Charlotte’s a little ballet lover too, reveals Kate
PRINCESS Charlotte has developed a keen interest in ballet after “a little introduction” at the Royal Opera House, her mother revealed yesterday.
The Duchess of Cambridge mentioned three-year-old Charlotte’s enthusiasm as she thanked a member of Covent Garden theatre, adding, “lucky her,” and saying that Charlotte had been, “so keen ever since”.
It is believed she was referring to a visit the mother and daughter made in December to watch some rehearsals.
Dressed in a magenta Oscar de la Renta jacket and skirt, which retails for £2,700, with a black Aspinal of London bag, the Duchess spent two hours at the Royal Opera House costume department yesterday.
Royal staff have revealed the Duchess is passionate about textiles and costume design.
Her great-great grandfather ran the family’s successful textiles company, Francis Martineau Lupton, in Leeds.
Principal Royal Ballet dancers Lauren Cuthbertson, Laura Morera, Vadim Muntagirov and Thomas Mock met the Duchess to explain how costumes work as they perform, before she saw a rehearsal of the Two Pigeons ballet which opens on Friday.
Ms Morera shared a laugh with Kate as she explained her excitement at fitting into a costume she had first worn when she graduated in 1995.
Later, the Duchess asked the dancers if they, “like having the feeling of structure,” in their costumes. Ms Cuthbertson quipped: “I like to have as much stretch as possible.”
Artists from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera House use up to 10,000 costumes each year.
Kate said: “It’s wonderful to see the detail and the skill set involved.”