Wearing a round-neck Emilia Wickstead coat in canary yellow silk, Kate brought a ray of sunshine to the proceedings today.
She accessorised the coat, which neatly skimmed her by now very evident bump, with a cream Jane Corbett hat with rippled bow and large pearl drop earrings (and, it goes without saying, her trusty nude pumps).
The party, when the Queen hosts a tea for 8,000 esteemed members of the public in the gardens of her London residence, is considered to be one of the highlights of the royal summer calendar.
Sunny delight! Kate brightens up the Buckingham Palace Garden Party in a canary yellow coat
Royal bump watch: The duchess's tall, athletic
physique has meant she has remained slender throughout - only now is her
bump really beginning to show
In-laws: Kate spent much of the afternoon in the company of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla wore a beautiful brocade coat by Fiona Clare topped off with a flamboyantly feathered hat, while Prince Charles looked elegant in dove grey tails.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent were also in attendance.
This was the second year that Kate had attended the Queen's garden party, which the monarch uses as a way of thanking people who have contributed to public life or their local community.
Kate attended the party for the first time last year, something which at the time was said to be a real rite of passage for the fledgling royal.
This was also the second year that Kate attended alone. Last year William was tied up with duties on Anglesey, where he serves as a helicopter rescue pilot, and this time round too prior engagements kept him away.
Another guest called out to Kate 'you look lovely in yellow' to which she smiled and thanked him, gently smoothing her hand over her swelling belly.
She also chatted with guest Juliet Rogers about the affect the weather was having on her pregnancy,
'She said that the one benefit of the weather was that it was keeping her temperature down. She said she was thankfully rather cool.'
Among the guests was British Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, looking summery in a floral dress by, appropriately, The Pretty Dress Company and Topshop shoes.
She said: 'Everyone told me to wear my Olympic uniform but how often do we get the chance to dress up for something like this? I have been here a lot over the last year - we have been milking the Olympics a lot, I know - but it is always a real honour.'
Julie Roberts, one of the founding members of the Military Wives Choir was among those who chatted to the Queen, resplendent in a sugar pink Karl Ludwig coat and dress and Angela Kelly hat.
Mrs Roberts was accompanied by her husband, Captain Tommy Roberts of the Royal Marines, and sons Captain Thomas Roberts, also a marine, and student son Ciaran.
She said: 'We have sang for the Queen a number of times and it was a delight to meet her in person.'
Blossoming:
With just under two months to go until her estimated due date, Kate
looked pretty in a cocoon-cut Emilia Wickstead coat that accentuated her growing bump
This was the second year that Kate had attended the Queen's garden party, which the monarch uses as a way of thanking people who have contributed to public life or their local community.
Kate attended the party for the first time last year, something which at the time was said to be a real rite of passage for the fledgling royal.
This was also the second year that Kate attended alone. Last year William was tied up with duties on Anglesey, where he serves as a helicopter rescue pilot, and this time round too prior engagements kept him away.
Spectacular: Buckingham Palace provides a beautiful backdrop for the uplifting event
Making her way through the
8,000-strong crowd on the lawn to the rear of the palace, Kate, 31,
chatted with well-wishers including Marie Curie nurse Susan Bradley who
said afterwards; 'She instantly recognised my uniform and the daffodil
in my lapel and told me that she had great admiration for the work the
charity does as our staff cared for her own grandfather in his home when
he was terminally ill.'Another guest called out to Kate 'you look lovely in yellow' to which she smiled and thanked him, gently smoothing her hand over her swelling belly.
She also chatted with guest Juliet Rogers about the affect the weather was having on her pregnancy,
'She said that the one benefit of the weather was that it was keeping her temperature down. She said she was thankfully rather cool.'
Bright: The Duchess of Cambridge added a flash
of summer colour to the event, which was, as seems to be customary of
late, blighted by grey clouds and overcast skies
It was only the second garden party
the Duchess had attended but is clearly learning fast, as she chatted
easily with several dozen guests as she slowly made her way to the green
and white stripped royal tea tent where the other members of the family
were slowly gathering. Among the guests was British Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington, looking summery in a floral dress by, appropriately, The Pretty Dress Company and Topshop shoes.
She said: 'Everyone told me to wear my Olympic uniform but how often do we get the chance to dress up for something like this? I have been here a lot over the last year - we have been milking the Olympics a lot, I know - but it is always a real honour.'
Julie Roberts, one of the founding members of the Military Wives Choir was among those who chatted to the Queen, resplendent in a sugar pink Karl Ludwig coat and dress and Angela Kelly hat.
Mrs Roberts was accompanied by her husband, Captain Tommy Roberts of the Royal Marines, and sons Captain Thomas Roberts, also a marine, and student son Ciaran.
She said: 'We have sang for the Queen a number of times and it was a delight to meet her in person.'
Good time: The royals are joined by up to 8,000
guests at each royal garden party, and each consumes around 14 cucumber
sandwiches
Blossoming:
With just under two months to go until her estimated due date, Kate
looked pretty in a cocoon-cut Emilia Wickstead coat that accentuated her growing bump
Eyes front! A royal guard can't resist flicking his gaze right to catch a glimpse of Kate as she chats to Charles and Camilla
Bond: Kate shares a joke with Camilla, with whom she is said to have a close relationship
Party time! Prince Charles, the Duchess of
Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge enjoying the atmosphere at the
summer season's first royal garden party
Against the flow: Kate is confronted by dozens of guests keen to get closer to her at the Buckingham Palace event
Esteemed: Guests at the Queen's garden parties include members of the public who have contributed in some way to public life
Chic: Kate's Jane Corbett hat - one she wore in
June last year with a cream Alexander McQueen dress-coat for the Order
of the Garter ceremony - with the silk yellow coat
Cameras at the ready! The partygoers held phones aloft to catch some of Kate's magic on film
Ladies in waiting: Kate spent time chatting to a cornucopia of colourfully dressed band of guest
Popular: Kate was surrounded by curious crowds keen to catch her every word
Warm welcome: The Queen and fellow royals mingle with the crowd, which today included Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington
Hostess with the most: At 87, the Queen at 87
still knows how to throw a great party - one of three garden events she
will host this summer
The Queen, wearing a Karl Ludwig coat and Angela
Kelly hat, met a member of the Military Wives Choir along with her
military husband and two sons. On her lapel the Queen wore the
star-shaped Jardine Star brooch, an eight-point diamond piece that was
left to her by Lady Jardine in 1981. The Queen has since worn the piece
many times
'ELEGANT, CLASSIC WITH A HINT OF PLAYFULNESS: GARDEN PARTY CHIC FIT FOR A DUCHESS
Kate chose a bespoke version of the Marella coat by high society design darling Emilia Wickstead.
Kate
has worn a number of garments by the much-admired designer, including a
dusky pink dress worn at a garden party this time last year.
This
yellow silk coat is said on the website where an off-the-peg version
can be found to be 'elegant and classic with a hint of playfulness' and
is inspired by 1950s 'society swan' Marella Agneli.
Regal style: An off-the-peg version of Kate's
Emilia Wickstead coat is on sale at Matchesfashion.com now for £1,285
(but given the impact of the Kate Effect it won't be around for long...)
Buy it now: The coat on the Matches website -
said to be inspired by 1950s 'society swan' Marella Agneli. The coat is
described as 'elegant and classic with a hint of playfulness'
WE'VE SEEN THAT HAT SOMEWHERE BEFORE!
Kate's
hat was a cream sinemay hat with rippled bow trim by milliner Jane
Corbett. Corbett has long been a trusted milliner to the Middletons and
made the tilt-brim hat that Carole Middleton wore to the Royal Wedding
in 2011.
Corbett, who has a studio in Hungerford, Berkshire, was trained under Rose Cory, milliner to the Queen Mother.
Corbett
also created headgear for Carole for Royal Ascot, the Derby, Trooping
the Colour, for Pippa for various society weddings and for Kate, who
wore a royal blue Jane Corbett at the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday
celebrations - and of course, Kate wore today's cream creation for the
Order of the Garter.
2013: Kate today at the Buckingham Palace garden party. 2011: Kate at the Order of the Garter in Alexander McQueen coatdress
CUCUMBER SANDWICHES AND CAKES DECORATED WITH GOLD CROWNS: WHAT GOES ON AT THE QUEEN'S GARDEN PARTIES
The
Queen’s garden parties are quintessentially British and a chance to
celebrate the achievements of people who have contributed to public life
or their local community.
They have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s when Queen Victoria instituted what were known as public 'breakfasts', although they took place in the afternoon.
In the 1950s the number of garden parties held at Buckingham Palace was increased from two to three a year, taking the place of presentation parties attended by debutantes.
They have since evolved into a way of rewarding public service and are attended by people from all walks of life, invited on the recommendation of a variety of national organisations including the Government, Civil Service, Armed Forces and the Diplomatic Corps as well as charities and local Lord Lieutenants.
The parties normally take place in June and July but have been brought forward this year due to the Jubilee celebrations.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, enter the palace gardens at 4pm to the sounds of the National Anthem played by as military band.
Each member of the Royal family then circulates among the guests through 'lanes' which are peculiar to Royal garden parties. Random presentations are made so that everyone has an equal chance of speaking to Her Majesty and members of her family before they arrive at the Royal tea tent to meet VIP guests.
Tea and other refreshments are served in enormous quantities. At a typical garden party, around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed with 400 waiting staff involved in the serving.
Last year guests were treated to tea, iced coffee and organic apple juice along with cucumber and egg mayonnaise sandwiches, mini strawberry scones, coffee éclairs and tiny chocolate mousse cakes embossed with a gold crown.
In recent years, the Queen has been forced to try and make savings elsewhere in her budget to meet the bill for greedy guests who devour an average of 14 tea-time treats each.
At 6pm the Queen and the Royal party leave the garden and are escorted into the palace by the Yeoman of the Guard, Gentlemen at Arms and Gentlemen Ushers.
They have been held at Buckingham Palace since the 1860s when Queen Victoria instituted what were known as public 'breakfasts', although they took place in the afternoon.
In the 1950s the number of garden parties held at Buckingham Palace was increased from two to three a year, taking the place of presentation parties attended by debutantes.
They have since evolved into a way of rewarding public service and are attended by people from all walks of life, invited on the recommendation of a variety of national organisations including the Government, Civil Service, Armed Forces and the Diplomatic Corps as well as charities and local Lord Lieutenants.
The parties normally take place in June and July but have been brought forward this year due to the Jubilee celebrations.
Esteemed guests: Attendees of the party are thanked by the Queen for their contribution to society
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by other members of the Royal Family, enter the palace gardens at 4pm to the sounds of the National Anthem played by as military band.
Each member of the Royal family then circulates among the guests through 'lanes' which are peculiar to Royal garden parties. Random presentations are made so that everyone has an equal chance of speaking to Her Majesty and members of her family before they arrive at the Royal tea tent to meet VIP guests.
Tea and other refreshments are served in enormous quantities. At a typical garden party, around 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake are consumed with 400 waiting staff involved in the serving.
Last year guests were treated to tea, iced coffee and organic apple juice along with cucumber and egg mayonnaise sandwiches, mini strawberry scones, coffee éclairs and tiny chocolate mousse cakes embossed with a gold crown.
In recent years, the Queen has been forced to try and make savings elsewhere in her budget to meet the bill for greedy guests who devour an average of 14 tea-time treats each.
At 6pm the Queen and the Royal party leave the garden and are escorted into the palace by the Yeoman of the Guard, Gentlemen at Arms and Gentlemen Ushers.
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