Friday, 14 November 2014

Kate heads Stateside

The Duchess of Cambridge is one of the most famous and glamourous women in the world so it's perhaps appropriate that she will end her year with a trip to one of the most famous and glamourous cities in the world. Kate is going to New York.


Kate's off to New York, New York in December - Wills is going too, no one really seems to care about that part

The duchess touches down in the city that never sleeps on December 7th 2014 for a three day visit which will involve engagements linked to the Royal Foundation and other charities Kate and William are involved in. The couple will also visit the September 11 National Memorial and Museum at the Word Trade Center to pay their respects. 



The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have a packed schedule of events in New York

The duke will travel to Washington on December 8th for several different meetings and discussions about ending the illegal trade in wildlife - his United for Wildlife charity campaigns on this issue. Kate will stay in New York where she will visit a child development centre and attend a lunch given by the British Embassy in New York to celebrate the achievements of Britons in the city.


The Duke and Duchess will carry out engagements together as well as completing individual events as well

But Wills and Kate will most definitely be together for a trip to an NBA Basketball game where they will launch a new collaboration between the NBA, United for Wildlife and the Royal Foundation. And just about everyone will be hoping for lots of cosy snaps of Kate and William cuddling up at the basketball.


There will be time to relax for the royal couple as they head to a basketball game

And there will be more romance in the air as the trip comes to an end - the final engagement is a dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to mark the 600th anniversary of St Andrews University, the couple's alma mater and where they first met and fell in love. New York, city of dreams, is about to get a dream of a royal visit.




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And mum came too...

It's a regular in the royal calendar and it's been putting on a show to raise money for the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund for over 100 years. This year for the very first time, it was the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who got to put the royal into the Royal Variety Performance. And Kate made it a real family affair - she brought her mum along too.


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving at the Royal Variety Performance in London on November 13th 2014

Carole and Michael Middleton weren't in the royal box with their daughter and son-in-law but they were clearly visible in the theatre and along with hundreds of others enjoyed a show that included performances by Ed Sheeran, Jack Whitehall and One Direction. But the Middletons needn't have worried about having their photo taken. There was only one shot everyone wanted and that was Kate with another cheeky chappy called Harry. And they got their wish when the duchess met young Mr Styles after the show.


If the Royal Variety Performance is a tradition then the sight of royals meeting the variety of performers involved after the show is another and perhaps even more popular. The line up and the royal guests might change from year to year but the sight of a senior member of the House of Windsor saying hello to one of the most popular acts around doesn't. And this year, the Cambridges showed just how far they have their finger on the pulse by shaking hands with One Direction and Ed Sheeran.


The duchess wore a black lace Diane von Furstenburg gown and while the weekend outings in heavy coats had emphasised the beginnings of a bump, this evening outfit concealed her growing tummy very well - something which almost helped Harry Styles come a cropper. He said he had congratulated the future queen on her bump and then added that 'she didn't look very bumpy'.


And then it was off into the night with another royal first under their belts. Two, in fact. For as well as being their debut in charge of this very traditional event in the Windsor calendar they added a new element to it as well by bringing along Kate's parents. This year will go down as the Variety Performance where mum came too.
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Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Felipe and Letizia in Belgium - the photos

The King and Queen of Spain popped by to say hi to the King and Queen of the Belgians today as Felipe and Letizia get yet another introductory visit under their belts with a trip to Brussels. The newest king on the continent, not to mention his consort, spent the day with their fellow royals as well as meeting top politicians. The royal couple have now visited Portugal, the Vatican, the Netherlands, France, Luxembourg and Morocco on their whirlwind meet and greets. More will come but for now here are the best images from the latest introductory tour for Felipe and Letizia.





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If it's Wednesday, it must be Belgium

For a queen who was criticised in the past for not travelling abroad on official duties all that much, Queen Letizia is really racking up the airmiles. In the last month she's been to Austria, Portugal and Luxembourg and now she's landed in Belgium for a whirlwind visit. OK, King Felipe is there as well but let's face it, all eyes are on Letizia as the introductory tours of Europe's royal courts continue. And for the first time since she started her hello visits, she's hit style gold.


Letizia in Brussels - another day, another overseas visit for the Queen of Spain

Wearing a white jacket with fabric buttons and a dark blue skirt that Schiaparelli would have been proud of, Letizia strode confidently across the red carpet rolled out to meet her in Brussels as she and her husband met up with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians. The official welcome was filled with smiles, hand kissing and chatting as Europe's two newest monarchs and their consorts met up again. And after the serious business of inspecting troops and listening to the national anthems of their two countries they headed inside for a photo call.


 In the warm, two kings called Philip and their queens

Letizia has had a few fashion faux pas on her introductory tours but this outfit was easily the smartest, most formal and most impressive of the lot.But even so, Letizia ran into a familiar problem on these visits. She was outdone by her hostess.


Mathilde wins it, just, as she goes head to head with Letizia in the style stakes

Queen Mathilde chose an emerald green coat with black accessories that was a winner in its simplicity. The only jarring note was her choice of mid blue gloves - at odds with the rest of the outift. But perhaps the big problem for Letizia was underlined by the chic bandeau style hat chosen by Mathilde. The introductory visits usually call for the more formal hat and coat style outfit and the Spanish queen's decision to go for a more modern, more relaxed look has often made her seem under dressed for the occasion. A hat with this outfit might have taken the day but as it was this was a home win for Belgium.


Mathilde wins by a head - the decision of the Spanish queen not to wear hats on her introductory tours is one reason she's been outdressed on several occasions

The pattern of the visit is pretty similar to others - after meeting their royal hosts, the King and Queen of Spain then held audiences with several leading politicians including the new Prime Minister, Charles Michel. And then it will be back to Madrid with a short rest before more visits to say hello.




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Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Felipe and Letizia visit Luxembourg - the photos

The King and Queen of Spain have made an introductory visit to Luxembourg where they met the Grand Duke and Duchess, Henri and Maria Teresa, and their heirs, Guillaume and Stephanie during ceremonies and a lunch at the Grand Ducal Palace.


The royal couple also held audiences with politicians during their visit and were entertained to lunch at the Grand Ducal Palace. And the trip left some lasting images.


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