The Glamorous Kate met the Chic Letizia, Queen of Spain last night at Buckingham Palace at  a State Banquet in honor of the King and the Queen of Spain.
Queen Letizia look amazing on her red gown with her fleur de keys Tiara but The Duchess of Cambridge was stunning as always in her Marchesa gown and the Lover’s Knot tiara, the favourite tiara of her mother’s in law,  Princess Diana.

Last night’s looks, worn for the state banquet in honour of Spain’s king and queen, couldn’t have been more different.

and the Duchess of Cambridge, the Lover’s Knot tiara, a diamond and pearl design, which was once owned by Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Legendary Cambridge Lover’s Knot  tiara , was commissioned from Garrard in 1913/1914 by everyone’s favorite magpie, Queen Mary. She modeled it off of a tiara owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, the Duchess of Cambridge. It wasn’t a unique design to begin with; several others exist that are quite similar. The piece passed from Princess Augusta to her daughter (also named Augusta), who became Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Swinging pearls hang from 19 diamond arches capped with lover’s knots in this tiara. The piece was composed of existing jewels Queen Mary had in her collection: the dismantled Some Ladies of England Tiara plus the original pearl uprights from the Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara and pearls off of a couple brooches belonging to Mary which were ultimately returned. Originally, the design included upright pearls on top of the arches, but Mary had them removed eventually.

Tiara: Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara;
Necklace: Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau;
Earrings: Diamond and Pearl Earrings

The Queen loaned the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara to Diana, Princess of Wales as a wedding present in 1981. Kate first wore it at the 2015 Diplomatic Reception.
The diamond and pearl earrings the Duchess wore were a wedding gift from Collingwood Jewellers to Diana and they are part of Diana’s private collection.
The Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace was one of the Queen’s wedding gifts from her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; the Queen has not worn the piece since the early 1980s

But, while the Duchess’s regalia stopped at a diamond and ruby necklace, which once belonged to the Queen Mother, Queen Letizia attached a traditional blue-and-white sash to her gown, complete with badges of honour.

As the Duchess let her guest take centre stage in a heavily-beaded, off-the-shoulder burgundy gown by Spanish brand Loewe, she showcased one of her most transformative formal looks to date.

Her plunging Marchesa gown in muted, scalloped guipure lace and tulle was a departure from the conservative necklines she usually favours for evening events, and all the more striking thanks to the ruby boucheron bandeau that trailed down her décolletage.

The Duchess, and stylist Natasha Archer, instigated a relationship with the brand earlier this year, when she wore a full-skirted red Marchesa Notte (the brand’s concession line) to London’s opening night of 42nd Street. Last night’s custom-made design aligned with the brand’s bridal looks, for which they are highly regarded.

As the Duchess took the opportunity to add a new designer to her catalogue of trusted formalwear brands, Queen Letizia played the diplomatic card in Loewe, which is currently headed up by Ireland’s award-winning J.W. Anderson. If the banquet was a sign of the Duchess throwing out the rulebook and instigating a healthy dose of competitive state dressing, it will be interesting to see how the royal visit unfolds for the final two days. Bring it on.

source : British Vogue

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It was only six years ago that Kate Middleton walked down the aisle at Westminster Abbey, sporting an Alexander McQueen bridal dress designed by Sarah Burton. She chose to wear another custom look from the British fashion house again yesterday for her sister Pippa’s wedding to hedge fund manager James Matthews at St. Mark’s church, in Englefield, Berkshire.

The Duchess of Cambridge has worn her royal title with subdued and sophisticated style, and her latest look was an elegant example.

The blush pink dress featured several design elements that have quickly become Middleton signatures, including the peplum at the hip—tailored yet soft—and the figure-flattering drapey pleat work.

The subtle leg-of-mutton shoulder treatment and tight cuffs were a modern take on Elizabethan style and made for a nice finish.

And of course it wouldn’t be a British society wedding without the appropriate hat, and Middleton’s was reminiscent of an English rose in full bloom. Quite the crowning glory, indeed.

It had been designed with military precision, with several heirs to the throne on the guest list, the cream of high society in attendance and a picture perfect English country setting.

Add a stroke of luck with sunny weather, a brood of adorable bridesmaids and page boys, and a kiss for the camera, and Pippa Middleton and James Matthews’s wedding went off as smoothly as could be.

The bride, wearing a Giles Deacon gown, beamed to the waiting world on the arm of her new husband, with a troupe of eight excitable youngsters stealing the show under the watchful eye of a discreet Duchess of Cambridge.

The Duchess, who eschewed a formal role herself, marshalled her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, and their six companions in front of the world’s cameras, shushing the noisiest and laughing as they larked about on the church steps.

The Duchess of Cambridge with her little angel, Princess Charlotte.

Princess Charlotte is just Adorable…!

At one point Prince George seemed overexcited to the verge of tears before being firmly settled by his mother.

Guests included the Duke of Cambridge, Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry, who attended the church ceremony without his girlfriend Meghan Markle after much speculation that she would accompany him. Miss Markle, who is in London, is thought to have attended the private evening reception instead, although she avoided cameras.

Carole Middleton in Catherine Walker pink coat, walked with her son, James.

David and Jane Matthews , the groom’s parents, walked together. Jane Matthews was the epitome of sophistication in a turquoise dress and hat.

Prince George was really cute as always in his Pepa & Co page boy outfit, completed with gold knickerbockers.

Donna Air, the girlfriend of James Middletton, in Emilia Wickstead .

Joining Prince George as page boy were Casimir Tatos, Pippa’s godson and the son of Ari and Marie-Sophie Tatos, Edward Sebire, the son of one of James Matthews’s friends and business associates, and William Ward.

Bridesmaids were Princess Charlotte, Pippa’s goddaughter Countess Philippa Hoyos, Lily French, and Avia Horner, daughter of James’ colleague financier Edward Horner and Lady Emily Compton.

 

As the ceremony neared, two vintage Jaguar Mk IV cars pulled up to cheers, with the Duchess of Cambridge and the eight youngest members of the party inside.

The Rev Nick Wynne-Jones, who is the church’s resident priest, officiated. The couple’s hymns included Be Thou My Vision, Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken and I Vow To Thee, My Country.

The readings included Love Is An Adventure by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, read by Pippa’s brother James while Spencer Matthews read a passage from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist.

After the ceremony, which lasted nearly an hour, the new Mr and Mrs Matthews emerged as bells rang out just before 12.30pm.

Kate continued her role as big sister and marshalled the young bridesmaids and page boys into the classic cars that had brought them to the church as guests filed out and walked to nearby Englefield House.

At Englefield House guests heard speeches and saw the cutting of the wedding cake. After toasts, Mr Matthews drove his new wife into the sunset – or at least to their reception – in an E-type Jaguar convertible, waving as well-wishers cheered from the side of the road.

Who is James Matthews

In Brief

James is 41 years old, he attended Uppingham School and Co-founder and chief executive of structured finance Eden Rock Capital Management Group, based in Mayfair. He’s also a former racing driver.

Hobbies: Marathon running. In 2008 he ran the 156-mile Marathon des Sables through the Sahara

Famous family: His parents David Matthews and Jane Parker own the five-star Eden Rock Caribbean hotel in St Barths. His younger brother is reality TV star Spencer Matthews, who shot to fame on reality TV show Made in Chelsea.

Pippa Middletton was a Stunning Bride and of course she will be a great inspiration for the upcoming summer brides in England and generally…

We wish them to have a Happy Life , full of Love , Appreciation, Tenderness and mutual Respect.

All the Best for Pippa & James Matthews…!

main source : http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news

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The Duchess recorded the message in her role as patron of the children’s mental health charity Place2Be. In the video, released by the charity, Catherine sits at a table with four young pupils who have been helped by Place2Be, discussing their experience with the charity, as she also speaks of the situation faced by young people today.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge talks to young schoolchildren about Place2Be in her video message for children’s mental health week. Place2Be

She explains that many issues in adulthood stem from unresolved problems experienced as a child:

“Many of us are incredibly fortunate that the issues we face in childhood are ones we can cope with and learn from. But for some children, learning to cope with life’s challenges can be a struggle.

“While we cannot always change a child’s circumstances, we can give them the tools to cope, and to thrive. With early support they can learn to manage their emotions and know when to seek help.”

Kate, mother to Prince George and Princess Charlotte, has campaigned for early intervention since taking on patronages related to addiction and family breakdown, realising these are two root causes for such issues. This year’s focus centres upon the importance of building resilience during childhood, and having ability to cope with life’s stressful situations.

Statistics show that one in 10 children aged five to 16 suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder, and 72% of children in care have behavioural or emotional problems, while 95% of young offenders have a mental health disorder.

In her video message for children’s mental health week, Kate discusses her work with addiction and mental health. Place2Be.

“By ensuring every child is given the emotional support they need, we are giving them a firm foundation for the happy healthy future they deserve,” Kate said.

Place2Be trains teachers and works in more than 250 schools with vulnerable children. Art is often used as a way to express feelings. The youngsters in the video have been helped by the charity.

Ryan, aged 10, told the Duchess: “Place2Be has helped me a lot. If it wasn’t in the school I don’t think I’d be able to cope as much.”

“Every child deserves to grow up feeling confident that they won’t fall at the first hurdle – that they cope with life’s setbacks,” Catherine said.

“This resilience, our ability to deal with stressful situations,  is something we begin to learn in childhood, as we respond to each challenge and problem life presents.”

“Through my work in areas like addiction, I have seen time and again that the roots of poor mental health in adulthood frequently stem rom unresolved childhood issues. This needs to change,” the Duchess pleaded.

“William and I feel that every child deserves to be supported through difficult times in their lives.”

Via

http://www.thecrownchronicles.co.uk/

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