Kate wears kimono-style dress in Singapore as she and William visit orchid created for Princess Diana which she never got to see
- The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William began a nine-day tour of south east Asia and the South Pacific
- The couple visited the Botanical Gardens where they had an orchid named after them
- Prince William and Kate spent a few minutes quietly viewing the Dendrobium Memoria Orchid named after Princess Diana
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Kate was wearing a kimono-style pink dress featuring an orchid pattern by British designer Jenny Packham, a sweetly appropriate choice given that her first engagement was to have an orchid named after her.
She and her husband, Prince William, are embarking on a nine day tour of south east Asia and the South Pacific to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
The couple had no time to get over their jet lag as they came straight off a 14-hour flight to begin a day of engagements.
Beautiful day: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoying their first official engagement on their nine day tour of Asia at the stunning Botanical Gardens in Singapore
Floral tribute: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge look at an orchid named after Prince William's mother Diana, Princess of Wales, during their first engagement in Singapore
Fitting: The Duchess of Cambridge's dress covered in orchids was a fitting choice for her visit to the National Orchid Garden in Singapore
The couple emerged from the VIP exit at Singapore's Changi airport at 2.50pm - half an hour later than expected.
But despite her long flight Kate looked perfectly groomed in the kimono-style pink dress with her hair styled by her personal hairdresser, hired by Prince Charles at a cost of £300 a day for the duration of the tour.
They were greeted outside by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Defence Dr Maliki Osman, who' said the couple told him they were 'excited' to have arrived.
He said: 'It's a great honour to have them here in Singapore, for them to be starting their tour here.
Smile: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also had orchids named after them
Stunning: The Duchess of Cambridge explores the beautiful surroundings of the Botanical gardens
'William said he has friends here and he's been told there are lots of wonderful things to see. They said they were excited to be here and looking forward to the visit.'
His wife Sadiah Bte Shahal, who presented Kate with an enormous bouquet of yellow flowers, said: 'They are such a lovely couple, so affable. Kate was asking me about my children, what their ages are.
'We talked about the UK and particularly about shopping at Bicester (a designer shopping outlet in Oxfordshire frequented by the Middleton family).
'I said I've been there and I love it and she said she does as well. She said it's great how everything is so contained.
Funny: The Duchess of Cambridge laughs during a ceremony naming an orchid hybrid in honour of her and Prince William at the National Orchid Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Special moment: The happy couple inspect the orchid that will bear their name
Jubilant: Kate seemed very happy during her trip to the Botanical Gardens and couldn't stop smiling
'She also asked me about the flowers I gave her, she said they are very unusual and what are they. I said I'm not sure but I think they're two types of orchids.'
The couple were also introduced to Lieutenant Colonel Lim Jit Mee, honorary aide for William and Superintendent Teo Yee Lay, honorary aide for Kate.
They arrived through the VIP complex of Changi airport, reserved for the visiting elite with lush floral displays and a striking water feature.
Before their arrival a Union flag was hoisted in the VIP car park, and assistants emerged carrying rucksacks, handbags, suit bags and a make-up case.
The couple travelled in a convoy of three dark green Jaguars which have been provided by the British High Commission as the couple's transport while in Singapore.
As they arrived at their first engagement of the day, Singapore's Botanical Gardens, the Duke and Duchess were cheered up the long drive by well wishers before walking briskly inside.
Founded in 1859 as a pleasure park, the breath-taking 74-hectare park now is now one of Singapore’s most famous attractions and home to the National Orchid Garden which houses more than 60,000 plants.
Official: The Duchess of Cambridge signs a book documenting the naming of an orchid in their honour
Making his mark: Prince Williams also signs the book after the naming ceremony of a hybrid orchid
The orchid is the national flower of Singapore and the VIP Orchid Garden is reserved for visiting Heads of State and international dignitaries.
Some 180 hybrid orchids have been named after VIPs including a gold flower in honour of the Queen’s State Visit to Singapore in 1972 and Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana, a pure white orchid named after William’s late mother.
The Duke and Duchess spent a few minutes quietly viewing the Asian orchid, which Diana had been delighted to have named after her - and vowed to see it. But she was killed just two weeks before she could fly out.
Today, following a 15-year wait, the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana orchid finally got the royal seal of approval.
Somber William paid tribute to the pure white flower as he made the National Orchid Garden one of the couple's first stops of their Far East tour.
Standing in front of the 3ft plant in 36C temperatures, the prince said: 'It's beautiful... it's beautiful. Did she (Diana) ever come to Singapore?'
Poon Hong Yuen, CEO of the garden, told him she had never seem the plant. William responded: 'It's a shame... It's beautiful... Nice, very nice.'
Emotional: Prince William spent a few moments in quiet contemplation after viewing the orchid named after his mother Diana
After a moment of reflection with his wife, the couple viewed a new orchid planted for themselves.
Vanda William Catherine is a free-flowering orchid hybrid specially designed to honour their marriage.
William smiled and chuckled as he joked to Mr Poon that some of the colours of the purple spotted flower matched Kate's dress.
William asked Mr Poon: 'Where will it go in the garden?' After being told it will join her mother's in the VIP area, he added: 'It's very kind. Thank you very much.'
The couple signed a certificate 'William' and 'Catherine' to formally name the orchid.
The couple also met a number of gardeners and scientists who help design the orchids.
Manager Alan Tan Chye Soon, 42, had been involved in preparations to welcome Diana before tragedy struck in 1997.
He said: 'It was so sad that she never saw it. It is one of our favourite orchids - and most popular.
'We were getting ready for her to come over when she died. It was like William and Kate are fulfilling her promise today.'
Honour: A gardener attends the pure white orchid named after Princess Diana that she never got to see
Touching tribute: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge viewed the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana Orchid when they visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Briton Jason Wright, 29, of Fleet - who works at the garden - shared a joke with William.
'I told him Singapore was a city in a garden. Kate said they had noticed on the way. William added that 'it's a bit different from the M4.'
Describing the couple's reaction to the Diana orchid, Mr Poon added: 'They were impressed. He commented about the colour, saying it was a nice colour. I told them she did not have the chance to see it.
'He then commented that it seemed very well co-ordinated with Catherine's dress.'
It was the first royal visit since the Queen visited the garden in 1972.
Despite crowds of onlookers pouring with sweat, suited William and Kate showed no sign of suffering in the heat.
Following their visit to the Botanic Gardens, the couple arrived at Raffles Hotel where they will be staying for the duration of their three nights in Singapore. A crowd of around 200 people gathered outside the hotel to cheer their arrival.
They were welcomed by the general manager, Pierre Jochem, and the hotel manager, Laurent Branover.
Greetings: Prince William and Kate are welcomed by airport staff and crew as they arrive - half an hour late - in Singapore
Helping hand: The couple were introduced to Lieutenant Colonel Lim Jit Mee and Superintendent Teo Yee Lay - their honorary aides for the trip
The Duchess was presented with a bunch of yellow, white and pink orchids by Lynn Choy, the daughter of Mrs Annie Choy, the hotel's director of marketing. 'They are beautiful, thank you,' said the Duchess, laughing along with the female staff in the greeting line-up who commented on the matching orchids on her dress.
The Duke of Cambridge told the welcome line up that it had been 'a very long flight, but we're so happy to be here'.
Mrs Andrea Greybanks, the hotel's director of sales and marketing, who also welcomed the couple, said: 'I told her she looked beautiful and she thanked me. Prince William said that he was also very pleased to be following in his grandmother's footsteps by staying with us.' The Queen stayed at Raffles during her visit to Singapore in March 2006.
The hotel does not have a 'royal suite' and hotel staff would not comment on the couple's accommodation, though it is believed they will be staying in one of Raffles' palatial suites.
Raffles opened in 1887 and was named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore. Previous guests include Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner and Rudyard Kipling.
Just landed: Britain's Prince William looks on as his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, receives flowers upon their arrival at the VIP terminal of Changi International Airport in Singapore
Delighted: The Duchess of Cambridge being presented with a huge bouquet of yellow flowers by the wife, Sadiah Bte Shahal, of the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Defence Maliki Osman
Later in the evening they are due to visit The Istana, the official residence of the President of the Republic of Singapore, originally built by the British Colonial Government to house its governors.
The building was handed over to the Singapore Government when it began to self-govern and was renamed Istana, which means palace in Malay.
The building was handed over to the Singapore Government when it began to self-govern and was renamed Istana, which means palace in Malay.
After reviewing a Guard of Honour the royal couple will make official calls on the Prime Minister and President before attending a state reception and dinner featuring a selection of Singapore’s most influential people, many with strong ties to the UK.
The couple’s private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, said of their tour: ‘The destinations were chosen by The Queen for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, which underlines the importance that Her Majesty attaches to these significant nations in South East Asia, and their relationship to the United Kingdom, and to two of Her Majesty’s Realms in the South Pacific.
Enjoy your stay: Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are welcomed by the management as they arrive at Raffles Hotel
Grand welcome: The Duchess of Cambridge arriving at the luxurious Raffles Hotel in Singapore first opened in 1887
‘The aim of this Tour is to celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Duke and Duchess will use the Tour to pay tribute through what they do and say, and who they meet, to The Queen’s lifetime of dedication to the mix of peoples and cultures that make up all of Her Majesty’s Realms and the Commonwealth.
‘The Tour will comprise a mixture of formal and informal moments which reflect these aims and The Duke and Duchess’s characters and interests specifically.’
Singapore gained independence from Britain in 1963 and joined the Federation of Malaysia, but became a separate nation two years later.
Grand: The couple are staying at the world-famous Raffles Hotel, which is celebrating it's 125th birthday this year, where a room can cost upwards of £1,000 a night
Preparation: The luxurious Raffles Hotel gets a lick of paint ahead of the arrival of the Royal couple
Starting point: The couple started a nine-day tour of the Far East and South Pacific in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Singapore
Now one of south-east Asia’s most hi-tech, wealthy city-states – crammed with skyscrapers and shopping malls - it is also known for its strict social controls.
The penalty for drugs trafficking is death, dropping litter is punishable with a £500 fine and it is against the law to even bring chewing or bubble gum into the country for personal consumption.
Offences including ‘outrage of modesty’ and over-staying of a travel visa can still be punished by lashes using a rattan cane.
On Thursday they will fly onto Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, another former colony, before taking in Borneo and two realms in the South Pacific where the British monarch is still head of state, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.
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