The Cambridges have arrived in Sydney, Australia, where they were greeted by cheering crowds and another welcome sight: sunshine.
Following the brief airport welcome the Cambridges were taken to Sydney’s famed Opera House for a reception. Crowds of people eagerly awaited a glimpse of the royals.
Jonathan Samuels, Sky News Australia Correspondent
Prince William spoke briefly during the Opera House reception, more from 702 ABC Sydney Radio:
And in a crowd-pleasing remark, Prince William referred to the presents received after the birth of his son, Prince George.
“Catherine and I were very grateful for the many kinds messages and gifts that we received when George was first born. I suggest George’s first word might be bilby, if only because koala is too difficult to say.”
While at the reception they received a gift for George from the Cricket World Cup organization, his own miniature cricket bat.
The family is staying at Admiralty House, just across the water from the Opera House.
Kate wore a vivid yellow dress by Roksanda Ilincic, identified almost immediately by our friends at Perth Fashion. The piece is a custom version of the designer’s ‘Ryedale’ dress from the spring/summer 2014 collection.
Matches Fashion
Above we show the Ryedale off-the-rack version of the dress at Matches Fashion. There are really only three changes needed to make the Ryedale dress like Kate’s, or vice-a-versa:
- square off the neckline, as opposed to using the rounded neckline
- take the excess fabric out of the belled sleeves
- reverse the colors so that what is white in the photo above is yellow, and what is yellow becomes white
This offers a good look at the squared neckline on the Duchess’s dress.
The piece is 100% wool crepe, a fabric with texture that can breathe quite well and retain its shape; it is lined in a silk/cotton blend. The dress incorporates many features Kate is fond of in a dress: the off-center slit at the hem on the front, exposed back zipper, and defined waistline. The Ryedale dress sells for $1441 at Matches.
Today’s dress is another instance of Kate using her wardrobe to send a message: yellow is one of Australia’s colors (technically green and gold are the colors, but yellow is almost interchangeable), wearing it is a relatively easy way to convey respect and gratitude for your hosts. The yellow is also an excellent shade for her, flattering with her coloring. The only drawback? Apparently Prince William isn’t as favorably impressed with the color, more from Grazia UK:
The literal dresser isn’t only matching the sun (Syndey is a bright 22 degrees compared to 13 over in Wellington), but is also referencing the country’s flag in yellow gold.
Kate told a lady in the crowd however: ‘William said I look like a banana.’
The frock also comes in a minty green with navy.
Matches Fashion
The Duchess paired two favorite accessories from LK Bennett: her trusty Sledge heels ($345)….
James Whatling/Splash News
…and her Natalie clutch (no longer available).
LK Bennett
On the jewelry front Kate wore her pearl drop earrings by Annoushka and it looked like she was wearing her Mappin & Webb ‘Fortune’ necklace.
Annoushka
William, Kate and George are now at Admiralty House where they are staying. People magazine’s Simon Perry shared this picture of Admiralty House as seen from the Opera House.
Simon Perry, People Magazine
We’ll leave you with a look at Prince George, who seems to be taking it all in and pondering his next move.
Andrew Parsons/i-Images/www.i-Images.co
NEXT SCHEDULED EVENTS:
- William and Kate travel to the Blue Mountains located west of Sydney
- In the morning the couple will spend time with families impacted by the bushfires that swept through the region last October
- They will go to see the Three Sisters rock formation, undamaged by the bushfires
- they will either abseil themselves or watch others rappelling
- in the evening they have a private meeting with Prime Minister Tony Abbot at Admiralty House
LINKAGE:
- 7 News has posted a 5+ minute video of the airport arrival, and a video of the welcome at the Opera House that is almost as long
- the Daily Mail‘s story is here,
- Read about the Girl Guides preparing their Hall for the Royal visitors in this Daily Telegraph story
- CNN’s story about the arrival is here, reported by our pal, Max Foster
Lois Talbot
Wednesday 6th of December 2023
I love this dress with the off center front & back slit, the metal exposed zipper and the three quarter length sleeves, also the square neckline. Please let me know how much this dress would cost to buy & ship to the State of CT in the United States. I’ll leave my information below. Please let me know.
admin
Wednesday 6th of December 2023
Hi Lois, this site merely reports on what is worn. We have no dealings with buying or selling apparel or accessories. Your best bet would be to get in touch with the designer.
kim
Thursday 17th of April 2014
I love that the Duchess is wearing bright colors so everyone in the crowd can easily see where she is. I understand the significance of the colors, etcetera, but in a sea of so many black suits it is lovely that she can be easily pinpointed.
Nancy
Thursday 17th of April 2014
Although there was no danger that we'd see the royal undies, as we almost did when the Duchess deplaned in New Zealand, there's still quite a bit of thigh going on here. Not that I mind; I love this length and silhouette on the Duchess. But I thought the Queen had a no-knees-much-less-thighs edict in place. Is Kate in for a scolding when she gets back home?
AshleyOlivia
Thursday 17th of April 2014
I doubt it. The Duchess has proven through her previous fashion choices that she favors hemlines that are above the knee. Actually, many of us have been commenting on the fact that her hemlines on this tour have been longer than usual (at the knee or just below, instead of slightly above), but of course there is no way to know if this was a calculated decision on Catherine's part, either determined on her own or in acquiescence to urgings of the Palace, or if she is simply keeping up with recent trends, which currently feature longer hemlines.
Tracey
Wednesday 16th of April 2014
I feel pretty confident that after all of these years in the public's spotlight (for William, a lifetime's worth, and Kate, at least intensely for the past 3), both know and expect that their every casual remark, every spontaneous gesture, and every unguarded facial expression is avidly and closely followed and captured by the media and the crowds, and replayed, relayed, and relentlessly analyzed, as much as their official speeches are.
So, I don't think these crowds are betraying confidences when they relay Kate's or William's jokes or their other one-on-one chatter to the media, or on Twitter, or wherever/however else --- Kate and Willliam undoubtedly know that they will be. And they don't mind, at all; I am sure they don't feel any sense of betrayal or lack of discretion by these audience members when this happens.
Nor on the other hand, am sure I think their comments are made expressly with Kate or William's intent and calculation to make themselves seem like "just regular folks" when they are so disseminated, or in the hopes that they will be relayed more widely to further this goal, though that is a possibility or, indeed, a perhaps welcome by-product of their actual agenda, which I believe is:
Their humorous, self-effacing or self-deprecating remarks are intended as ice-breaking, casual chatter to make people more at-ease with them in the crowds -- these larger-than-life, worldwide public figures of royalty and grandeur, now standing in front of them in the flesh. They want people to smile and interact positively with them, in these settings, and humor helps serve this purpose.
If people (as they often can be) are star-struck or speechless in these moments, it doesn't help the events to flow easily and smoothly, or make good b-roll for the news coverage, and embracing and enhancing positively their public image and appeal, and that of the royal family, is a high-priority goal of these public visits.
(And yes, I have do have some background/experience in this particular realm that makes me feel confident in making such statements this strongly!)
Aussie Maid
Friday 25th of April 2014
Agree 100%. And it has worked a treat here in Oz.
Lisa @ Sorority Life to Army Wife
Wednesday 16th of April 2014
William thinks she looks like a banana. I lost it. And thanks for all the gratuitous George photos.