Leggy Kate Middleton at Royal Albert Hall to watch Gary Barlow perform

Leggy night out: Kate looks all dressed up as she arrives at the Royal Albert Hall to watch Gary Barlow perform

By Kirsty Mccormack

Last updated at 10:00 PM on 6th December 2011


She's known for her conservative style but tonight the Duchess of Cambridge dressed for the occasion.

The 29-year-old arrived at the Royal Albert Hall to watch Gary Barlow perform his second solo gig this week and opted for a shorter hemline.

Wearing a new season Zara printed dress and a black Ralph Lauren jacket, Kate looked rather leggy as she stepped out of her car.

Feeling chilly? The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the Royal Albert Hall wearing a rather short dress

Looking stylish: Kate chose to wear a new season Zara printed dress with a black Ralph Lauren jacket

She teamed her dress with thick waist belt, a pair of black opaque tights and matching heels and carried a small clutch bag.

Kate wore her brunette hair in a loose curl and tried her best to keep it in place as she made her way into the venue.

Windy evening: Kate tried her best to keep her dark hair in place as she made her way up the red carpet

She stopped briefly to acknowledge the crowd with her husband - who was wearing a navy blue suit with a white shirt and coloured tie.

The newlyweds were no doubt excited about watching Barlow perform and looking forward to a good night out.

Just the two of us: The newlyweds looked a little bit unsure about what to do when they first got out of the car

Boys in blue: Kate was met by her husband and the Prince of Wales when she got out of her car

Night out together: Prince William and his wife looked in good spirits as they prepared to watch Gary Barlow perform

With the in-laws: Kate and William made their way along the red carpet with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall

Ready for the camera: Once inside the Royal Albert Hall Kate posed for more photographs

They made their way along the red carpet with the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales who had also come to enjoy the concert.

Barlow is performing another gig at the London venue to raise funds for the Prince's Trust and the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Nice to meet you: Gary Barlow spent time with the Royal couple before preparing himself for his solo performance

Height difference: Barlow looked fairly short as he posed with the Royal four

The Prince of Wales wore a similar suit to that of his sons but opted for a matching tie instead, and his wife also dressed up wearing a bronze-coloured pleated skirt with an embroidered velvet jacket and black heels.

The Royals met with Barlow ahead of his performance and then made their way to the Royal box to enjoy the concert.

The singer is on good terms with the Royal family after he was asked to organise an event for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations next year.

Ready for the show: The foursome made their way to the Royal box to watch the gig

The gig will also be a nerve-racking performance for X Factor finalist, Marcus Collins, who has been invited by his mentor to join him on stage.

Earlier today Barlow tweeted a photo of the Liverpudlian rehearsing, saying: '@MarcuscollinsUK sound checking for tonight's performance.'

Different looks: The 29-year-old look rather different tonight (L) compared to how she usually dresses

The post came a few hours after Barlow tweeted: 'For anyone coming to the Albert Hall tonight we have an extra special guest just confirmed.'

Perhaps he was referring to Collins or maybe he's got some other tricks up his sleeve.

Last night the father-of-three was joined by Jason Donovan, Lulu and former X Factor contestant Olly Murs as he entertained the crowd.

Going solo: Gary Barlow performed his first of two gigs at the Royal Albert Hall last night to raise funds for the Prince's Trust

Special guest: Barlow was joined by Olly Murs who sang Shine with him

Speaking to the Evening Standard after his performance, Barlow said: 'I loved it. It's exactly the sort of night that's whetted my appetite for solo work.

'Not to make solo records again... but to do gigs for special occasions like this one for the Prince's Trust.'

The gigs are raising funds so that the Trust can invest £2.5million in helping five areas that were hit the hardest during the August riots in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

Ready for round two: Tonight the Take That singer will be joined by his X Factor hopeful Marcus Collins

Kate is a patron for the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, so is course very involved in the work that it does and no doubt she's looking forward to tonight.

At the Princess Diana Memorial concert at Wembley back in 2007, she was spotted singing along to Take That's hit, Back For Good, as the band performed it.

The song obviously had personal meaning for her as it was just after her and William had reunited following a break from their relationship.

'I loved it': Barlow said that last night's gig had whetted his appetite to perform solo more often

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2070764/Kate-Middleton-arrives-Royal-Albert-Hall-watch-Gary-Barlow-perform.html#ixzz1fnWOpcLD

Xmas Countdown 6.12.11: The £85 bauble that celebrates William and Catherine's first Christmas as married couple

The £85 bauble that celebrates William and Catherine's first Christmas as married couple

By Lauren Paxman

Last updated at 10:25 AM on 6th December 2011


In the run up to the royal wedding, hundreds of tacky Wills and Kate souvenirs flooded the market.

But those who headed straight to Selfridge's to snap up the classy tankards designed by the Prince and bride-to-be themselves, can now complement their collection with a bauble for their Christmas tree.

To celebrate the newlyweds' first Christmas together, Royal Crown Derby has produced an £85 bauble that will be very popular with fans of the young couple who have a bit of money to spare.

Exclusive: The 11cm porcelain oval displays the ornately intertwined initials of Catherine and William. It is hand-finished in 22ct gold and only 1,500 of the baubles will be made

The 11cm porcelain oval displays the ornately intertwined initials of Catherine and William on the front, with the inscription 'Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, 29th April 2011.'

It is hand-finished in 22ct gold and only 1,500 of the baubles will be made.

At least one of them is bound to be hanging on the tree at Sandringham - where Catherine and William will be spending Christmas with the Royal family.

The tree accessory was designed by June Branscombe and modelled by John Ablitt. They have also created a similar limited edition Diamond Jubilee bauble celebrating 60 years of the Queen's reign in 2012.

The Duke and Duchess had the final say on the design of their official royal wedding china which was produced in a factory in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Those tankards and plates were decorated with a pattern of doves, white ribbons and hearts in silver, gold and grey, set against a pale grey striped background.

Celebrating at Sandringham: The Duchess of Cambridge will spend Christmas with her husband and the royal family in Norfolk

The blue hearts on this bauble are clearly inspired by that design and colour-scheme. But this is a bolder design - with a larger crown above the initials - which reflects William and Catherine's ever-rising profile.

The Royal Crown Derby Porcelain Company is a privately owned Limited Company.

It employs about 200 people and makes the highest quality English fine bone china at its factory on a four-and-a-half acre site in Derby.

Queen Victoria granted the permission to include the title 'Royal' in the company name in 1890.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2070554/The-85-bauble-celebrates-William-Catherines-Christmas-married-couple.html#ixzz1fkXrrKn1

Kate dazzles in Grecian gown at St James's Palace dinner after Wills gets six-week Falklands posting

I'm all white with it: Kate dazzles in Grecian gown at St James's Palace dinner after Wills gets six-week Falklands posting

By Rebecca English

Last updated at 12:28 PM on 11th November 2011


If she felt down at hearing her new husband was to undertake a six-week posting to the Falkland Islands, she was not letting on.

Instead the Duchess of Cambridge looked every inch the glamorous hostess as she and Prince William hosted a charity dinner last night.

Wearing a silver Grecian-style gown, by designer Jenny Packham, draped over one shoulder and gently gathered in at the waist and featuring a bright red poppy, Kate dazzled as they entertained 120 guests in the Picture Gallery at St James’s Palace.

Putting on a brave face: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appear relaxed as they attend an event with the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal

The couple were holding a dinner at St James’s Palace for the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal, of which the Duke is patron.

The fund hopes to raise £12 million to turn the Arboretum, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, which honours all those who have sacrificed their lives for their country, into a world-renowned centre for Remembrance.


More than 300,000 families, servicemen, veterans and members of the public visit the 150-acre site each year.

In 2006 the Daily Mail was instrumental in helping to raise funds to build the breathtaking Armed Forces Memorial, which stands at the centre of the site and pays tribute to the 16,000 British servicemen and women who have died since the Second World War, after the British Legion was refused lottery funding.

Dazzling: The Duchess wore a Jenny Packham creation which skimmed over one shoulder and tied around the waist. Her height and slim figure carried off the Grecian style dress which was coupled with matching shoes

The monument has been designed so that at exactly 11am on November 11 – Armistice Day – a slit in one wall will let a ray of sunshine light the central plaque.

Shortly before last night’s dinner, the Duke – who has himself lost two close friends in Iraq and Afghanistan - gave a short speech.

In it he described how in just a few years the Arboretum had become an ‘iconic focal point’ for the nation’s remembrance of ‘British heroes’.

Poppy appeal: The Duchess looks glamorous in her Grecian style dress, coupled with her all-important poppy. She also added some sparkle with some bold drop earrings

Charming the crowd: Kate dazzles as William shares a joke at the event in London last night

William continued: ‘For Britons today, and for generations of Britons to come, the example of dedicating one’s life to helping and protecting others and to the service of our Country remains core to our values as a Nation. Nowhere is this lesson better taught than through contemplation of the names inscribed on the memorials in Staffordshire.‪‪

‘It is a place of sanctuary for those who come to remember and a place of quiet pride in the selflessness and sacrifice of those who have gone before. It is also a place of education. ‪’‪

The guests, which included actresses Penelope Keith and Susan Hampshire, then heard from Jacqui Thompson, the widow of Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson of 3 Squadron RAF Regiment, who was killed by a roadside bomb while on patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in April 2008.

At 51, Mr Thompson is the oldest member of the UK Armed Forces to have been killed during the ten year conflict.

All eyes on Kate: The couple were holding a dinner at St James's Palace for the National Memorial Arboretum Appeal, of which the Duke is patron

His wife, an inspiring mother of five daughters, explained to guests the personal significance the Arboretum has for her family.

Heartfelt: The Duke described how in just a few years the Arboretum had become an ‘iconic focal point’ for the nation’s remembrance of British heroes

Afterwards she said: ‘It was fab to meet them. They said they were sorry to hear about Gary and they were so sincere and interested. I felt they could have been my son and daughter.

‘The arboretum is such an incredible place and William's interest in the appeal means such a lot. The older generation will always have respect for the armed forces and what it means to put your life on the line but some of the younger generation who haven't experienced war might not appreciate this.

‘Through his interest he is making sure the younger generation are kept aware.

‘When I heard he was going to the Falklands I felt for his wife and the worry she must have. When you love someone you're going to miss them terribly.’

Kate also bumped into old acquaintance Georgina Wessels at the reception who she recognised from her days at St Andrews University.

Georgina, who is pregnant with a baby due in March, said: ‘We used to live on the same street at university.

‘We've bumped into each other a few times over the years but it's all a bit more formal now.

‘She was very excited for us about the baby. She's just very lovely and genuine and sweet.’

Kate, who has been plagued by rumours she is pregnant herself, gave no indication as to whether the growing baby talk is true.

The guests then assembled for a three course dinner, sitting at tables decorated with tiny trees which will be planted in the 150 acre Staffordshire arboretum.

Keen to go: Prince William at the controls of a Sea King helicopter, which he will be co-piloting on a six-week tour of the Falklands early next year

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2060105/Kate-Middleton-dazzles-Grecian-gown-St-Jamess-Palace-dinner.html#ixzz1dQif4SBX