The Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute
to her royal tour hosts tonight as she dazzled in an evening dress
embroidered with silver ferns.
Kate, 31, wore a bespoke black Jenny Packham dress which had been hand-stitched with silver beading to represent New Zealand's national emblem.
The Queen has long employed the trick of incorporating an item of national importance in her outfits when on foreign tours - and it appears that the Duchess has now taken a leaf out of her book.
Although it was not a ‘tiara-worthy’ occasion, the reception is still one of the glitziest engagements of their three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia and all eyes were on the dazzling Duchess.
On their arrival back in Wellington following a day out in Blenheim, William had a few minutes to freshen up before almost immediately going into calls in the Liverpool Room with the leader of the opposition, David Cunliffe and the Prime Minister John Key.
Each meeting lasted around 20 minutes before the prince retired to the State Apartments to join his wife who was dressing for the evening.
William was also presented with a set of the commemorative stamps being issued tomark the tour by the New Zealand Post.
At 6.45pm the couple came down a grand wooden staircase together to be greeted by the Governor General, Sir Jerry, his wife, Lady Janine, and Mr Key and his wife Bronagh.
William and Kate were next ushered into the Blundell Room - where their son George, who was sleeping upstairs with his nanny, had played on the carpet just a day earlier - for official photographs.
Finally it was time to join their guests for a glass of local wine and some stunning canapés showing off the best of local produce in the Ballroom, heralded by a flourish of trumpets from the six-strong Lance of Trumpeters.
On the menu was parmesan and horopito shortbreads with Zany Zeus Feta and heirloom tomato, smoked and potted Lake Taupo trout with oatcakes and capers, oysters on ice with shallot and Chardonnay vinaigrette, braised Cardorona Merino lamb tarts with fresh mint, tomato and black olive. There were also cocktail Paua fritters with garlic mayonnaise and pickled ginger, dressed Waikanae crab toasts with lime and herbs, Windsor Blue and beetroot risotto balls with green herb mayonnaise, South Island rabbit pies and custard tarts with kiwifruit and kaffir lime.
As the guests mingled, chatted and sipped on chilled local wine, the Royal New Zealand Air Force jazz quintet played a selection of lively tunes including Nina Simone's My Baby Just Cares For Me.
Kate, 31, wore a bespoke black Jenny Packham dress which had been hand-stitched with silver beading to represent New Zealand's national emblem.
The Queen has long employed the trick of incorporating an item of national importance in her outfits when on foreign tours - and it appears that the Duchess has now taken a leaf out of her book.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a
state dinner at Government House in Wellington, which was attended by
the country's political leaders
Stunning: The Duchess of Cambridge dazzled in a
black gown by Jenny Packham with silver beading as she joined Prince
William at a lavish State Reception
She
and Prince William were attending a lavish State Reception thrown by
Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae, the Queen’s representative in New
Zealand, at his official residence, Government House.Although it was not a ‘tiara-worthy’ occasion, the reception is still one of the glitziest engagements of their three-week tour of New Zealand and Australia and all eyes were on the dazzling Duchess.
On their arrival back in Wellington following a day out in Blenheim, William had a few minutes to freshen up before almost immediately going into calls in the Liverpool Room with the leader of the opposition, David Cunliffe and the Prime Minister John Key.
Each meeting lasted around 20 minutes before the prince retired to the State Apartments to join his wife who was dressing for the evening.
William was also presented with a set of the commemorative stamps being issued tomark the tour by the New Zealand Post.
At 6.45pm the couple came down a grand wooden staircase together to be greeted by the Governor General, Sir Jerry, his wife, Lady Janine, and Mr Key and his wife Bronagh.
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles in front of the
portrait of the Queen, which was unveiled at a reception at Government
House in Wellington
A new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by New
Zealand artist Nick Cuthell was commissioned for the New Zealand
Portrait Gallery. For the reception the Duchess of Cambridge wore a
bespoke black Jenny Packham gown with an embellished fern on the
shoulder in tribute to her New Zealand hosts
Kate stands next to the painting of Queen Elizabeth II that was unveiled at the state reception on Thursday
They
then undertook a lengthy line-up, shaking the hands of each of their
198 guests, comprised of senior politicians, MPs and notable figures
from public life including the Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias, and the
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Christine Chretien. William and Kate were next ushered into the Blundell Room - where their son George, who was sleeping upstairs with his nanny, had played on the carpet just a day earlier - for official photographs.
Finally it was time to join their guests for a glass of local wine and some stunning canapés showing off the best of local produce in the Ballroom, heralded by a flourish of trumpets from the six-strong Lance of Trumpeters.
On the menu was parmesan and horopito shortbreads with Zany Zeus Feta and heirloom tomato, smoked and potted Lake Taupo trout with oatcakes and capers, oysters on ice with shallot and Chardonnay vinaigrette, braised Cardorona Merino lamb tarts with fresh mint, tomato and black olive. There were also cocktail Paua fritters with garlic mayonnaise and pickled ginger, dressed Waikanae crab toasts with lime and herbs, Windsor Blue and beetroot risotto balls with green herb mayonnaise, South Island rabbit pies and custard tarts with kiwifruit and kaffir lime.
As the guests mingled, chatted and sipped on chilled local wine, the Royal New Zealand Air Force jazz quintet played a selection of lively tunes including Nina Simone's My Baby Just Cares For Me.
The Duchess of Cambridge's dress had
hand-stitched silver beading on the shoulder in the pattern of a fern,
New Zealand's national emblem
Christine Bleakley's
style isn't exactly what you would expect from a WAG. She favours
all-black ensembles and classic pieces, particularly when it comes to
red carpet events like this.