Cream of the crop! Duchess of Cambridge colour co-ordinates with Camilla and Countess of Wessex to watch William in Royal Order of the Garter procession at Windsor
- Kate wore cream Alexander McQueen outfit she previously wore for Trooping the Colour last year
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The girls were out in force at the historic Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle today.
Looking pretty in pastels, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall and Countess of Wessex laughed and gossiped as they waited for their husbands to come into view.
And the men didn’t look bad either – each of the princes (Charles, William, Edward) was dressed to the nines in the traditional blue velvet cloak of the Garter Order and a hat boasting an eye-catching plume of heron and ostrich feathers.
Founded by King Edward 111 in 1348, the Order of the Garter is the country’s oldest order of chivalry and the last remaining honour to be given at the discretion of the sovereign.
The Countess of Wessex, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall gossip as they wait for their husbands to pass by during the procession of The Most Noble Order of the Garter
The Duchess of Cambridge chose a cream double-breasted Alexander McQueen coat-dress, while Camilla looked chic in cream Anna Valentine dress and Philip Treacy hat. Sophie Wessex wore a pale pink suit - and all three wore nude court shoes
Snap! The Royal trio (from left, Countess of Wessex, Duchess of Cambridge and Duchess of Cornwall) wore almost identical shoes with their matching outfits
It is awarded to those who have contributed to national life or have served the Sovereign personally and including luminaries such as Sir John Major and Baroness Thatcher, although she absent yesterday.
Every knight is required to display a banner of his arms in St George's Chapel at Windsor, together with a helmet, crest and sword and an enamelled stallplate and carries the letters KG after their name for life.
Each year in June the Knights of the Order meet for lunch then a service of thanksgiving at St George’s Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The group make their way on foot from the castle to the chapel, cheered by 7,000 specially-invited members of the public and proceeded by trumpeters and elaborately costumed heralds as well as the 14 Officers of Arms, each bearing fabulously ancient titles as the Rouge Dragon Pursuivant and the Maltravers Herald Extraordinary.
As the colourful procession wended its way down the road, the royal ladies waited together in the historic Galilee Porch entrance - with Camilla appearing to be regaling the giggling ladies with amusing tales. Indeed Kate looked rather shocked at one of her witty asides.
Comparing style notes? The Duchess of Cornwall, known for her great sense of humour, entertains Kate and Sophie as they enjoy the procession
Tender moment: Crowds line the streets of Windsor to watch the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Charles during the procession to the annual Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge share a tender moment as they leave the chapel after the ceremony
The three senior royal ladies wore incredibly similar outfits – for Kate it was the same Alexander McQueen coat she wore to last year’s Trooping The Colour with a stylish Jane Corbett hat.
Camilla sported an Anna Valentine cream chiffon dress and pale pink coat with a Philip Treacy hat.
The Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward’s wife, wore a flattering cream coat dress with a shawl neckline and a saucer-shaped hat with an oversized flower.
All three also wore similar shoes – Kate in her much tried and tested LK Bennett £185 nude Sledge heels. Camilla’s slightly lower heeled version were from Russell and Bromley while Sophie Wessex sported trendy platform soles.
Kate looked out eagerly for a sight of her husband and as he walked past alongside his father, Prince Charles, William glanced her way and smiled – receiving a broad grin back.
When she was photographed alongside Prince Harry at her first Garter ceremony in 2008, long before their engagement, Kate was seen in fits of giggles at the sight of her boyfriend dressed up to the nines – but has clearly got used to his eye-catching garb by now.
After the service, William and Kate joined Charles and Camilla in an open-topped landau behind the Queen and Prince Philip and waved to the delighted crowds.
Philip, 91, who was recently hospitalised for almost a week due to a nasty bladder infection, had more colour in his cheeks than of late.
He resolutely made the half mile walk down from the castle to the chapel alongside his wife, despite the heavy robes and balmy sunshine.
Celebration: Camilla and Kate are all smiles as they leave the chapel after the ceremony, while William seems relieved to be able to remove his velvet hat
The Duke of Edinburgh had recovered sufficiently from his bladder infection to be able to join the Queen on the half mile procession from Windsor castle to St George's chapel today. The two departed in a coach after the ceremony
By Royal order: The Queen herself hands out the Order of the Garter, and unlike the OBE or CBE honours list, she does not need to consult the Government to discuss who will receive the honour. Membership in the Order is strictly limited and includes the monarch, the Prince of Wales, not more than 24 companion members, and a number of supernumerary members
Members of the Garter Princess Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (centre right); Prince Andrew, Duke of York; Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales join the procession
Baroness Soames and Sir John Major led the procession from Windsor castle to the chapel today
Charles, Camilla, William and Kate returned by carriage to the castle after the new members were welcomed to the Order
No doubt grateful for the sunny weather, the royals travelled by open top carriage - a far cry from the wet weather of the Jubilee weekend
The Order of the Garter is the most senior and oldest British Order of Chivalry, founded by Edward III in 1348
Majestic: There were spectacular scenes at Windsor Castle today as the Queen was joined by fellow Garter members for the annual ceremony at St George's chapel
THRIFTY KATE'S RECYCLED ALEXANDER MCQUEEN DRESS
2011: Kate wore the same Alexander McQueen coat-dress on 16 June last year for the Trooping the Colour ceremony on the Queen's official birthday
She has earned the moniker High Street Kate thanks to her penchant for Zara, Reiss and Whistles.
But the Duchess of Cambridge has long been fond of a designer outfit - although she is careful to recycle the most expensive ones on subsequent events, avoiding falling into the trap of being seen as simply a well-appointed clothes horse.
Kate's Alexander McQueen coat-dress, a £2,290 garment designed by Sarah Burton, the designer behind the duchess's lace wedding dress, had been debuted almost exactly one year ago today.
Kate chose the dress to wear for the Trooping of the Colour ceremony on 16 June last year, another spectacular occasion of pomp and pageantry that saw the duchess turn up to support her husband in yet another dramatic outfit.
The choice of cream today was a wise one - the simple hue made for a neutral backdrop that allowed the vibrant colours and rich fabrics and feathers of her husband's Garter costume to shine.
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