Duchess Kate in Glittering Green Jenny Packham Gown for Pakistan Monument Reception

A glittering evening reception at the iconic Pakistan Monument in Islamabad completed the second day of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's official visit to the country.

I'm sure many of you were interested to know if the tour would include a black-tie event. When the schedule was released this morning, reporters described the dress code as "glamorous". I knew we could expect sartorial delights for the event and the Duchess Duke didn't disappoint. That's right, William got the memo and surprised us all, stepping out in a traditional sherwani by Naushemian. We've seen an abundance of sartorial diplomacy from Kate; perhaps she suggested William demonstrate a fashionable tribute :)

The Duchess didn't scrub up too badly either :)

A stylish entrance by the couple as they arrived in a traditional rickshaw.

The day saw the Duke and Duchess visit Model College for girls, where they learned about a programme attracting teachers to tackle the alarming number of girls leaving school. From there, they joined in nature activities at the scenic Magalla Hills. In the afternoon, William and Kate met with President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi at the Presidential Palace and joined Prime Minister Imran Khan for lunch.

The Pakistan Monument provided a stunning backdrop for the event. Located on the western Shakarparian Hills, it was built to symbolize the unity of Pakistan's people. It's dedicated "to those who sacrificed their today for a better tomorrow".

The monument arches.

ITV's Lizzie Robinson noted the monument is based on a lotus flower with each petal representing a different province of Pakistan. Below, a closer look at the scene tonight.

Hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew, the event celebrated the UK's links with the country. Guests included well-known faces from arts, music, culture, influential figures and members of government.

In a detailed speech, William praised the relationship between the United Kingdom and Pakistan: "We share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for Pakistan to succeed. Not least because of the 1.5 million people living in the UK with Pakistani origin and the fact that the UK is one of the biggest investors in Pakistan's economy. You can always rely on the UK to keep playing an important role as a key partner and friend." William also paid tribute to Pakistan's "unbelievably diverse geography that spans deserts to glaciers and everything in between".

William's speech in full:

'Ladies and gentlemen, it is our great pleasure to join you here this evening on our first official visit to Pakistan. Already, Catherine and I have been honoured by the hospitality you have shown us, and we have certainly managed to make our way through a record breaking amount of food so generously offered by our hosts.
I would like to begin by saying bahut shukriya to you all for making us so welcome in your country. Stood here with this magnificent monument behind me, I am struck by the great strides Pakistan has made since its birth seventy-two years ago.
The view from this hill would have been quite different when my grandmother, The Queen, first visited over half a century ago. Looking out, one would have seen the beginnings of a city under construction, yet to become the great capital that it is today.

And with successive visits by my mother and my father, this view has continued to change, with the city constantly growing and with it my family's affection for Pakistan.

This is the world's sixth largest country by population. It has an unbelievably diverse geography that spans deserts to glaciers and everything in between. It is the birth place of the youngest ever Nobel peace prize winner. And I am told that it hosts not just the second highest mountain in the world, but also its highest cash machine!

It is also home to one of the youngest populations in the world, with an average age of just 24 – almost half that of the UK.

In a public school not far from where we gather this evening, Catherine and I saw young children learning and playing, aided by an inspiring teacher, trained through the Teach for Pakistan programme. We spoke with ambitious young women finishing their schooling and planning for university and work. As Muhammed Ali Jinnah said, 'No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men'.

It was good to hear from President Alvi and Prime Minster Khan, earlier today that education will continue to be an important priority for Pakistan. We also saw the brilliant work taking place in the Margalla Hills, where young children were being taught the importance of protecting and caring for the world around them.

The education of Pakistan's next generation will be the key that turns the country's growing population into an engine of growth and helps unlock this country's enormous potential. A rapidly growing population presents you with an enormous opportunity, but also significant challenge.

The UK and Pakistan share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for you to succeed. Not least because of the 1.5 million people living in the UK with Pakistani origin and the fact that the UK is one of the biggest investors in your economy.

You can rely on us to keep playing an important role as a key partner and your friend. Delivering a future where Pakistan's great potential can be realised will not be easy or without sacrifice. For a country so young, Pakistan has endured many hardships, with countless lives lost to terror and hatred. Tonight I want to pay tribute to all those who have endured such sacrifice and helped to build the country that we see today.

Whether in Pakistan or the UK or elsewhere on our planet, we face shared global challenges. The effects of climate change threaten the present and the future, and therefore demand a concerted effort by everyone.

In Pakistan, your spectacular glaciers – and those of the wider Hindu Kush-Himalaya region – serve as a critical water store for a quarter of a billion people; and over 1.6 billion people rely on the great rivers that flow from the mountains in this part of the world.

Yet, because the effects of global warming at altitude, a one and a half degree Celsius temperature increase overall could mean warming of over two degrees Celsius for northern Pakistan's highest mountains. This could lead to a loss of over a third of these vital glaciers in less than a century, with enormous impacts not only on the availability of water, but on agriculture and hydropower generation.

Tomorrow we will be seeing some of these impacts first hand and meeting some of the communities adjusting to the new realities and new challenges that climate change has brought to their towns and villages. I hope to learn what more we all can do to help prevent and mitigate this impending global catastrophe.

Ladies and gentlemen, given the scale and complexities of the challenges that future generations will face, it is clear that we all need to work together. And whether it's this generation or the next, I know that the UK and Pakistan will continue to exemplify the very best in international cooperation.

Yes, the challenges ahead are great. But we cannot be daunted, nor distracted. Instead we should draw strength from our shared bonds and heed the words of Muhammed Ali Jinnah as we do so, 'My message to you all' he said 'is of hope, courage, and confidence'. 

When it comes to the Queen of Evening Wear in Kate's rotation of favoured designers, the crown always goes to Jenny Packham in my opinion. Tonight the British designer outdid herself, creating a sparkling emerald gown with long scarf detail in reference to the traditional Dupatta. It commands attention - literally shimmering in every photo.

Katie noted the gown appears to be a custom version of the Georgia style. The £3,640 sequin dress is from the Autumn/Winter 2019 Collection and described as: "Fitted with a tailored waistline which is further accentuated with a row of crystals, the utterly feminine design is dripping in head-to-toe sequins, delivering an audacious amount of unapologetic glamour."

For a red carpet Bollywood gala during the 2016 India tour, Packham created a show-stopping sapphire blue piece with intricate beading. The look remains a tour favourite and I suspect tonight's look will join that category.

Kate teamed the dress with a pair of Jimmy Choo Mimi Sandals (with thanks to Innominate93). The £575 wrap around shoes are described: "The intertwined ankle strap twists twice around the foot to create the illusion of volume and then meets in a delicate metal buckle fastening."

The UFO No More team discovered Kate's statement earrings were custom made in Pakistan by Chelsea-based boutique O'nitaa London. They have been a leading player in the south Asian luxury couture industry for a decade.

O'nitaa stock Maheen Khan designs and it turns out Kate's team discovered her work through the store. More from Harper's Bazaar:

'Khan also spoke out about being chosen by the duchess. She revealed that the royal's style team first spotted her designs at O'nitaa in London. "They are a very savvy team of young stylists and they picked up some clothes to show them to the Duchess and then, reached out to me,"

Meanwhile, once the reporters returned to their hotel, guests had one fashion moment on their mind...

#PrinceWilliam stole the show tonight in Pakistan with his traditional Sherwani jacket and told guests that Prince Charles often wears one....

“Yes my dad has one too, he wears it around the house at home...” #RoyaltourPakistan 🇵🇰 @GMB pic.twitter.com/cPRBd6sghw

— Nick Dixon (@NickDixonITV) October 15, 2019

If you missed today's engagements in Islamabad, please click here to catch up.

Once again, we won't know William and Kate's itinerary until tomorrow morning, however I understand they are visiting Lahore. What do you think of day two?

The Duchess in Traditional Maheen Khan & Catherine Walker Looks For Islamabad Engagements

For day two of their tour of Pakistan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge carried out several engagements in the capital city of Islamabad beginning with a visit to Model College for girls.

William and Kate landed in the country last night with their staff and members of the press in the British Government's Royal Air Force Voyager. Aides told reporters they timed their departure to do the school run with George and Charlotte before leaving. Their return home on Friday has been scheduled to ensure they will be back to spend the weekend with the children.

Due to security reasons, today's itinerary was shared just before William and Kate's engagements began this morning. Following their visit to Model College, it's a nature based engagement with schoolchildren in Margalla Hills. Also on the itinerary: a meeting with the President and lunch with the Prime Minister. This afternoon, the couple will meet staff members from the British High Commission and the day will draw to a close with a glittering evening reception at the Pakistan Monument.

Model College was established over forty years ago. The government run school supports students from the ages of 4 to 18.

William and Kate learned about the benefits of the 'Teach For Pakistan' programme which recruits young graduates and professionals for a two-year Fellowship to teach in schools with a lack of qualified educators. 49% of girls are out of school in Pakistan, it's one of several initiatives in place to tackle the issue.

It's based on a similar programme in the UK called 'Teach First' which has proven very successful. It's interesting to see the link between both countries and recognising the need to address similar problems across the world.

Since 2011, the scheme has recruited over 100 teachers with 7700 students taught and 64 schools supported.

Simon Perry reports:

“Access to quality education, particularly to girls and young women is one of the U.K.’s top priorities in Pakistan,” the couple’s spokesman said ahead of the royal tour.

Area education officer Mohammed Sohailkhan also echoed those sentiments to reporters on Tuesday, noting that the quality of education, particularly for girls, varied across the country.

“In recent years there has been gradual progress in understanding how important education is for girls and young women. There is a realization of what it can mean in terms of jobs and prospects,” he said. “I can’t paint you an entirely rosy picture. It does still fluctuate wildly, particularly in rural regions, where there has traditionally been cultural barriers towards this, notably in terms of sending girls away to college. But these barriers are slowly being broken down.”

William told a group of science students he had always wanted to fly. "I changed a lot as I got older but I always wanted to learn to fly. I was flying for a while a actually. I love flying, I feel very free."

The Duchess met a group of kindergarten children.

More from The Telegraph:

Asked by the chattering group of girls what they thought of Pakistan so far, the duchess beamed and replied: "It’s fantastic, this is only day one for us. We are going to the north so we will be interested to explore see the difference."

"Work Hard. Be Smart".

You'll notice the colour of Kate's ensemble matches the uniform.

The Telegraph reports:

'Sitting in the classroom with a group of teenagers, Prince William - who will, of course, be king one day - was asked what he had wanted to do when he was younger after Aima, 14, told him that she wanted to be a brain surgeon. 

"Actually I changed a lot as I got older but I always wanted to learn to fly. I was flying for a while a actually. I love flying, I feel very free [and) I like learning a skill, I enjoy that. I can relate the science of what you do," he said. 

The same student also told the prince that the girls were ‘big fans of your mother’.
Prince William gave a broad, slightly wistful, smile and said: "You were, really? Oh that’s very sweet of you. I was a big fan of my mother too. 

"She came here three times. I was very small. This is my first time and it is vey nice to be here and meet you all."

A 17 minute video from the engagement.

From there, they visited Margalla Hills located at the foot of the Himalayas.

They were joined by children from several local schools participating in the World Wildlife Fund Green Schools programme.

They joined in a range of activities including setting a leopard camera trap and a new initiative to remove harmful plants.

Take a look at the breathtaking Margalla Hills. Spanning over 12,000 hectares, archaeologists have discovered human footprints, over two millions years there, preserved in sandstone. They are home to 300 species of plants - many used for medicinal purposes - and a range of wildlife including the endangered Margalla leopard.

The Duchess selected a traditional royal blue periwinkle silk Kurta with trousers and a scarf by Pakistani designer Maheen Khan. When considering local designers for the Duchess, Khan is very much top of the list. Described by Milan Fashion Week as the "Coco Chanel of the East", the award winning designer has been a dominant force in fashion for decades.

Khan's illustrious career began in the 1970s. She quickly earned the title of "Pakistan's first couturier". She founded couture label Maheen, and high street brand Gulabo, with a determination to create wearable but elegant collections for women. Khan's career has seen her design costumes for Snow White and The Huntsman and Elizabeth starring Cate Blanchett. She was commissioned by Harrods to create a replica of The Queen's coronation dress to mark 60th anniversary celebrations. They ultimately decided not to go with the piece on display - instead presenting it to the British High Commission in Karachi. Khan's also the CEO of Pakistan Fashion Week.

A profile piece on the designer from Aurora:

“It humbles me to realise that I was the one who instigated all this; by default I stepped into this muddy area called fashion. I would never have dreamt that my small initiative would grow into a mega-billion rupee industry.”

It is also her opinion that the industry has become sleazy, too commercial and stagnant. Given that so many new names have entered the market recently, I asked her how easy it is to become a couturier. Her short reply is: “Do half of them even know what fashion means? They are all seamstresses, exactly where I was in 1972. What do they make that a tailor cannot?”

Khan describes fashion as something new that has never been seen before; it is about introducing a silhouette. “But, of course, none of them will tell you this because they don’t know.”

In her view, it is perfectly okay if someone wants to make pretty clothes and some money out of it, but they should not call themselves designers. “Does every man who builds a house call himself an architect? No. So why does every woman who makes clothes call herself a designer?”

The Duchess accessorised with her £7 Zeen Beaded Chandelier earrings from last night.

For Kate's first engagement, she wore a pair of £24 New Look Block Heel sandals (with thanks to Kate Middleton Style). They are also available in black at Asos.

In Margalla Hills, Kate changed into her Russell & Bromley Xpresso crossover flat shoes.

Following a quick change, William and Kate met the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, at the Presidential Palace.

The Duke and Duchess with the President and First Lady.

Next, the couple attended a luncheon with Prime Minister Imran Khan. Of course the Prime Minister is a familiar face...

Before entering politics, Imran was a very famous cricketer, then married to one of Diana's closest friends Jemima Goldsmith. During Diana's visits to the country, she supported Mr Khan's efforts to build a cancer centre and spent a good deal of time with the couple. It is believed William and Kate will retrace her footsteps later on in the visit.

Below, Diana in Pakistan with Imran Khan and Jemima.

More from ITV:

'Khan was a family friend who, at that time, was the husband of Princess Diana’s close confidante Jemima Khan, now Jemima Goldsmith. Diana would often take her two boys, William and Harry, to play at the Goldsmith’s large property in Richmond Park in south west London.

Jemima’s mother, Annabel Goldsmith, had been in Diana’s life for many years. She was an almost mother-like figure for Diana and someone she looked up to.'

The PM spoke about his own career journey. The Express reports:

“When I went with my mother to see a Test match my cousin was playing and he scored a century and I told my mother I wanted to be a Test cricketer,” Khan said.
“I never realised how difficult it was to eventually become one. Similarly, when I told you that I wanted to succeed I didn’t realise it would take me 22 years.”
Kate interjected “You stuck with it.” 

The Duchess changed into a bespoke Catherine Walker tunic and Maheen Khan white trousers for the meetings. Interestingly, Maheen Khan did quite a bit of embroidery work for Catherine Walker over the years. I expect it's likely someone from the Walker brand suggested Khan as a fantastic Pakistani brand to wear during the tour. The vivid grass green hue features in several Catherine Walker pieces, including a coatdress Kate's worn several times.

Kate teamed the look with an $11 Green Chiffon Dupatta by Pakistan based Satrangi (with thanks to Heaven).

And her Zeen Ceramic Drop earrings.

Kate completed the look with her 'greenery suede' Emmy London shoes and clutch.

A brief roundup video from the day.

William and Kate will privately meet British High Commission staff later this afternoon before attending an evening reception at the Pakistan Monument.

The Cambridges Land in Pakistan for "Most Complex" Tour to Date

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's eagerly anticipated official visit to Pakistan began tonight as they landed in the Royal Air Force Voyager at Pakistani Air Force Base Nur Khan in Rawalpindi, located just a half hour from the capital city Islamabad.

The links with Pakistan are extensive, the British High Commission in Islamabad being one of the UK’s largest diplomatic missions in the world. William and Kate's communications secretary revealed: "'From the modern leafy capital Islamabad, to the vibrant city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the north, and the rugged border regions to the west, the visit will span over 1000 km, and will take in Pakistan’s rich culture, its diverse communities, and its beautiful landscapes."

Arriving after 9.30 pm local time, the Duke and Duchess were warmly greeted by officials including Britain's High Commissioner to Pakistan, Thomas Drew. Speaking ahead of the arrival, he said: "There is a real sense of buzz and anticipation. I knew this visit would be a big deal. I've always been struck by the warmth in Pakistan toward the Royal family and the fond memories of previous visits. But I confess I've been overwhelmed by the warmth and enthusiasm I've experienced already."

An arrival video.

Kate received beautiful flowers.

They were joined by a team of fourteen staffers including private secretaries Simon Case and Catherine Quinn, communications secretary Christian Jones, and four additional members of the communications team, two personal assistants, an orderly, two programme coordinators and a hairdresser, believed to be Amanda Cook Tucker. Members of the press also travelled with them.

For security reasons, the itinerary has been largely kept under wraps with details expected to be revealed just before engagements commence each day. We do know we'll see a focus on young people, education, climate change and opportunities to learn more about the "challenging security picture". Kensington Palace added: "As with previous overseas visits, the Duke and Duchess have asked that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Pakistanis as possible. Over the course of the visit, Their Royal Highnesses will meet a wide variety of people, including children and young people, leaders from government, business and the charity sector, inspiring conservationists, and well-known cultural figures and sporting stars."

Chris Ship reports:

'The security for this week’s visit to Pakistan, by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, will be the highest of any royal tour since the Queen’s visit to Ireland.
With 207 million people, Pakistan is one of the most populated in the world (about the same number as Brazil and a little more than Nigeria) and 96 per cent of them are Muslim. But the people are not wealthy. As measured by GDP per head – Pakistan is in the bottom quarter of the world tables

William and Kate will also use the visit to draw attention to the effects of climate change and how communities are ‘rapidly responding’ to those effects.'

More from the Telegraph:

'More than 1,000 police will secure the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Pakistan next week as the couple begin a visit the country hopes will dispel its image as a terrorist haven blighted by violence. The visit will be held under unprecedented security for a trip by the couple, as they travel across the country in what Kensington Palace described as their most complex visit ever undertaken.

This week's visit is the first one to Pakistan, the Commonwealth's second most populous country, by members of the Royal family for 13 years.

Dr Farzana Shaikh, an associate fellow at Chatham House, said Britain mattered less politically to Pakistan than China or Saudi Arabia, but a royal tour would be a “feel good” visit. “It's going to be, as far a Pakistan is concerned, a further piece to put in place in repairing it's image,” she said.'

Whilst learning about the challenges the country is facing is on the agenda, this visit is very much about showcasing Pakistan as it is today, "a dynamic, aspirational and forward looking country". There will be cultural highlights and meetings with the President and Prime Minister along the way. Additionally, they are expected to follow in Diana's footsteps during the trip.

The British High Commission has done an outstanding job preparing for the visit and sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses as preparations were made.

The detail and level of workmanship is a delight to see.

The Duchess wore a stunning ombre turquoise ensemble by Catherine Walker. The bespoke look channeled the traditional shalwar kameez - a long tunic and trousers. I was very much hoping we would see Kate honour Pakistani dress; this Walker creation is sublime. The draped detail on the neckline and proportion of the dress and fitted trousers make for a gorgeous look.

As several of you have already noted, the look bears similarities to the shalwar kameez Diana wore in Pakistan in 1996. Diana's porcelain blue look was also by Catherine Walker.

Kate accessorised with a pair of £7 Beaded Chandelier earrings by Pakistan based brand Zeen (with thanks to UFO No More). You'll recall Kate chose a pair of their earrings for an engagement at the Aga Khan Centre earlier this month.

And the Zeen Cream Gleam clutch (with thanks to Innominate93).

The Duchess completed the look with her Rupert Sanderson Malory pumps.

We'll see engagements kick off properly in the morning. Whilst we won't have any details until tomorrow, reports suggest they will undertake engagements in Islamabad and meet with senior figures.