oroton Odeion Clutch. Kate has the clutch in blue and carried it in Australia (with Oroton being an Australian brand) however it is also available in neutral and I think that it is a lovely alternative for Summer. It is currently on sale for £122.

Dresses

Last year Kate wore two LK Bennett dresses which were some of my favourite dresses from the year. The Detroit Notch Collar Fitted Dress, which she wore twice, and the Lasa Poppy Print Dress. 

Two good alternatives for the Detroit dress is the Ross Notch Collar Fitted Dress and the Delta Hemmers Dress both of which are available for £250 at John Lewis. 

A good alternative for the Lasa dress is the Lara Printed Dress which is also available at John Lewis for £195.

Another of Kate's favourite dresses is the Hobbs Wessex Dress. She bought it on sale back in 2012 and has worn again last year on their tour of Australia. 

Hobbs have now reissued the Wessex Dress is blue which is available for £129, alongside a matching Wessex Top which is available for £69.

So, I hope these repli-Kate essentials help you start to build up your Summer wardrobe!

The Cambridge's Leave London for Norfolk

Today the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and of course Prince George and Princess Charlotte, all left Kensington Palace for their country residence, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk.

photo via The Daily Mail

The family of four spent 3days at their London residence where they were visited by the Middleton's, Prince Charles, Duchess of Cornwall and, of course, The Queen.

They are expected to stay at Anmer Hall for the majority of Kate's maternity leave. Prince William will start his new job as a helicopter pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance on June 1st, following 6 weeks of paternity leave. He will work with East Anglian Air Ambulance for at least 2 years.

Prince William drove the family to Norfolk in their Range Rover.

photo via The Daily Mail

Kate kept it casual in a white/cream jacket/coat, patterned scarf and pearl drop earrings.

photo via The Daily Mail

It is though that Kate could be wearing her JoJo Maman Bebe Princess Line Maternity Coat which she wore to visit Downton Abbey in March.

Kate appears to wearing the Beulah London Brisa Shawl which is available for £195.

She wore a similar scarf by Beulah London, in grey, at a rugby match during their tour of Australia last year.

She also wore her favourite Annoushka Pearl Drop Earrings.

I love Kate's casual style and she has a scarf collection that I am very envious of! A Copy-Kate version of the scarf is the very lovely LK Bennett Posy Screen-Printed Scarf which is available for £65 - a much more affordable price!

Which do you prefer, Beulah's or LK Bennett's?

The Queen Visits the New Princess..

Today, The Queen travelled from her Sandringham estate in Norfolk to Kensington Palace in London to meet her newest great-grandchild.

photo via The Daily Mail

The Queen arrived at around 2:35pm and looked thrilled to be finally getting to meet Princess Charlotte.

photo via The Daily Mail

Prince Charles also visited his new grand-daughter and, of course, Prince George at Kensington Palace again today.

photo via The Daily Mail

Also today, Prince William registered the birth of the little Princess.

As with Prince George's birth in 2013, The Duke of Cambridge signed the birth register at Kensington Palace witnessed by a Registrar from Westminster Register Office. 

photo via Kensington Palace Twitter Feed

As I had mentioned in a previous post, we don't expect to see the Duke or Duchess in an official capacity for a while now. Prince William is on paternity leave until June 1st and although Kate's maternity leave hasn't been officially announced it is thought that it could be several months.

However, I think it could be possible that the Duchess will attend Trooping the Colour on 13th June. Kate has attended every year since their wedding in 2011.

It also popular that she will attend the Order of the Garter. She attended this back in 2008 when Prince William first became a member and also in 2011, 2012 and 2014 after their wedding. She did not attend in 2013 as she was on maternity leave with Prince George.

But I imagine we will get notification sometime later this month, along with details about Princess Charlotte's Christening.

Until then, we will just have to hope for some Kate sightings! I will be back later this week with a Repli-Kate Summer Essentials post, unless of course, we have a Kate sighting!

Introducing....Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Kensington Palace have announced that the new little princess's name will be..

Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

She will be known as..

Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

Kensington Palace announced the name over Twitter.

photo via Kensington Palace Twitter Feed

Charlotte - it has been the bookies favourite for both pregnancies - it is the female version to William's father Prince Charles and is also Pippa Middleton's middle name.

Elizabeth - after Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II (our current Queen) and it is also Catherine's middle name.

Diana - I'm sure we all know this one - after William's mother Princess Diana.

The couple had reportedly decided on the name shortly after Princess Charlotte was born but wanted to discuss it with The Queen in person before announcing it.

What do you think of the name?

photo via The Daily Mail

Also today, a 41-Gun Salute took place in Hyde Park in honour of the Princess.

photo via Kensington Palace Twitter Feed

I don't expect we will see the family until the official photograph, however it is possible that Kate will be spotted out and about earlier this time round because she will want to be doting on Prince George so he doesn't feel left out. So, we could hear of a couple of Kate & George sightings!