London: On an evening out, she usually likes to let her hair down. But the Duchess of Cambridge raised the style stakes last night – opting for an intricate chignon instead. The elegant knotted bun, put in place by a team from the Richard Ward salon in Chelsea, showed off the elaborate design of her teal Jenny Packham dress to full effect.
According to the Daily Mail report, the tiny gems in the delicate lace across her back and shoulders shimmered as she arrived at a gala at the Royal Albert Hall to mark the countdown to the London Olympic Games. While the bun was a departure from her usual style, Kate opted for the same £450 ‘Vamp’ sandals from Jimmy Choo that she wore earlier in the week – and even appeared to be sporting the same crimson pedicure.
Kate and her husband, Prince William, arrived at Our Greatest Team Rises, a black tie gala evening to mark the final countdown to the London 2012 Games and raise critical funds to support the competitors.
They turned up at the majestic Royal Albert Hall in London to roars of approval in glorious evening sunshine. Ahead of them on the red carpet were Olympic legends past and present including Sir Steve Redgrave, Jayne Torvill and Denise Lewis OBE.
Dame Kelly Holmes also caught the photographers' eyes in a stunning glittering gold column dress by Bruce Oldfield and joked: 'Well you have got to make a bit of an effort when those two are here.'
Also present were some of the 67 athletes so far selected to compete in the Games across five sports. Team GB’s final line-up is expected to include 550 athletes across all 26 Olympic sports.
A total of 101 Paralympians have also been selected thus far, with the final team expected to include approximately 300.Inside the foyer, William and Kate were introduced to Lord Colin Moynihan, Chairman of the British Olympic Association, Andy Hunt the Team GC Chef de Mission and his Paralympics counterpart Craig Hunter.
Moving forward they then joined a small group of fellow Team GB Ambassadors including Sharon Davis, Tessa Sanderson and Steve Backley for a low-key reception. Prince William gave a witty speech to the 3,000 guests in which he likened his physique to that of a pigeon.
'Naturally, I was asked to compete for TeamGB in every sport, but sadly Lord Coe said there were London pigeons with more athletic prowess than me. Anyway to adapt a famous phrase from Sir Steve Regrave, if you see me in a pair of Speedos during the Olympics, shoot me!' he joked.
'These Games remind us of the power of the human spirit and human endeavour. You, our Olympians and Paralympians, will inspire people up and down this country, and far beyond its borders.‬‪
'For the athletes of Our Greatest Team, these Games mark the pinnacle of your sporting careers. I can only imagine it… competing at home, in front of your countrymen and women, with the eyes of the entire world upon you. A dream come true.‬‪
'For all of us mere mortals – and I include my brother, Harry, still droning on about beating Usain…it never counted as it was a false start…this is a lifetime opportunity. We will witness an exceptional moment in our Island History. The mood in London will be electric, ecstatic, amazing. I just can't simply wait.'
Host and comedian John Bishop had the audience and the royal couple in stitches as he said afterwards: 'I am probably the only person from my estate to have stood next to royalty. 'I mean I have got a few mates who have drunk in the Duke of Cambridge but I have never stood next to one.'
Melanie Chisholm said on the red carpet: I'm a big fan of William and Kate. I met William with the other Spice Girls when he was quite a young guy but I've yet to meet his lovely wife.
'It's wonderful they're ambassadors for Team GB. They bring a lot of attention. It's a real inspiration for the athletes to know that they have them and the country behind them.
Afterwards the royal couple enjoyed an evening of fine dining and entertainment courtesy of singers Gary Barlow, Will Young, Melanie C, and Kimberley and Alfie Boe as well as renowned violinist Charlie Siem.
The Duke and Duchess were seated at a table decorated with blood red table cloths and vases of roses.
Each guest - including Kate and William - were given a goody bag containing a TeamGB rubber duck, a large bar of Cadbury's chocolate and a scarf.
Seated with the couple was an impressive display of Olympians past and present including sychronised swimmers Olivia Federici and Jenna Randall, paralympian Nyree, swimmer. Sacha Kindred, Lord Colin Moynihan and his wife Lady Gaynor, skeleton bob heroine ,Amy Williams MBE and hurdler Colin Jackson CBE.
The guests feasted on a special menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Simon Hulstone which included Lime and coriander cured smoked salmon with crème fraiche and caviar, tossed with crunchy apple and radish, a layered shepherd’s pie of lamb and fresh vegetables in a rich lamb sauce sitting on spiced red cabbage and apple topped with grain mustard and chive mashed potato with a raspberry macaroon filled with basil and raspberry infused set custard and salted bitter chocolate mousse for desert.
Along with Prince Harry, William and Kate were formally announced as Official Team GB and ParalympicsGB 2012 Ambassador sin December last year. In March Kate conducted her first engagement as an Ambassador when she visited a training session for the women’s and men’s hockey teams at the official Olympic competition venue – and even picked up a stick herself.
Royal aides say the Duke and Duchess are particularly interested in the Team GB Ambition Programme, which will provide around 200 athletes and coaches who aspire to compete at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games and Rio 2016 Games with a first-hand experience of the Olympic environment during London 2012.
