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Kate’s Malta Trip is Off, William To Attend Events + Tower Poppies Update

Kensington Palace announced this morning that Kate would not be traveling to Malta as planned. From the Malta Department of Information news release:

The Duchess of Cambridge will no longer visit Malta this weekend. The Duke of Cambridge will undertake the visit instead.

Her Royal Highness continues to suffer from the effects of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. The decision not to travel was taken by the Duke and Duchess on the advice of the Duchess’s doctors.

The Duke is honoured to represent Her Majesty The Queen on the visit, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of Malta’s Independence.

As is now the practice, Clarence House released the statement via Twitter, in addition to standard methods for news release distribution.

Clarence House Twitter Feed

Clarence House Twitter Feed

The delay in making a decision speaks to Kate’s desire to undertake her first solo overseas trip, where she was to represent the Queen at Malta’s celebration of its 50th anniversary of independence from Britain. More from Rebecca English’s story in The Daily Mail:

The Cambridges made their decision last night in consultation with Kate’s doctors.

The illness, which affects 3.5 out of each 1,000 pregnancies, causes severe vomiting and can lead to dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine, called ketosis.

Below, a frame from the promotional video made promoting “50 Years of Independence: The Greatest Spectacle Ever,” Saturday night’s gala celebration that William will now attend.

Malta Department of Information

FCN Malta

 

A look at the Duchess wearing this designer: Kate wore a bespoke version of the Ryedale dress when arriving in Australia this April; she wears the ‘Peridot’ dress at a July 2012 reception (the dress was also worn in Los Angeles during the 2011 tour); the Duchess wore a custom version of the Lovina dress in Australia this April.

L: James Whatling/Splash C: PA Wire R: Stephen Lock/I-images

L: James Whatling/Splash C: PA Wire R: Stephen Lock/I-images

Some may recall the Ryedale also came in a navy and mint green color combination. That version of the frock is on sale at Matches Fashion, discounted by 50% to $720.

Matches Fashion

Matches Fashion

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Our final item is a brief update on the poppy installation at the Tower of London. You can see the progress that has been made in this aerial view from the Metropolitan Police, taken Sunday.

MPS in the Sky Twitter

MPS Helicopters Twitter (@MPSinthesky)

Readers will remember that 888,246 ceramic poppies are being ‘planted’ at the Tower, each one representing a member of the British forces who died during World War I. The art installation is part of Centenary commemorations of the Great War, and titled “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.” Below, a recent photo from the Tower.

This image shared by Simon Mason on Twitter is from September 11th.

Simon Mason (@WineBoar) Twitter Feed

Simon Mason (@WineBoar) Twitter Feed

The Roll of Honour continues to be read nightly at the Tower, with names of Commonwealth forces killed in the War, and the Last Post is played.  This photo from last night’s ceremony shows a Grenadier Guard, the image was shared by one of the “Beefeaters” from the Tower, Bill Callaghan.

Billy Callaghan (@BillyBeefeater) Twitter Feed

Billy Callaghan (@BillyBeefeater) Twitter Feed

Ceramic artist Paul Cummins designed the original poppy, then an army of volunteers helped create each one by hand. Another army of volunteers has been planting the poppies. Kate, William and Harry visited the project in August, each planting a poppy.

Andrew Parsons / i-Images / Polaris

Andrew Parsons / i-Images / Polaris

Historic Royal Palaces (the group that oversees the Tower of London) has posted an outstanding video, “Installing the Poppies – The Tower of London Remembers Project,” showing just how the poppies are being planted at the Tower.  

Historic Royal Palaces You Tube

Historic Royal Palaces You Tube

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Angela Bechtel

Tuesday 23rd of September 2014

Yeah! I think that was an amazing trip of kates, and specially the fashion show was my favorite, all the dresses was just simply awesome and so nice, wearable. And the other thing I like in this post very much was the red flowers, there heights are so awesome. Simply it was fun there.

Brenda

Tuesday 23rd of September 2014

I sat next to a Canadian woman on a plane who suffered from HG with her three pregnancies. She wrote a letter to Kate, and got a lovely letter in reply. She said HG mystifies doctors, because they can't say why you are predisposed to get it. And, if you have it for one baby you will have it for the others.

She thinks Kate and the Palace are brave to be upfront about HG, and that it has done an enormous amount of good for women who have suffered from it. Who knows, perhaps Kate could become patron of an organization that promotes pregnancy health.

Lili

Tuesday 23rd of September 2014

There is an interesting "New Yorker" piece by Atul Gawande, who often writes on medical issues for the NY, called "A Queasy Feeling" and published on July 5, 1999. It concerns a woman whose HG lasted throughout her entire pregnancy. It can probably be found in libraries or in the New Yorker's online archive, if you have a subscription. See an abstract below:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1999/07/05/a-queasy-feeling

ElizaMo

Sunday 21st of September 2014

Wow, I really love the positive bright use of colour on the gorgeous Ilincic range, I don't think anyone would miss seeing the wearer of one of these! The colour-blocking combinations are really original and I think are made to work by the use of such lovely clean classic lines in the overall silhouette.

Did anyone clock the Peter Pilotto range earlier? Colours there were equally bright and wittily used. Clearly I may be straying out of Duchess territory here, but even in the Ilincic, I can see Kate opting for some safer colour-blocking design.

Lovely to see William taking on Kate's Maltese trip, and proving a bit hit with the crowds. I confess I could look at pictures of him till the cows come home...Get well soon, Kate!

maureen

Saturday 20th of September 2014

There was a story in the Los Angeles Times today about HG that described it as 'violent and nonstop vomiting' - severe enough to 'fracture ribs, detach retinas and blow eardrums.' I'm certain the Duchess is getting the very best of care, but I for one am relieved she's not going to Malta. Poor thing!!!

Mary Ellen

Thursday 18th of September 2014

I agree with Lisa - not seeing much of poppy tribute in America. Thanks for the coverage on it. As for those floaty Roksanda tops - not sure they would look so good as third trimester maternity wear. Two pregnancies behind me, myself, I found I went for tighter fitting clothes to avoid tenting. I think those tops would lead to 70's tent maternity wear. It's not much fun getting dressed when pregnant....nothing ever fits the same way twice for almost a year. I was pregnant with my second son when Kate became pregnant with George. She really inspired me to dress differently my second pregnancy. I wore maternity pants more (and earlier on) and larger, non maternity shirts which seemed to lay so much better and fit much better.

Lili

Friday 19th of September 2014

Since the US didn't enter World War I until 1917, for us this isn't the anniversary it is for the British and other Europeans. US Veterans, however, always sell paper or cloth poppies -- at least they do in my neighborhood -- around Veterans Day in November. Originally it was Armistice Day, which marked the Armistice in World War I on November 11, 1918. Like schoolchildren in the UK, American schoolchildren were long often taught the John McCrae poem that begins "In Flanders fields the poppies blow" and that inspired the poppy tradition.

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