Duchess Kate in 'Wimbledon White' For Day Of Courtside Action!

It was a day of courtside action for the Duchess of Cambridge for day two of the Wimbledon championships.

The Duchess arriving this morning.

The Duchess was in attendance in her role as patron. The Queen passed her patronage of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in December 2016. It was an ideal fit for the Duchess, who has been attending almost every year since her pre-engagement days.

The entire Middleton family adore tennis, with Kate once revealing Roger Federer is her mother's secret crush. Kate's also a keen amateur player. The Cambridges have a tennis court at their country home Anmer Hall where they enjoy a spot of friendly competition. Kate revealed George and Charlotte are already taking it up - it won't be long until Louis joins his siblings.

Spot the Duchess...

During the fortnight of spectacular tennis, spectators from all over the world descend upon the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club for what promises to be unforgettable tennis. A parade of glamorous style will be on display, 320,000 glasses of Pimm's and 140,000 portions of English strawberries will be consumed. Steeped in tradition, it is also the only tennis major played on grass, with players donning white, precisely as they did a century ago. It is the only Grand Slam tournament with a Royal Box.

Upon arrival, the Duchess met a number of finalists and winners nominated for the annual LTA Tennis Awards which took place today.

The awards recognise volunteers and supporters who devote their time at grassroots level to growing the sport and encouraging players.

Kate chatted to staff and volunteers involved in the game.

Kate visited Aorangi Park to see the practice courts and warm up area.

The terrace is named after Aorangi Park, the London New Zealand Rugby Club's grounds, which were on the site until 1981. Aorangi refers to the Māori description of Aoraki, the highest mountain in New Zealand. In the 1990s, a huge new screen was installed on the site at the peak of British player Tim Henman's popularity. Over the course of his career, it became affectionately known as "Henman Hill".

In recent years, fans have taken to calling Aorangi "Murray Mound".

Speaking of Andy Murray, it was just lovely to see Kate with him today. It's been an incredibly difficult year for the three-time Grand Slam winner. A painful hip injury led Andy to announce his retirement from singles tennis in January. I remember watching the press conference and Andy was visibly devastated. The whole nation felt for him that day and mourned the end of the career of one of Britain's finest ever players. Since then, there's been positive news for the Olympic champion - following a "life changing" hip surgery Andy is participating in the doubles at Wimbledon this year.

The Duchess chatted with British player Johanna Konta.

Kate talked to Johanna about her match later in the day and asked about her thoughts on the new roof at the tournament.

Whilst we're accustomed to seeing Kate in the Royal Box, her first port of call was Court 14 this morning as she lent her support to British wildcard Harriet Dart. Harriet was nurtured and supported by Kate's patronage SportsAid for years.

The Telegraph reports: "A spokeswoman for the All England Club said: "We are delighted that the  duchess in her capacity as Patron of the AELTC was keen to see the full breadth  of The Championships and we were pleased to facilitate a visit to watch play on  the outside courts and to watch practice at Aorangi Park." Kate was joined by players Anne Keothavong and Katie Boulter.

Dart played a three-set match against American player Christina McHale and proved victorious after a very strong performance. Kate said she "very much enjoyed" the game.

From there, the Duchess moved to Centre Court and took her seat in the Royal Box to watch an afternoon of terrific tennis between Angelique Kerber and Tatjana Maria before watching Roger Federer win his first round match.

A fun video from Hello! of Kate's best expressions.

It was 'Wimbledon White' for the Duchess in the 1940s inspired Suzannah Wiggle dress (with thanks to Caroline Parr).

The £1,850 dress is made from Italian silk crepe and is lined throughout the bodice and skirt in lightweight silk habotai. It's described as: "A re-interpretation from our own archive. The original inspiration derives from a late 1940’s Wiggle Dress, which we have re-cut to have a skimming fit over the bodice and fluid gentle soft movement throughout the skirt hemline. The silhouette is contoured around the waist with delicate pin-tucks. Pin-tucks are also placed at the front yoke detail. The dress is designed to be an elegant tea-length. The silhouette has beautiful half sleeves with buttoned cuff. Contrasting silk covered buttons are a simple closure and a beautiful delicate feature, with the buttons working from double to single breasted down the centre front."

It's available for pre-order with a six week lead-time.

Kate wore her Gianvito Rossi Piper block heel shoes. They are available at My Theresa.

Kate accessorised with her Catherine Zoraida Fern Hoop earrings.

A closer look.

Kate carried Alexander McQueen's Wicca raffia satchel (with thanks to UFO No More). It's available in several colours at FarFetch.

Kate removed the original belt from the dress and added her McQueen Bow-Front Leather Waist Belt.

Kate wore her citrine cocktail ring. She's had the piece for years.

And debuted a new pair of Ray Ban Sunglasses (with thanks to UFO No More). The Wayfarer II Classic style retail for $230 at Sunglasses Hut.

Kate sported an official Wimbledon bow in the official purple and green colours.

I expect we'll see Kate at the tournament at least once more. 

The Duchess in Sandro Paris for 'Back to Nature' Hampton Court Visit!

The Duchess of Cambridge visited her RHS 'Back to Nature' garden at its new home, Hampton Court Garden Festival, this afternoon.

Following its success at the Chelsea Flower Show, the garden was transferred to RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival.

The garden retains its original elements, with a number of additions to accommodate the significantly larger display.

It now includes a bee-friendly meadow, a new pond for children to paddle in, and a hill. The updated design is the result of a collaboration between the Duchess and landscape architects Davies White.

Craftsmen from The Prince's Foundation Jonny Briggs and Jonny Anderson created the waterfall and wooden walkway. Charles' foundation is very much focused on communities, sustainable housing, traditional arts and skills and education.

The Royal School of Needlework created the den's camo net from compostable materials.

The Telegraph reports Kate visited last Tuesday to help with planting:

Kate told Jake Catling, director of the Landscaping Consultants - a bespoke garden construction business which built the garden: "I loved it. So many of them loved hopping over the stone and that's so nice to see." Mr Catling said after speaking to the duchess: "This was just a field and we brought in 18 articulated lorries worth of stuff in and we had a team of up to 20 people to build it."

He added that Kate had requested the path across the water feature for George: "We made the stepping stones because Prince George wanted them. The kids loved jumping across it and it was down to Kate we got that in."

The Duchess visited the site near Kingston in south-west London last Tuesday to help with the planting, and Mr Catling said she had been a useful member of the team. He said: "She was very hands on, it was fantastic. She came and did lots of planting and directing everyone around and got involved in the mulching."

Kensington Palace said: "As part of her longstanding work on Early Years, The Duchess believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children’s future health and happiness. Her garden highlights how time spent in natural environments can help build the foundations for positive physical and mental wellbeing that last through childhood and over a lifetime. Features like the hollow log and rustic dens will return from Chelsea, in addition to a new hidden burrow, rolling hill and stream. These environments enable children to develop skills for life through free play, building their confidence, strength, resilience and social skills. In addition to the physical and mental health benefits of being in nature, spending quality time with parents and carers outside has a valuable impact on children’s early development. In the garden, families can explore together and enjoy nature as a playground. There is a pond to paddle in, a bug hotel that provides habitats for all sorts of wildlife, as well as a bee-friendly wildflower meadow."

More from the RHS:

'Sue Biggs, RHS Director General, says: “It’s wonderful this collaboration with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge continues and carries on inspiring families to get together and enjoy the great outdoors and get back to nature!

“The impact of the RHS Back to Nature Garden at Chelsea resulted in a record month for RHS Membership, with over 12,000 people joining us in May to support our charitable work and get outside gardening. This is incredibly positive and shows how powerful this collaboration is, really motivating people to garden, grow and access outside space and nature, which is good for their health and also for the environment and for wildlife.

“RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival has a much more laid back feeling than RHS Chelsea and two children up to age 16 can visit free per paying adult, so we hope lots of families will come and join in the fun, be inspired and then go home and garden together.”

In addition to the 19,500 people who saw the garden, thousands more families will have the opportunity to visit 'Back to Nature. The festival is the world's largest annual flower show, stretching over 34 acres.

The show began in 1990, and has gone from strength to strength since. Loved by horticulturists and families alike, it takes eighteen months to plan each show and two hundred people to build and dismantle it. An average of 140,000 visitors descend each year and spend an average of five hours exploring.

Today is the preview day for Hampton Court Garden Festival.

To mark the occasion, the Duchess hosted a picnic in the garden for children from several of her patronages including Place2Be, the Anna Freud Centre, Evelina Children’s Hospital and Action for Children. Families. Carers and teachers were also invited to enjoy the garden and demonstrate the importance of their role in raising a child.

Nine-year-old Kane from Place2Be said: "It was beautiful. It was very creative. I chatted to the Princess Kate about making smores on a campfire. Kate said there were foxes in the garden which had left half eaten sandwiches." Ruby 10, added: "I thought it was a dream - can't believe I'm really here!"

Kate gave one little girl a helping hand as she navigated the rocks.

This little one really caught Kate's attention :)

Olivia, Henry and Riley from Action for Children’s services loved exploring the garden and dens.

Kate joined the children for a treasure hunt.

A fantastic time was had hunting for insects.

The Duchess with Millie and Miracle from Evelina London.

In a letter to experts revealed in May, the Duchess wrote: "In recent years I have focused much of my work on the early years, and how instrumental they are for outcomes later in life. I believe that spending time outdoors when we are young can play a role in laying the foundations for children to become happy, healthy adults. There are undoubtedly challenges in trying to bring about the transformation that will make positive change for generations to come, and help break the inter-generational cycle of disadvantage and trauma, yet I am inspired every day by the people I meet and am committed to supporting this endeavour. I hope my long-term commitment to working in the early years will help make a difference over a generational timescale."

The Duchess spoke to a little girl about feeling shy. More from Hello! magazine.

'Kate, 37, spotted that Khareesha James, eight, was feeling shy as they visited her RHS Back to Nature Garden and took the schoolgirl into one a fabric-covered den for a private chat and told she likes to hide in them when she is feeling shy.

Speaking afterwards Khareesha said: “I am shy and she said that’s where she goes when she’s shy – in the tent. Her mum Sophia Dowd told HELLO!: “Khareesha is very shy – she doesn’t talk too much to people – and she (Kate) took her over to speak to her. She was really nice with her.” Asked if the moment had helped her to feel better, Khareesha nodded yes.

Khareesha later showed her appreciation for the royal pep talk by presenting Kate with a potted succulent she had decorated with stickers during an activity session at the garden.

Kate also met Millie Allingham, eight, and her mum Nicky, who recently donated a kidney to her daughter at the hospital (sorry, didn’t ask when). Millie said: “I asked her what they (George and Charlotte) like in the garden and she said the waterfall. She (Kate) liked the waterfall and I liked it too. It was shimmering in the glowing light.”

Kate thanked the fantastic team involved in the creation of the garden.

Following the 'Back to Nature' installation at Hampton Court, it will move to its final destination - to form part of a new children's garden at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey. Many of the plants, trees, hollow logs, dens and the treehouse will become a permanent feature of the garden. We can expect to see Kate visit the garden there, where she will meet the winner of the Blue Peter competition launched earlier this month, asking children to create a sculpture for the garden.

It's been quiet a collaboration and process. It's excellent to see 'Back to Nature' being enjoyed by so many; Hampton Court is a much more family friendly location and many more children will have the chance to experience it.

I'm sure they'll love it just as much as George, Charlotte and Louis did!

Speaking of the Cambridge family visit to RHS Chelsea, Kate chose the same wedges and earrings for her engagement today. Middleton Maven notes the & Other Stories Ruffled Maxi Dress Kate wore for that appearance is available in all sizes on their US website.

A video packed with sweet moments.

The Duchess selected a geometric print dress by Sandro Paris today.

The £260 Printed Flowing Midi Dress is described: "This Sandro dress elevates a classic ladylike silhouette with contemporary prints and unexpected detailing. Falling to an elegant midi length, it features short sleeves and decorative buttons at the bottom of the neckline extending into a defined waist with delicate pleats." The dress is on sale at Harrods.

Sandro Paris was launched in 1984 by husband and wife duo Didier and Evelyne Chétrite. Inspired by her childhood in Morocco and her studies in Paris, Evelyne designs the women's collections. She focused on Parisian elegance, energetic prints and naturally cool pieces. Kate's sister Pippa has been an avid fan of the brand for years. The green geo print of Kate's dress features widely in the current collection. Below, the Short Printed Silk Dress and the Patchwork Printed Long Dress.

As noted above, Kate wore her Castaner Carina wedges.

And £8 Accessorize Polly Petal Drop earrings.

William and Kate will attend Archie's Windsor christening on Saturday. Wimbledon gets underway today, so I expect we'll see the Duchess at the tournament on at least a couple of occasions over the fortnight of tennis.

The Cambridges to Undertake Most "Diplomatically Sensitive" Tour to Date in Pakistan

We've been awaiting news of the Cambridges' 2019 tour for months. Initially, speculation suggested a European trip, but more recently talk turned to a tour of Asia. Last night, Kensington Palace confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will in fact undertake an official visit to Pakistan this autumn at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The week-long tour will mark William and Kate's first joint Commonwealth tour in three years and is expected to take place in October. George, Charlotte and Louis will not be accompanying their parents. High Commissioner for Pakistan, Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, said: "The Government and the people of Pakistan warmly welcome the announcement of the royal visit by Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Pakistan this year. The people of Pakistan still cherish and fondly recall the visits of Her Majesty the Queen to Pakistan in 1961 and 1997. The upcoming royal visit is a reflection of the importance the United Kingdom attaches to its relations with Pakistan. The two countries enjoy historical links which both sides wish to strengthen further."

I thought the announcement a very interesting choice. Firstly, I'm delighted to see a return to Commonwealth visits. Whilst the focus has been on deploying a touch of 'soft diplomacy' and strengthening ties with our European neighbours during Brexit negotiations, it is absolutely vital William and Kate build relationships across the Commonwealth. With Her Majesty, and Prince Charles, we've seen a lifetime of connections forged through these visits. It's not beyond the realm of possibility William could be king and Kate queen consort in a decade's time; they need to be prepared for every eventuality and to utilise these years to the fullest. The Cambridges' previous tours have very much served as an introduction to the Commonwealth, promoted the interests of the UK and the host country, whilst honouring causes close to their hearts. The trip to Pakistan is being seen as a more serious undertaking, with the Telegraph describing it as their most "logistically difficult" and "diplomatically sensitive" tour to date.

More from Hannah Furness:

'The couple, who have not been on tour together for 18 months as the Duchess looked after their third baby Prince Louis, will visit Pakistan in the autumn as they take on a heavyweight role in Britain’s overseas diplomacy. The tour, which the three Cambridge children will not be part of, will see them navigate significant security concerns to celebrate the country’s ties with the UK.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice currently issues heavy warnings against travelling to certain areas of the country, listing recent terror attacks and advising tourists to “avoid religious events or gatherings, public events and large crowds of people throughout Pakistan”. “Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Pakistan,” it notes in official travel advice. 

“There’s a high threat of terrorism, kidnap and sectarian violence throughout the country, including the cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi.” Following the ambush of a bus in 2009, test cricket has not been played in Pakistan for a decade.'

Pakistan's Commonwealth membership has been a fraught one; the country left in 1972 before rejoining in 1989. The Commonwealth of Nations writes:

'Pakistan left in 1972, when other member countries recognised Bangladesh, and returned after the democratic elections of 1989.

However, following the overthrow of the democratically elected government in October 1999, the country was suspended from the councils of the Commonwealth pending the restoration of democracy. This suspension was lifted in May 2004, but reimposed in November 2007 after a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in Kampala pending the restoration of democracy and the rule of law. CMAG met again on 12 May 2008 and agreed that the Government of Pakistan had taken positive steps to fulfil its obligations in accordance with Commonwealth fundamental values and principles; it accordingly decided to restore Pakistan to the councils of the Commonwealth.'

Around 1.5 million Pakistani diaspora reside in the UK - an inextricable link between both countries. The Telegraph notes bilateral trade between UK and Pakistan is said to be worth £3 billion. Indeed, earlier this month, The first British Airways plane landed in Islamabad as the airline began its first service between the UK and Pakistan in 10 years. It is the first European airline to return to the country in more than a decade. Last December, both countries signed the Prison Transfer Agreement which will give prisoners the opportunity to serve their sentence closer to home and allows them to prepare for their reintegration into their home community when they are eventually released from prison.

Brexit will play a role in the tour, with the United Kingdom firmly focused on trade negotiations. A joint statement released by the Government and Pakistan read:

'With more than 200 million consumers, Pakistan is an exciting market for British business. To support UK companies exporting to Pakistan and for Pakistani buyers of UK goods and services, the UK export credit agency, UK Export Finance (UKEF), support is to more than double to up to £400 million, meaning an additional £200 million to help UK exporters win, fulfill and get paid for export contracts, and Pakistan’s buyers access finance to source high-quality UK goods and services.

Both governments are ambitious, to see more British trade and investment in Pakistan, as well as Pakistani businesses exporting to and operating in the UK. From textiles to pharmaceuticals, engineering and sporting goods, to finance, legal or business services, Pakistan has huge potential in the global economy. We are committed to work with businesses in both countries to strengthen these ties into the future.'

The Times notes:

'William and Kate will go the capital, Islamabad, and are also expected to travel to the cities of Lahore, Quetta, Karachi and Peshawar as well as rural communities across the country on the week-long tour. Sources said the Cambridges’ trip, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will “celebrate the close friendship and cultural ties between the two countries”.

A government source said: “Pakistan is a very important country in a fragile part of the world. “The royal visit will be an acknowledgment both of the significant Pakistani community living in the UK and the increasing commercial opportunities that are opening up there.” 

Lahore is both visually and historically magnificent. The country's second most populous city is the cultural hub of Pakistan. The centre of the publishing, literary scene and film industry, it's also home to leading universities. UNESCO World Heritage sites Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens could very well feature in the final itinerary.

The last royal tour to the county was in 2006 when Charles and Camilla visited amid heightened security following terrorist attacks. They enjoyed the sights of Lahore and visited the Badshai Mosque. The itinerary was planned to support the partnership between the UK and Pakistan and promote inter-faith education, sustainable development and young people.

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The late Princess Diana visited close friend Jemima Khan and her husband cricketer Imran Khan in Lahore in 1996 and 1997 to help raise funds for a cancer centre built by Khan. Mr Khan is now Prime Minister of Pakistan and it is almost certain he will welcome the Cambridges to the country, likely with an official dinner in their honour.

Her Majesty has a long history with the country. She visited with Prince Philip in 1961 and 1997. The 22 minute video below from their first visit is a snapshot back in time. Beautifully restored, the music and stunning cinematography reminds one of a classic movie from yesteryear. "A country of contrast of plains and rich farmlands. It's a country where tradition is strong, despite the urge for change." It features footage of the momentous welcome the Queen received, a variety of engagements and the Queen's timeless style.

In terms of Kate's style for the tour, the Duchess will be preparing for a warm climate. I imagine we'll see versatile day looks, possibly including the traditional dress of shalwar kameez (Diana is seen below wearing a gorgeous ivory pearl studded shalwar kameez). I expect we'll see a formal dinner and a couple of evening receptions on the itinerary to formally welcome the couple to Pakistan and celebrate ties between the two countries. There's an array of amazingly talented Pakistani designers we'll be looking at closer to the date.

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For security reasons, I don't believe we'll hear much about the tour until much closer to the date. It is thought child development, young people and mental health will feature on the itinerary. The photos should be fantastic, with cultural landmarks and scenic delights set to be on the agenda. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the full itinerary and the tour itself. It promises to be fascinating.

Kate's 'Back To Nature' garden will be displayed at Hampton Court Palace this week. The preview day is tomorrow, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see an unannounced engagement for the Duchess.