Kate selected a British designer for the launch of the Jubilee Tour in Singapore, wearing a pale pink Jenny Packham dress. Here we see the Duke and Duchess being greeted upon arrival at the airport.
James Whatling/Splash News
Our thanks to Channel 5 Royal Correspondent Simon Vigar for an early look at the couple’s arrival in his photo.
Via Simon Vigar/Channel 5 News (simonvigar5)
The bespoke frock also has three-quarter sleeves, a self-belt, deep vee neckline and full skirt. Here we see the dress from the back.
James Whatling/Splash News
Kate accessorized with what looks like a new pair of LK Bennett’s Sledge pumps but in Off White, not Kate’s standard Taupe.
LK Bennet/Splash News
As many Kate fashion followers know, the Sledge is very much a “go to” shoe for the Duchess. We also saw Kate’s pearl drop earrings again, she wore her hair partially up.
James Whatling/Splash News
We have not yet identified Kate’s bag.
Splash News
A commenter (Anna) thinks it is Jimmy Choo’s Cosma Disco Bar Clutch, this links to that bag in a different color/decor.
The couple arrived at about 2:50pm local time on a scheduled British Airways flight, they were formally greeted at the airport. Here is more via The Telegraph, with reaction from an official’s wife:
His wife Sadiah Bte Shahal, who presented the Duchess with the bouquet of yellow flowers, said: “They are such a lovely couple, so affable.
“Kate was asking me about my children, what their ages are. “We talked about the UK and particularly about shopping.
“She also asked me about the flowers I gave her, she said they are very unusual and what are they.
“I said I’m not sure but I think they’re two types of orchids.”
Rebecca English’s story in the Daily Mail notes the Duchess and Sadiah Bte Shahal also discussed something many readers will appreciate:
We talked about the UK and particularly about shopping at Bicester (a designer shopping outlet in Oxfordshire frequented by the Middleton family).
‘I said I’ve been there and I love it and she said she does as well. She said it’s great how everything is so contained.
In addition to filing her story, Ms. English shared a number of photos on Twitter, including these of the pair arriving at the hotel.
Rebecca English/The Daily Mail Twitter
William and Kate’s first official engagement was at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where they saw an orchid that has been named in their honor. Royal Photographer Mark Stewart (@RegalEyes) shared a Twitter photo of that flower:
Mark Stewart Twitter (@RegalEyes)
They also saw the orchid named for Princess Diana just prior to her death, part of the VIP Orchid Garden. Here we see William and Kate looking at that flower via the “National Parks – Let’s Make Singapore Our Garden” Facebook page. .
National Parks - Let's Make Singapore Our Garden Facebook
The couple as they arrived at the Gardens, they were accompanied by the CEO of NParks, Mr Poon Hong Yuen.
National Parks - Let's Make Singapore Our Garden Facebook
Two more shots of the tour about the National Orchid Gardens.
Nparks - Let's Make Singapore Our Garden Facebook-
Below, the guest book after William and Kate signed it.
National Parks - Let's Make Singapore Our Garden Facebook
This was a splendid look for Kate that also recognized those hosting the couple for this first leg of the Tour. The dress was flattering and the accessories made for a solid ensemble; it was good to see Kate’s hair pulled back from her face.
There is a substantial number of media following the Tour, below we see some of them amid the lush greenery of the Botanic Gardens, as shared by Rose Hughes of Sky News (@RoseSkyNews):
Rose Hughes Sky News Twitter
The pair then headed off to the famed Raffles Hotel, the crowd’s excitement was palpable, as noted by The Straits Times on Twitter.
The Straits Times Twitter Feed
The Times shared this photo of Kate arriving at the hotel.
The Straits Times Twitter Feed
Kate and William are not the first Royals to stay here, far from it; more in a recent Hotel news release:
In 2006, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh honoured us by staying at Raffles Hotel during their State Visit to Singapore, so to now have the opportunity to welcome Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in this Jubilee and Olympic year, will be a very special pleasure for all of us at Raffles Hotel.”
As previously noted, the crowds were large, here is one fan via The Straits Times twitter feed.
The Straits Times Twitter Feed
Tonight William and Kate head to a formal affair, an official State Dinner hosted by The President of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam, at his residence, the Istana. William will address the guests on behalf of the Queen.
Singaporean customs are a bit different than those in the UK and many other places, ITV’s Cordelia Kretzschmar noted this on Twitter:
Rebecca English of the Daily Mail made a lighthearted comment about a venue on the itinerary in the next country to be visited, Kuala Lumpur:
Rebecca English/Daily Mail
We’ll be back shortly with a look at what Kate wears for tonight’s State Dinner.
