Kate goes solo

It's usually a big moment in a royal career and now we know when it will happen to the Duchess of Cambridge.  Being sent abroad all by yourself to represent the Queen is a big deal and in September that duty falls to the duchess.  Kate will go to Malta for two days to help in the celebrations marking the island's 50 years of independence.

Kate meets the crowds in New Zealand in April during a tour with husband, William.  In September, she will visit Malta by herself on her first solo overseas tour

(photo Natalie Owens Instagram)

Kate will be there on September 20th and 21st and Prince George won't be going with her.  Malta became independent from the United Kingdom in 1964 but the Queen remained head of state until 1974. The Queen last visited Malta in 2007 and while details of the duchess' itinerary haven't been released, the trip is bound to get global coverage marking, as it does, a milestone in her royal career.

Kate leads the way and in September she'll be branching out on her own

 Elizabeth II lived on the island when she was a newly wed princess as the Duke of Edinburgh was on naval service there.  It marked the start of a new phase in her royal life.  And now Malta will be the setting for a new chapter in the life of Kate of Cambridge - the island of royal beginnings.