Kate Middleton Wears Dress from Indian-Born Designer in Pre-Tour Reception; Gets Ready for India, Bhutan Tour
The Duchess of Cambridge donned an unexpected but still stylish look for a reception she and her husband, Prince William, held at Kensington Palace on Wednesday, April 6, for Indian and Bhutanese people currently residing in the United Kingdom.
For the pre-tour reception, Kate Middleton wore a floor-length blue dress from Saloni Lodha, the Indian-born and British-based designer whose Saloni line Middleton has previously favored for her appearance at the Fostering Excellence Awards in 2015.
The Saloni gown Middleton wore for Wednesday's event was a sheer, royal blue number adorned with polka dots. Though the sheer illusion panel at its front and the deep V at the back made for a racier choice for the typically demurely-dressed Catherine, the long sleeves and ruffled high neckline kept it modest.
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The Wednesday evening reception at Kensington Palace came just before the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William set out for their week-long royal tour of India and Bhutan on Sunday, April 10.
The tour will be the first official tour for the couple since their visit to New York City in 2014. The pair, who will be setting foot in India and in Bhutan for the first time in their lives, will kick off their tour in Mumbai, where they will reportedly watch a game of cricket, attend a Bollywood Charity Gala, and visit the city's lowest-income places. The couple will also tour the Kaziranga National Park, visit Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi, and travel to the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The royals will end their trip with a visit to the Taj Mahal, where Prince William's late mother, Princess Diana, made an iconic visit in 1992.
According to Us Weekly, Middleton has been preparing a wardrobe replete with "colorful, flowy dresses; fitted jeans and trousers; and a lot of casual fits" for her and her husband's tour. The publication's source also claims that a "look book" has been created outlining what the royal will wear "for every minute of the visit."
Middleton's royal tour outfits will reportedly include items from some of her favorite labels, including Alexander McQueen and Temperley London, with several pieces from native designers thrown in.
