NOTE: The post contains images and information about the Closing Ceremonies, yet to be broadcast on television in many places, including the USA.

Prince Harry was the Royal Family’s official representative at tonight’s Closing Ceremony for the Olympic Games, Kate accompanied Harry to the event. The duo are seen below with IOC president Jacques Rogge.

London 2012 Website

Prince William was on duty in Anglesey and unable to attend, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh remained in Scotland following a whirlwind Jubilee spring and summer.

It was a packed house once again at the Stadium.

London 2012 Website

The theme was a street party, with musical performances by a broad spectrum of British musical acts, including Madness.

London 2012

And One Direction.

Team GB Facebook

The Spice Girls were even reunited for the evening.

London 2012 Twitter

Union Jacks were in abundance.

London 2012

Artist Damien Hirst designed a special flag for the Ceremony that was showcased on the Stadium floor.

London 2012

The athletes streamed into the stadium from every entrance.

London 2012 Facebook

For her final Olympic appearance Kate brought back the Whistles “Bella Body Conscious Dress” in the multi-petal print. Below she is seen with the Prime Minister David Cameron, and his wife Samantha, as well as Lord Sebastian Coe, just before tonight’s Ceremony.

John Stillwell/WPA-Rota/Press Association Images

Here is a refresher on the dress.

Whistles via ASOS

The piece is from an older season and no longer available, most recently it was sold at ASOS. The frock is described this way:

• Bodysuit: 92% Silk, 8% Elastane
• Lining: 96% Polyester, 4% Elastane

In these photos you can better see the waist detailing, exposed metal zipper and ruching at the front and back. I don’t know that a belt was needed, it’s difficult to tell without a better view.

Whistles via ASOS

The Duchess also brought back her Anya Hindmarch Maud Clutch.

John Stillwell/Press Association

The bag is crafted of “A luxuriously soft satin, made using tightly woven thread to give a glossy appearance.” Here you have tighter shots of the detailing on the piece, including the “C” for Catherine.

Anya Hindmarch

Good news for those interested in the bag, it is available again for purchase at Anya Hindmarch and online, it is priced at £450 (about $700 USD at today’s exchange rates).  On a side note, one of the London Mascots was spotted ‘carrying’ an Anya Hindmarch Gracie bag.

Anya Hindmarch Twitter Feed

Previously we saw Kate wearing the Bella dress at the Jubilee Concert, that was June 4 of this year.

Dave Thompson/PA Wire

Our post on that event is here. Tonight Kate wore the same custom Kiki McDonough diamond and topaz earrings seen at the concert.

In short, Kate continued to dress in a manner that would minimize attention on her or her sartorial selections, choosing to keep the spotlight where it belonged, on the athletes, coaches, volunteers, public safety personnel and others working to make the Games a success. She showcased UK designers, wore Team GB gear, repeating ensembles on multiple occasions to diminish interest in what she was wearing, a wise tactic on her part, the mark of someone savvy enough to know the impact she can have.

It looked like an extraordinary evening.

London 2012 Twitter

And it seems that Kate and Harry thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

C

C. Tibbs Twitter Feed

As Sebastian Coe (head of LOCOG, the London Organising Committee) put it:

London 2012

Then it was time to extinguish the flame.

BBC Twitter Feed

And fireworks lit up the night skies in London.

London 2012 Twitter

The Palace released word of an official reception for Team GB athletes, more from the British Monarchy Facebook page:

Buckingham Palace has announced that The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will give a reception for the 2012 Great Britain Olympic Team on 23 October 2012.

A reminder that Kate, William and Harry are also official ambassadors for the Paralympic Games, they start in just 16 days.  Additionally, William and Kate start their South Pacific tour in less than a month, the first stop is Singapore on September 11.

Linkage:

• The Paralympic Games page is here, its Facebook page here
• To pre-order the soundtrack for tonight’s Ceremonies, click here
• Learn more about the Closing Ceremony & see great photos here
• To read more about Prince Harry’s statement, click here
• For the Daily Mail’s story with photos, click here