Baby on board: Pregnant Kate creases up with laughter after being handed badge on Tube as she joins Queen and Prince Philip for 150th anniversary celebrations
- Queen's public visit to Baker Street Underground station is first since illness
- She had been carrying out her duties within Buckingham Palace
- Duchess of Cambridge, who visited Bucks yesterday, also in attendance
- Five-months pregnant Kate was given a 'Baby on board' badge
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She is unlikely to swap her chauffeur-driven car for the normal morning commute.
But just in case, the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was given one of London Underground's famous Baby On Board badges when she visited a bustling tube station today.
The lapel badges are available free to expectant mothers using public transport as a gentle hint to fellow travellers to offer them their seat and behave, well, in a slightly more courteous manner.
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Expectant mother: The Duchess of Cambridge looked delighted to have been given the badge which she showed to Prince Philip during their visit to the station
'Making a difference': The Duchess of Cambridge was told the badge saves men the embarrassment of having to guess whether a woman is pregnant or not - and can simply offer them a seat on the Tube
Personal service: The Duchess of Cambridge is given a tour of tube carriage displaying its next stop as Buckingham Palace
VIDEO - MOMENT DUCHESS GETS THE GIGGLES AS SHE IS HANDED A BABY ON BOARD BADGE
Laughing Kate, who was wearing an extremely short teal coat by designer Marlene Birger, which displayed her blossoming bump, a took the gesture in good spirits as she turned to the Queen and said: 'I will have to wear it at home!'
The Duchess, who is expecting her first baby in July, was accompanying the sovereign on her first major engagement since she fell ill with a crippling bout of gastroenteritis almost three weeks ago.
The 86-year-old monarch looked paler and more drawn than normal but otherwise remarkably well in a cream 'summer tweed' dress and coat by Karl Ludwig and an Angela Kelly hat.
Going through the turnstile: The Duchess looked elegant as she was shown around Baker Street underground station with the Queen and Prince Philip
Mind the step: The Duchess of Cambridge steps off a brand new tube train at the busy station in London (left) and waits and Prince Philip on a platform at Baker Street
Honour: Queen Elizabeth stands next to plague with her named on it on platform 1 of the Northern-bound Metropolitan Line
Surprised members of the public try to take pictures from an adjacent platform of Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, during their visit to Baker Street station
Seal of approval: The Queen inspects a brand new S7 train during her visit to Baker Street Station
Her trip to Baker Street station, just yards from the birthplace of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, had been organised to mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground.
It is third time that Kate has accompanied the Queen on a public engagement without her husband, Prince William. Sources said there was 'no special reason' that the Queen had invited the Duchess to join her but just 'very much liked' to include her on occasions when their diaries allowed.
Accompanied by a sprightly looking Duke of Edinburgh, the two senior royal women arrived at 11.10am to the astonishment of passers-by and commuters alike.
In the driver's seat: The Queen inspects the cabin reserved for the driver on a new tube train today, pictured left, and at Heathrow Airport Station in 1977, pictured right
Technology: Tube staff talk to Queen Elizabeth about a new S7 train unveiled at Baker Street station today
Disembark: Queen Elizabeth II steps off a parked train she was shown around at Baker Street station in London to mark the 150th anniversary of the London Underground
A familiar scene: The Queen is shown through the barriers at Baker Street Station during a public visit today
Down memory lane: Queen Elizabeth II pictured in 1977 at Heathrow Central station in London when she officially opened the £30 million Piccadilly Line extension linking Heathrow Airport with London's underground railway system
It was clearly a good day to get a seat on the Metropolitan Line, as waiting travellers ignored the arriving trains in order to catch a glimpse of the royal party - and loudly booed each time one pulled into the station and blocked their view.
After meeting staff in the ticket hall, the Royal Party moved downstairs to Platform 1 - the Northern-bound Metropolitan Line - where they were invited to walk through a new S7 train which is being rolled out on the underground and boasts walk-through carriages and air conditioning. The Queen later unveiled a plaque, naming the train 'Queen Elizabeth II'.
Afterwards, much to the delight of the Duke of Edinburgh, the group were invited to view a restored 1892 'Jubilee' coach, the oldest operational carriage in the world, which was variously used a shed and a shed and a workshop before being rescued by London underground in 1974 and restored.
Queen Elizabeth is shown a restored 1892 'Jubilee' coach - the oldest operational train carriage in the world
Warm welcome: Queen Elizabeth II was also presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers during her visit
Royal visit: The Queen leaves Baker Street Underground Station after being given a tour to celebrate 150 years of the Tube
Quite a crowd: Members of the public and press gathered around the station to watch the royal family leave
Under the spotlight: The Duchess of Cambridge carries a brightly-coloured bouquet of spring flowers presented to her outside of Baker Street Station in London
Back to her best: The Queen (right) arrives at Baker Street underground station with the Duchess of Cambridge (left) who was presented flowers
It is not the first time the Queen has been on the London Underground - she first travelled on a tube at the age of 13 in May 1939 with her sister, Princess Margaret, and their governess.
And during the visit Kate revealed she had been an regular traveller on the tube until her marriage to the future king.
London Underground's chief operating officer Howard Collins who presented Kate with her 'Baby on Board!' badge, revealed: 'She told me "I used to use the tube on a regular basis". She doesn't travel on the tube now because of her new role, unfortunately.
Family outing: The Duchess of Cambridge, right, follows Queen Elizabeth II, left, and Prince Philip, center, as they arrive at Baker Street underground station
She wears it well: Kate paired a rather short teal coat by Marlene Birger with a jaunty black hat, thick black tights and four inch heels
Keeping warm: The five-months pregnant Duchess of Cambridge kept warm in a thick coat and black gloves
The Duchess of Cambridge accompanied Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to Baker Street underground station
The Duchess of Cambridge's light brown hair was styled in loose curls with one side tucked behind her ear
'She said she rather missed me and asked lots of questions about the new trains, particularly the air conditioning which she said would make it much more pleasant to travel in the summer.'
He added: 'She seemed delighted with her Baby On Board badge and said: 'Oh yes I've seen this before - how do they work?'.
'We have been issuing them for the last 10 years and I explained how fantastic they were and how they really do make a difference - saves men the embarrassment of having to guess if a woman is pregnant.
The Duchess of Cambridge, center, receives flowers at Baker Street underground station in London
All eyes on Kate: The Duchess of Cambridge leaves Baker Street underground station
The Duchess of Cambridge said that she missed taking the tube while visiting Baker Street Station today for the 150th anniversary
Together again: The royal couple, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, both attended the special Tube anniversary event
All smiles: Queen Elizabeth appeared to be happy and in good spirits during the visit after a bout of ill health
Smiles all round: Queen Elizabeth II holds a bouquet of flowers at Baker Street Underground Station
'She asked so many great questions of the staff and seemed really interested our work.'
The Queen did not leave empty handed either and was presented with a commemorative Oyster Card, to the cheers of the waiting crowds.
Baker Street was part of the first stretch of the world-famous Tube network Paddington and Farringdon which opened on January 9 1863.
Kate smiles at the crowds as she leaves Baker Street Station in London today after a visit with the Queen
Successful visit: Queen Elizabeth II, leaves the Baker Street Tube station in London after inspecting a restored 1892 carriage and the S7 trains, which will be named Queen Elizabeth II, in her honour
Visit: Queen Elizabeth will today carry out her first public engagement in more than a week after she was treated for gastroenteritis at King Edward VII's Hospital, pictured, in London
KATE CHOOSES A-LINE STYLES TO FLATTER HER GROWING BUMP
As Kate's bump begins to show the Duchess is tending towards smart A-line jackets that flow over her stomach and allow for expansion as her pregnancy develops.
Today's Teal Marlene Birger dress coat was smart choice for the stylish royal, adding a pop of colour to a grey day in London and acting as proof that it is possible to dress stylishly without resorting to frumpy maternity wear.
Some traditionalists have raised their eyebrows at the hem lengths Kate has been sporting lately, but thick black opaque tights, black gloves and a glamorous hat kept the look formal.
Kate chose an elegant teal dress coat featuring black beaded detail and buttons and a flattering flared bac
Erica Davies, Fashion and Beauty Editor at Look magazine and a mummy blogger at Modern Mum Must-Have says: 'A-line is always going to be a flattering shape when you're pregnant because it works for every shape.
'So whatever your size, an A-line will skirt over the bump showing off knock-out legs and a slim top half.
'Kate would look great in maternity dresses from Koka Mama - versatile pieces that work hard as a tunic over trousers or as a dress. And as we all know, Kate isn't afraid to wear things twice.'
Danish designer Marlene Birger is known for her smart, elegant collections and coats from her new season line start at £369.
Kate has worn pieces by the established designer before, choosing a 'Bullet' dress as part of her coveted North American tour wardrobe in summer 2011.
Yesterday Kate's monochrome styling on a charity visit caused a sensation, the white £560 Goat coat that she chose proved particularly popular with her fans.
A spokesman for fashion site my-wardrobe.com who stock the design as part of their spring offering said: 'Our buyers are re-ordering more stock to land on the site soon. The other pieces from the collection are now also in our top selling categories.'
Kate chose a £560 Goat jacket for yesterday's visit to High Wycombe (left) and wore a dress by Danish designer Birger on the North America tour in 2011 (right)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2296186/Pregnant-Kate-Middleton-laughs-handed-Baby-On-Board-badge-Tube.html#ixzz2O6wMeWFh
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