The Duchess of Cambridge for British Vogue

Vogue celebrates their centenary issue this month, and only went and scored HRH The Duchess of Cambridge for their cover!  This is the first time Catherine has consented to being shot for a magazine, and what a debut.  The magazine’s June issue (out now) features seven photographs of the Duchess near Anmer Hall (the Cambridge’s house in Norfolk), taken by Josh Olins, and styled by Lucinda Chambers (and I Imagine also by Kate herself) in fairly accessible, simple clothes worn to reflect her love of the countryside. 

On the cover Kate is seen wearing a Burberry trench coat and white jacquard shirt, with a vintage hat from Beyond Retro.  Other clothes worn include a striped jersey from Petit Bateau, 70’s-style flared denim dungarees from AG Jeans, Dune knee-high navy boots and a checked shirt from Cabbages & Roses.

By choosing British Vogue for her first-ever cover Kate is following in famous footsteps. Princess Diana famously graced the cover of the magazine four times (1981, 1991, 1994 & 1997).  Alexandra Shulman Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue said: “To be able to publish a photographic shoot with HRH The Duchess of Cambridge has been one of my greatest ambitions for the magazine.”  

Shop HRH The Duchess of Cambridge's Vogue Looks...

The shoot was a collaboration by Vogue and the National Portrait Gallery – of which the Duchess has been patron from 2012. Two of the pictures are now currently being displayed in the gallery’s exhibition, ‘Vogue 100: A Century of Style.’  The exhibition runs until the 22 May 2016 (BOOK TICKETS HERE).

First Official Portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge Unveiled

If the camera adds ten pounds, does the paintbrush add ten years?!   The first official, highly anticipated, painting of the Duchess of Cambridge was unveiled today and no, you would not be alone in thinking you just woke up in the year 2023.   The portrait, called HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery and painted by the artist Paul Emsley. Despite the portrait clearly not doing the pretty thirty-one year old Duchess any justice, ageing her quite dramatically, when affronted with the painting and it’s artist Catherine graciouslyand politely praised the work as, "just amazing. Absolutely brilliant."   Someone get that canvas some eye serum pronto...! 

Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

Now that our neighbours have been met, our bunting has come down and my tiara has been taken off (admittedly, under duress...) we have time to reflect on how utterly AMAZING the Diamond Jubilee celebrations were.  As thousands of people, up and down the country, celebrated the Queen's 60 years on the throne, I felt so privileged and excited to have been in London to witness this truly remarkable anniversary and to enjoy the excited patriotic revellery I was met with all over town.

Britain really does know how to throw one helluva party!

Below are some of my favourite Diamond Jubilee moments... 

Above: Sunday's Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, which saw the Queen travelling on the Royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, in a 1000 boat flotilla on the River Thames.

Above: God Save McQueen! 
(L) Kate's Sunday McQueen worn with a James Lock & Co hat by Sylvia Fletcher
(R) Kate's Monday McQueen worn with Jane Taylor Millinery's Beaded Cocktail Hat
Both accessorised with her faithful L.K.Bennett Sledge heels available here. 

Above:  War Horse's Joey saluting the Queen from the National Theatre's Olivier flytower.
I loved how excited she was to see this. To buy tickets to see War Horse click here.

Above: Pocket Rocket Kylie Minogue in her Pearly Queen outfit on Monday at the Jubilee Concert held at Buckingham Palace.  The musical extravaganza was organised by Take That's Gary Barlow and we saw, amongst others, Sir Paul McCartney, Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Sir Tom Jones all perform for the Queen.

Above: Prince Charles having just thanked the Queen (whom he brilliantly called "Mummy" to great applause) for her services to Great Britain and "for inspiring us with your selfless duty and service and for making us proud to be British."

Above: Monday night's incredible Jubilee Concert fireworks which were followed by the Queen lighting the National Beacon to honour her 60 year reign.

Above and Below: Tuesday's pomp and pageantry.
After a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and a lunch reception at Mansion House, the Royal Family travelled towards Buckingham Palace.

Below:  Whilst the Royal Family waved to the enormous crowds all dressed in red, white and blue, from the balcony of Buckingham Palace we saw an RAF flypast of nine Red Arrows and rifle salutes marking the end of the celebrations.

Below:  Addressing the country the Queen said, "the events that I have attended to mark my Diamond Jubilee have been a humbling experience... I hope that memories of all this year’s happy events will brighten our lives for many years to come."

Below:  Lastly... HOW completely wonderful is this?!