The Duchess of Cambridge Takes The Salute During Beating Retreat

The Duchess of Cambridge took the salute at the Household Division's Beating Retreat tonight.

The magnificent evening of musical celebration, military precision drill and fireworks is carried out by the the Mounted Bands of the Household Cavalry, the Massed Bands of the Household Division and guest performers.

The Duchess was welcomed upon arrival.

The two-day event is performed on Horse Guards Parade in front of St James's Park each year on the Wednesday and Thursday evening preceding Trooping the Colour. Funds raised go to service charities. A member of the Royal family is usually present on the second evening to take the salute.

Kate takes her place on the saluting dais.

We often discuss the history associated with royal events; there are very few dating back five hundred years as Beating Retreat does. In the 1690s the beating of the drum was used to signal troops to withdraw from fighting, and later heralded the the end of the day with the lowering of flags and closing of camp gates.

An order from the army of James II of England had his drums beating an order for his troops to retreat and a later order, from William III in 1694, read: "The Drum Major and Drummers of the Regiment which gives a Captain of the Main Guard are to beat the Retreat through the large street, or as may be ordered. They are to be answered by all the Drummers of the guards, and by four Drummers of each Regiment in their respective Quarters".

Today the concerts usually mark the lowering of the regimental flag at sunset.

The two successive evening are described as "epic", "London at its finest" and "a perfect event in a perfect venue".

The spectacular display of pageantry is performed by more than 750 soldiers in ceremonial uniform in front of a 6,500-strong crowd.

People reports:

'This year’s show is themed around “Icons of a Nation” and captures the varied roles of the Household Division’s soldiers. The music program included the theme music from The Longest Day, a film about the Normandy Landings on June 6, 1944, while the finale included “The Earl of Mansfield,” “Theme from Henry V” and “The Lord’s My Shepherd/Amazing Grace.” The evening ended with the moving “Last Post” played.

As well as the bands of the Household Division, including the Household Cavalry and five Foot Guards regiments, Kate and the many spectators were entertained by The Band, Pipe and Drums of the Royal Guard of Oman; The Band and Pipes of the Royal Regiment of Scotland; The Band of the Honourable Artillery Company; London Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums; National Cadet Force Pipes and Drums; The Royal British Legion Band and Corps of Drums Romford; and The Royal Choral Society.'

Prince William took the salute for the first time in 2014. For the occasion, he wore the uniform of the Irish Guards, the regiment of which he became colonel in 2011. Addressing guests, he said: "As Colonel of the Irish Guards I am delighted to support the Household Division Beating Retreat. Year after year this wonderful event showcases the skill and professionalism of our military musicians whilst reinforcing the traditions and heritage for which we as a nation are justifiably proud and envied the world over." William took the salute again last year.

Other royals in attendance in recent years included, the Duke of York, Prince Harry, and the Duchess of Cornwall. Prince Philip was present on a number of occasions before his retirement. Below, Her Majesty at Beating Retreat in 2013.

A video from the event.

For the evening, the Duchess chose her cream Catherine Walker coat. The bespoke piece features a princess silhouette and front flap pockets. It's a timeless piece and perfect for formal royal occasions.

Kate debuted the piece during the Canada tour in 2016.

We saw the piece again for Easter Sunday service at Windsor in 2017.

Kate wore her trusty Gianvito Rossi praline pumps.

And carried her pink Mulberry clutch.

The Duchess accessorised with her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore Pearl Studs. The £4,360 pair are described as "set with seven pearls set with diamonds (0.3cts). Inspired by the clusters of young flower stalks of the cauliflower (cavolfiore) in the market. From the Journey to Sicily".

For the military event, the Duchess wore the Irish Guards gold shamrock brooch. The three-leaf brooch, which has also been worn by the Queen Mother and Princess Anne, belongs to the regiment and they determine to whom it be loaned.

Kate wears the piece on St Patrick's Day to present shamrock. As mentioned earlier in the post, William is colonel of the regiment.

Kate's hair was styled in an elegant updo.

It's excellent to see Kate attending the important military event. I expect it will be the first of many times she'll take the salute. 

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We've seen members of the Royal family attending military events around the UK and further afield, in honour of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Given the significance of the day, I thought it appropriate to include some coverage here. 

D-Day, 6th of June 1944, was the beginning of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. The largest seaborne assault in history, the operation began the invasion of German-occupied Western Europe and led to the restoration of the French Republic and contributed to an Allied victory in the war. Nearly 160,000 troops crossed the English Channel on D-Day, with nearly 5,000 landing and assault craft, 289 escort vessels and 277 minesweepers participating. Allied casualties on the day were reported as 10,000, with 2,500 dead.

The effort moved many. From the royal archives we see a draft message from King George VI (the Queen's father) to General Dwight Eisenhower, following his return from his visit to France on 16 June 1944. The King wrote: "I have visited the beaches of Normandy, which will be forever famous. All that I saw on my journey and on the soil of France, has moved me deeply. I have come home feeling an intense admiration for all those who planned and organised so vast a project and for the gallant and successful execution of it."

At a commemorative event in Portsmouth yesterday, Her Majesty led the nation in remembering the sacrifice made: "When I attended the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings, some thought it might be the last such event. But the wartime generation - my generation - is resilient, and I am delighted to be with you in Portsmouth today. 75 years ago, hundreds of thousands of young soldiers, sailors and airmen left these shores in the cause of freedom. In a broadcast to the nation at that time, my Father, King George VI, said: '…what is demanded from us all is something more than courage and endurance; we need a revival of spirit, a new unconquerable resolve...' That is exactly what those brave men brought to the battle, as the fate of the world depended on their success. Many of them would never return, and the heroism, courage and sacrifice of those who lost their lives will never be forgotten. It is with humility and pleasure, on behalf of the entire country – indeed the whole free world – that I say to you all, thank you."

This morning, Prince William joined D-Day veterans for a special commemorative service at the National Memorial Arboretum before laying a wreath at the Normandy Campaign Memorial. William read the words of his great-grandfather King George VI: "Four years ago our nation and empire stood alone against an overwhelming enemy, with our backs to the wall. Now once more a supreme test has to be faced. This time the challenge is not to fight to survive but to fight to win the final victory for the good cause. At this historic moment surely not one of us is too busy, too young, or too old to play a part in a nation-wide, perchance a world-wide vigil of prayer as the great crusade sets forth." The music in the video is 'The Shores of Normandy”, recorded by D-Day Veteran Jim Radford for the Normandy Memorial Trust.

Today we remember together the service and sacrifice of British, Commonwealth and Allied armed forces and their families as we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings #DDay75thAnniversary pic.twitter.com/GQzLem1q6M

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 6, 2019

Hannah Furness reports:

'As the Duke bent down on one knee to better hear elderly servicemen, Royal Navy veteran Victor Brunt, 94, joked: "I thought it was us who had to go on bended knee to you." Prince William told him: "Not you guys. It’s not a problem." John "Jack" Cannane, 95, of the Royal Electrical Engineers, told the Prince that he was under constant fire as he and his team tried to clear the stranded vehicles and landing craft so that the each wave could land.

"It was carnage. But I was a young man, only 20 and at that age you don’t really have any fear. Except of course the shock of seeing the bodies of young men on the beaches or floating in the water. But you just keep thinking to yourself that it isn’t going to be you. That’s the only way you survive I think," he said.'

Prince Harry spent the morning at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for the Founder’s Day Parade, with a number of veterans including several from the Normandy Landings. During a speech he paid tribute to their legacy: "Don’t ever underestimate the joy that you bring to everyone you meet. You represent something really quite special, you are special, and society will always recognise that. That is an important part of your legacy. It’s a community that focuses on supporting each other with kindness, respect and compassion, as well as reaching out to serve the wider community. On this 75th Anniversary of D-Day, I can comfortably speak for everyone when I say we are honoured to be in the presence of six Normandy Landing veterans."

Meanwhile in France, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall travelled to Bayeux for commemoration events. Speaking about the poignant anniversary, the future King said: "I remember the last time we were there, I will never forget the determination that they still exude by being there. Being at the cemeteries and being at the commemorations. They always remember their comrades and their friends and the people they had to leave behind. This country lost countless special people and we owe it to them and their families to go on commemorating this. This is probably the last chance to pay everlasting respect."

Prince Charles commissioned portraits of twelve D-Day veterans which are currently on display at Portsmouth City Museum. Below, Dr Tony Leake, Corporal with the 8th Batallion the Parachute Regiment, took part in the mass parachute drop behind the German lines. He blew bridges over the River Dives and set up defensive positions.

This touching photo dominates tomorrow's front pages.

"They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them."

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In other news, Kensington Palace announced another addition to Kate's June calendar. Next Wednesday, 12 June, in her role as patron of Action on Addiction, Kate will will attend the first annual gala dinner in recognition of Addiction Awareness Week, hosted by Action on Addiction and chef Skye Gyngell. She will deliver a speech to celebrate the work of the charity.

We'll see the Cambridge family (very possibly including Louis' first appearance) for Trooping the Colour on Saturday morning!

It's Sapphires, Regalia & the Lover's Knot Tiara for the State Banquet

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended tonight's glamorous State banquet at Buckingham Palace in honour of the US State visit.

The white-tie event coincided with the Cambridges return to London following a week at their Norfolk country home, Anmer Hall. George and Charlotte were on a break from Thomas's Battersea and Willcocks Nursery. Speaking of the little ones, Kensington Palace confirmed Charlotte will join her big brother at Thomas's in September.

The Duchess entered the ballroom with United States Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin.

State visits are formal visits to the UK by heads of state from overseas, with the aim of strengthening Britain's relationships with other countries. There are usually two incoming State visits each year. Invitations are sent on the advice of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Tonight marks the Cambridges' fourth appearance at a State banquet. In 2015, they were very much involved in the Chinese State visit, and in 2017 they attend the Spanish State banquet; last October they attended in honour of the Dutch visit.

Prince William arriving with Prime Minister Theresa May.

A video of the royal procession. According to reporters, the woman Kate shakes hands with is Louise Linton, the wife of Steven Mnuchin.

Yesterday marked sixty-six years since Her Majesty's coronation. During the Queen's reign there have been twelve US presidents, and she has met with every one of them apart from Lyndon Johnson. In addition Her Majesty met with Harry Truman before she became Queen and Herbert Hoover when he was a former president. Throughout her reign, the Queen has visited presidents in the US and welcomed them to Buckingham Palace for State visits. The State banquet is one of the most formal royal events on the calendar. Below HM entering with President Trump and Prince Charles with the First Lady.

Elegant white gowns took centre stage on the fashion front tonight. The Queen wore an evening gown with crystal centred daisies by Angela Kelly with her Burmese ruby and diamond tiara and accompanying ruby and diamond jewels. The Duchess of Cornwall wore a cream embroidered Bruce Oldfield gown with the diamond Boucheron tiara and a pearl and rose topaz choker. The First Lady sported a sleeveless ivory Dior gown with long gloves.

When it comes to State banquets, courtiers ensure the evening is a success thanks to months of meticulous planning.

According to the Royal family's website: "Preparations for a State banquet begin well over a year in advance, but the final build of the State banquet table starts around five days ahead of the arrival of the visiting Head of State. The operational arm of Buckingham Palace, the Master of the Household’s department take the main bulk of the responsibility for ensuring the Banquet runs according to plan."

Royal florists at work.

The completed table features stunning flower decorations, candelabra and six glasses per person -water, red and white wines, a dessert wine, port and a champagne toast. Nineteen stations are set up around the table, each manned by four staff - a page, footman, under butler and a wine butler - who use a traffic light system to co-ordinate the serving of courses. After the banqueting table is put together, and the decorative display is delivered, unpacked and positioned in place, the final touches are added. Below, the ballroom ahead of the arrival of 170 guests.

Before the evening, Kate and other royals would have received notes on where they were sitting. In order to avoid uncomfortable situations and to ensure all are included in conversation, one speaks to the person on the left for the first course, changing to the right for the second, and alternating for remaining courses.

In a rare insight into banquets, the Countess of Wessex recalled during an interview for the ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety one occasion when she couldn't find her seat as the Queen was about to make her speech: "I shan't forget the look I got when I couldn't find my chair and she was looking to do her speech, I decided I might study the notes a little more carefully next time." Below, Sophie tonight. Ella Kay notes it appears her wedding tiara has been reshaped.

A closer look at Princess Anne's tiara.

During a speech the Queen spoke of the mutual beliefs of the UK and the US:

'Mr President, I am delighted to welcome you and Mrs Trump to Buckingham Palace this evening, just twelve months after our first meeting at Windsor Castle. Visits by American Presidents always remind us of the close and longstanding friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States, and I am so glad that we have another opportunity to demonstrate the immense importance that both our countries attach to our relationship. 

In the coming days, you will see some of our most treasured historical buildings, speak to the business leaders whose expertise and innovation drive our economies, and meet members of our Armed Services, past and present. You will also travel to Portsmouth and Normandy to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. 

On that day – and on many occasions since – the Armed Forces of both our countries fought side-by-side to defend our cherished values of liberty and democracy. Mr President, in your State of the Union Address this year, you paid tribute to some of the American heroes who risked their lives, and we owe an immeasurable debt to the British, American and Allied soldiers who began the liberation of Europe on 6th June 1944. 

I paid my first State Visit to your country at the invitation of President Eisenhower. As Supreme Allied Commander, he had ultimate responsibility for the execution of the Normandy landings. In his headquarters in St James’s Square – not far from Buckingham Palace – British and American officers worked closely together to plan the freedom of a continent, and it would be no exaggeration to say that millions of lives depended on their common endeavour.

As we face the new challenges of the Twenty First Century, the anniversary of D-Day reminds us of all that our countries have achieved together. After the shared sacrifices of the Second World War, Britain and the United States worked with other allies to build an assembly of international institutions, to ensure that the horrors of conflict would never be repeated. While the world has changed, we are forever mindful of the original purpose of these structures: nations working together to safeguard a hard won peace. 

Of course, it is not only our security which unites us; but our strong cultural links and shared heritage. Every year, there are almost four million visits by Americans to the United Kingdom, with a great number claiming British descent. And with your own Scottish ancestry, Mr President, you too have a particular connection to this country. 

We are also bound by the strength and breadth of our economic ties, as the largest investors in each other’s economies. British companies in the United States employ over one million Americans, and the same is true vice versa. 

Mr President, as we look to the future, I am confident that our common values and shared interests will continue to unite us. Tonight we celebrate an alliance that has helped to ensure the safety and prosperity of both our peoples for decades, and which I believe will endure for many years to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I invite you all to rise and drink a toast to President and Mrs Trump, to the continued friendship between our two nations, and to the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of the United States.'

The video below contains footage of the speeches.

Guests dined on steamed fillet of halibut with watercress mousse, asparagus spears and chervil sauce. Saddle of new season Windsor lamb with herb stuffing, spring vegetables and port sauce. Also strawberry sable, lemon verbena cream and assorted fresh fruits. Finally, coffee and petit fours were served. The wine list included sparkling wine from Windsor Great Park and 1990 Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

Emily Nash shared more on music for the event.

An overview.

The Duchess chose a bespoke Alexander McQueen ruffled gown with a v neckline and short sleeves for the evening. As noted earlier in the post, the royal ladies opted for white on the night. In fact, Her Majesty and the Duchess of Cornwall usually do for white-tie events. With the deep blue sash, the vibrant yellow of the Royal Family Order and jewels, a classic white gown is a very reliable choice for white-tie outings. I imagine we'll see Kate choosing white/cream shades increasingly moving forward.

It was a night of regal sparkle with the Duchess donning the Lover's Knot tiara. It has very much become Kate's signature piece in recent years. It's breathtaking and we'll likely see it throughout her life. When Kate becomes Princess of Wales I anticipate she will alternate it with several others. Until then, whilst we may see others like the Lotus Flower tiara, the Lover's Knot is clearly Kate's favourite.

A refresher on the history of the tiara: it was commissioned from Garrard in 1913/1914 by Queen Mary, Queen Consort of King George V, using jewels she already had in her possession. Mary wanted to have a tiara created based on the design of her maternal godmother Princess Augusta of Hesse's Duchess of Cambridge's 'Lover's Knot Tiara', whence comes the name. The original was a striking piece, and back then, lover's knot bows were very popular, so there were several similar ones made. The tiara features elements of the Gothic Revival style. The circle of the Cambridge Lover's Knot is made up of a lower semi-circular band, set with a row of brilliant cut diamonds. Where two adjacent arches meet, a pillar like structure is formed that rises up and ends in a round diamond, forming a diamond spike. There are nineteen diamond spikes of this nature and the size gradually decreases from the centre towards both ends.

In 1981, the day before Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer, Her Majesty gave her soon-to-be daughter-in-law a red leather box, and inside lay the tiara. According to various media outlets young Diana exclaimed, "I have Brenda's rocks", referring to a nickname the British press had given the Queen. The Cambridge Lover's Knot became her signature, however, the princess found it quite heavy and headache-inducing - reportedly the reason she wore her family's Spencer Tiara quite often. Following Charles and Diana's divorced in 1996 the tiara was returned to the Queen, and it was widely believed it would remain in the royal vaults unseen for years if not decades. Thankfully that was not the case, and it's been in Kate's rotation since 2015.

The Duchess wore the Queen's Royal Family Order. We will see it for each and every white-tie occasion Kate attends. The Order is awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom to female members of the Royal family as they typically do not wear the commemorative medals men do. The order is a personal memento rather than a State decoration. The badge of the order consists of a portrait of the Sovereign set in diamonds, which is suspended from a ribbon. The ribbon of each Royal Family Order changes with each monarch. Her Majesty presented Kate with the Order in 2017; it's made of glass.

There was a notable addition to Kate's look tonight; her GCVO regalia.

At the Buckingham Palace garden party a fortnight ago, the Queen invested Kate with the Insignia of a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. Like the Royal Family Order, the blue sash with red and white trim and the star of the order will be worn at white-tie occasions throughout Kate's life. As you can see, Kate wore an acorn brooch on her sash.

The RVO was established in 1896 by Queen Victoria. It recognises personal service to the monarch. 

More on the history of the order: "Prior to the close of the 19th century, most general honours within the British Empire were bestowed by the sovereign on the advice of her British ministers, who sometimes forwarded advice from ministers of the Crown in the Dominions and colonies (appointments to the then most senior orders of chivalry, the Most Noble Order of the Garter and the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, had been made on ministerial advice since the 18th century and were not restored to the personal gift of the sovereign until 1946 and 1947, respectively. Queen Victoria thus established on 21 April 1896 the Royal Victorian Order as a junior and personal order of knighthood that allowed her to bestow directly to an empire-wide community honours for personal services. The organisation was founded a year preceding Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, so as to give the Queen time to complete a list of first inductees. The order's official day was made 20 June of each year, marking the anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne."

The Duchess complemented her sash and engagement ring with the Queen Mother's sapphire and diamond fringe earrings. Readers will recall the Duchess first wore them for the 100 Women in Hedge Funds gala in 2015.

The look was completed with a four strand pearl bracelet and a white clutch. Franck suggests the bracelet was worn by Princess Diana at a state dinner in the Netherlands in 1982. Click here to view a photo.

In other news, we have a number of calendar staples coming up and a day of engagements in Cumbria for the Cambridges next week.

8 June - We'll see the Cambridge family for Trooping the Colour. It's very possible Louis will make his first appearance, and perhaps we'll see George and Charlotte travel in the carriage?

11 June - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will travel to Cumbria to celebrate the resilience and spirit of rural and farming communities in the region. The day will begin in Keswick where they will join a celebration with locals contributing to the community. After a walkabout in Market Square, the couple will visit a traditional fell sheep farm where they will get involved in sheep shearing.

17 June - We expect to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for Order of the Garter ceremonies at Windsor. It's understood it will be a very regal affair with Queen Letizia and Queen Maxima expected with their husbands.

18-22 June - It's very likely we'll see the Cambridges attend one day of Royal Ascot. The Duke of Cambridge Stakes is on Wednesday 19th.

There are several important D-Day 75 commemoration events taking place later this week. I imagine there's an embargoed appearance scheduled for William and Kate at one. The full list of events is available here.

Admin Note: A friendly reminder on the comment policy tonight. I understand this visit is an emotive one, fraught with controversy and divisiveness. In the hopes of keeping the comment section civil and focused on the Cambridges, I won't be publishing any political comments. Thank you for your understanding.