From snow queen to ice maiden … all in a day’s work for Kate
IT WAS a day of contrasts for the Duchess of Cambridge yesterday, from relaxed Christmas fun in the morning to duty and diamonds in the evening.
The day began with Kate and Prince William enjoying a fake snowball fight as they held a party for the families of service personnel.
Kate, looking slender in a £1,456 Emilia Wickstead skirt with a Brora cashmere jumper, laughed as she and William dodged a few well-aimed missiles from staff – and the prince couldn’t resist hurling one back.
The Kensington Palace bash was for 200 relatives of men and women from RAF Coningsby and RAF Marham, who will spend Christmas apart from their families at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
The palace orangery had been turned into a wonderland, with a fake snow machine, decorations including giant crackers and Father Christmas, while children took part in activities including snow globe decorating.
William, who will fly to the RAF base with Kate today, also spoke about his Christmas duties, telling guests: ‘ She does the cards and I do the chocolate.’
Last night the couple joined the Queen at Buckingham Palace for the annual white tie Diplomatic Corps reception.
Kate, 36, wore a sparkling white Jenny Packham gown with silver decoration teamed with a tiara that once belonged to Princess Diana.
The pearl and diamond encrusted Cambridge Lover’s Knot headpiece was made in 1914 and given to William’s late mother by the Queen as a wedding gift in 1981. Kate has worn it on several occasions.
Across town, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Chelsea for the annual charity carol concert in memory of Prince Harry’s close friend, Henry van Straubenzee, who died in a car crash as a teenager. Earlier, it emerged that Meghan had a private meeting with Michelle Obama on Monday as part of the former US First Lady’s visit to Britain to promote her book, Becoming.
It is understood the women, who had not met before, formed a ‘strong bond’ and discussed everything from female empowerment to pregnancy tips during their 15-minute chat in London.
Meghan is expecting her first baby in the spring. She will also announce her first royal patronages next year and the Daily Mail understands she plans to put education for women in developing countries at the heart of her public work.
She has been having secret briefings with a number of organisations, such as Camfed – the Campaign for Female Education – which works in several African countries, including Zambia, which was visited by Harry recently.
The couple are said to be keen to work together on the issue in their role as roving Commonwealth youth ambassadors. Meghan is a passionate advocate of Camfed, which tries to alleviate poverty and inequality through education.
Its chief executive, Lucy Lake, who was with Harry in Zambia, told the Mail she had briefed Meghan privately at Kensington Palace earlier this year about Camfed’s work in the country, as well as Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania and Malawi.
‘Turned into a wonderland’