The Duchess of Cambridge gets 'back to business' in a jewel-coloured suit on first official UK engagement since topless photographs scandal
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The Duchess of Cambridge proved she was determined to ‘get back to business’ today as her lawyers continue to pursue legal action against the French magazine that published topless pictures of her last month.
Dressed in a short burgundy skater skirt and matching jacket by designer Paule Ka with thick black tights and heels, Kate arrived on her first UK engagement since the scandal broke with her husband, Prince William, this afternoon looking happy and collected.
Sources close to the 30-year-old Duchess say that while she is still deeply upset by the ‘grotesque’ invasion of her privacy, she is determined the incident will not overshadow or affect her growing public role.
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Kate arrived on her first UK engagement since the scandal broke with her husband, Prince William, this afternoon looking happy and collected
The Duke of Cambridge, Master of the Bench, and The Duchess of Cambridge met recipients of the Queen Mother Scholarship, the Diana, Princess of Wales Scholarship and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarships at Middle Temple Inn
William has been a ‘tower’ of support to his wife of a year through and the royal pair are said have been brought closer than ever by the media storm.
Today thoughts of the incident were far from their minds as they arrived the heart of legal London on an official public visit.
The couple had been invited to the historic Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, one of the four ancient Inns of Court entitled to call their members to the English bar to practice as barristers, to launch a new award scheme in their name.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarships will be given to law students in particular financial need, or who have overcome adversity, in order to pursue their studies.
Middle Temple already offers financial help in the former of scholarship funds set up in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Diana, Princess of Wales. This new scheme builds on that legacy.
The duchess chose a short burgundy skater skirt and matching jacket by designer Paule Ka with thick black tights and heels
William and Kate are due to meet recipients of each of the three schemes at a small reception as well as other members of the Inn.
Three years ago Prince William was called to the bar as an honorary barrister at Middle Temple – but made to promise not to practice.
The RAF Search and Rescue helicopter pilot, who is more used to planning sorties and checking weather forecasts than legal argument, was also called to the Bench, the Inn's governing body.
In doing so he was the sixth member of the Royal Family to be made a Royal Bencher, following in the footsteps of the Queen Mother, called in 1944, and his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, called in 1988.
On its website, the Middle Temple says it has ‘long provided funds to help aspiring barristers along the road towards financial independence.
‘In 2012 over £1million was offered in scholarships, and an appeal is underway to secure funds to significantly increase this amount. A number of new scholarships have been made available through the generosity of both individuals and members of chambers.’
Today’s visit is the first official engagement for the couple since they returned from their Diamond Jubilee tour of South East Asia and the South Pacific last month and heralds a busy working week.
The couple had been invited to the historic Honourable Society of the Middle Temple to launch a new award scheme in their name
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Scholarships will be given to law students in particular financial need, or who have overcome adversity in order to pursue their studies
Kate and William pose with (L-R) lasts year's Diana Scholarship winner Harry Azoh, this year's Princess Diana Scholarship winner Priya Sidharh and Nathan Scott who won the Queen Mother Scholarship in 2010
Tomorrow they will travel up to Burton-Upon-Trent to meet England football manager Roy Hodgson and his squad as they are put through their paces at the Football Association’s new St George’s Park training facility.
On Wednesday Kate will meet local community groups and charities during a day-long series of engagements in Newcastle and Stockton-On-Tees.
The 'away day' should have been a joint event with her husband but today St James's Palace announced the Duke of Cambridge would no longer be undertaking the engagements as planned as he will be attending the funeral of the late Olga Powell, who was his and Prince Harry’s nanny for much of their childhood. Given the significant role that Mrs. Powell played in the Princes’ lives, The Duke wished to pay his respects in person, his spokesman said.
Mrs. Powell passed away on 25th September this year.
Thursday sees William attending a fundraising dinner at St James’s Palace organised by 100 Women in Hedge Funds ‘dateless’ as his wife has a ‘prior private engagement’ booked in.
William has been a tower of support to his wife of a year and the royal pair are determined to get back to business
Video: William and Kate kick off a busy London schedule
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2214643/The-Duchess-Cambridge-gets-business-jewel-coloured-suit-official-UK-engagement-topless-photographs-scandal.html#ixzz28kaQpYPJ
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