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Kate in Custom Jenny Packham for War Memorial Visit, Malaysian Arrival

Kate chose another bespoke piece by Jenny Packham for this morning’s solemn visit to the Kranji War Memorial. Below we see William and Kate as they leave their hotel to go to the Memorial.

Emma Branch Twitter (@EmmaBranch)

Richard Palmer of the Daily Express reports “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had specifically asked to pay their respects to UK and Australian Z special unit heroes.” More from this story in the Express:

During the Second World War thousands of British and Commonwealth servicemen lost their lives in defence of Singapore and in the subsequent occupation by Japanese forces.

During World War II the cemetery site was a Japanese POW camp, there are now 4461 Commonwealth casualties buried here.

UK in Singapore Facebook

The Straits Times reports a crowd of about 500 people gathered despite the heat and remote location of the Memorial. Kate and William carried a wreath made of locally grown flowers.

Rebecca English, The Daily Mail Twitter Feed

From the Daily Mail:

The royal couple laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen and Prince Philip at the Kranji Memorial, situated on a tranquil sun-bathed hill high above the bustling city.

Here is a better look at the wreath and accompanying card, the pictures are by Rebecca English, she wrote the Mail’s story we quote from above.

Rebecca English, The Daily Mail Twitter Feed

You can see the traditional red poppies, the card reads “In Honor of the Glorious Dead Elizabeth R and Philip.” Below, the guest register signed by William and Kate.

Rebecca English, The Daily Mail Twitter Feed

After the ceremony Group Captain Coombes walked around the grounds with the Duke and Duchess. Kate and William spent time speaking with officers, veterans, and other guests.

Annely Williams / UK in Singapore Facebook

The pair spent a good amount of time walking about the Cemetery.

Gu Yong Jie/UK in Singapore Facebook Page

William and Kate looked at and talked about several of the headstones.

James Whatling/Corbis

Kate’s dress featured a button front bodice, lace overlay on the bodice and sleeves, three quarter sleeves, and full, pleated skirt.

James Whatling/Corbis

And a closer look at the front.

James Whatling/Splash News

The information released by St. James’s Palace calls the color “duck egg blue,” that was a color actually used in the Spring 2011 Jenny Packham collection.

Kate wore her LK Bennett Sledge2 pumps, she did not carry a purse.

James Whatling/Corbis

It was the couple’s last engagement in Singapore, they boarded a plane for the short flight to Malaysia. This afternoon Kate gives her first public speech outside Britain.

Next on the schedule:

  • The pair’s first engagement is a lunch hosted by the Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak at Seri Perdanaat, his official residence. The lunch will include a musical performance by young people
  • Following lunch Kate and William visit Hospis Malaysia, this is where the Duchess will give a short speech to patients and staff, drawing on her own growing experience of the hospice movement in the United Kingdom.
  • Thursday evening the Duke & Duchess attend an official dinner given by His Majesty The Agong at his official residence, the Istana Negara

The couple has arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Kate is still wearing the Packham dress, shown in this artistic Instagram photo by syukri_aziz.

Syukri Aziz Instagram Feed (syukri_aziz)

The British High Commission shared a picture of William and Kate arriving at the Prime Minister’s residence, Seri Perdana.

UK in Malaysia Twitter Feed

William, Kate, the Prime Minister and his wife are seen in Seri Perdana’s “Blue Room,” just before today’s lunch.

UK in Malaysia Twitter

The couple then moved on to their next engagement at Hospis Malaysia.

Georgina Brewer, ITV (@GeorginaITV)

Georgina Brewer, ITV (@GeorginaITV)

Below you see Kate with 15-year-old Zakwan Anuar and his mother. Zakwan has acute leukemia. More from The Daily Mail:

After signing his birthday card ‘Happy Birthday Zakwan – Catherine’, she said ‘happy birthday for two days ago’. The teenager told her ‘you’re very pretty’ and she replied: ‘Thank you. You’re very handsome.’

©Mirrorpix / Splash News

©Mirrorpix / Splash News

Kate also made her first public speech outside of the UK.

©James Whatling/Splash News

©James Whatling/Splash News

You can watch Kate’s entire speech by visiting this link.

We’ll be back with another post on the day’s events a bit later.

 

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Mamie Rose

Sunday 16th of September 2012

I love this dress and it's understated, but beautiful color. As for everyone say that she looks "too old," I disagree. I think she looks perfect.

Megan

Friday 14th of September 2012

I love the dress. I think it's appropriate for the cemetery/memorial...I also appreciate they went to Kranji to pay respect. My uncle died somewhere between Singapore and Indonesia on a Japanese boat as a POW in 1942 and his name is on the memorial.

Justine

Thursday 13th of September 2012

I actualy find the color very interesting because it's not very common and it is a designer color after all. Finding a soft and sensitive color that's original is not easy.

Robert

Thursday 13th of September 2012

This achingly matronly dress was "appropriate" for the cemetery, but for visiting a children's hospice? Why is she so adverse to wearing color and changing her hairstyle?

Jayne

Thursday 13th of September 2012

At first I wondered at the cut of this dress. Upon looking at these photos, which are actually better pics of the dress, it looks like there's some sort of liner in the dress which made the dress look fuller in some parts. As far as the high waists go, for those who can be objective, Kate has a long torso and comparatively short legs. A higher waist and a longer, more full skirt goes a long way toward lengthening a short leg. Those high heels do that too. We've been seeing her in higher-waist dresses for a year now so I don't think there's any particular significance to the fact that this Packham follows that trend. The dress is pretty and appropriate. Not sure what those crying about this outfit being boring expected her to wear at a wreath-laying at a military cemetery - red satin tank dress and gold glitter heels??

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