Duchess Of Cambridge And Prince William Land In Bhutan: Kate Wows In Gorgeous Gold Dress

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William have arrived in the magical mountain kingdom of Bhutan, writes the Daily Mail. The royal couple flew into Paro airport Thursday and were guests in the cockpit as the plane navigated the alarmingly steep approach through the mountains. The approach to Paro is regarded as one of the most dangerous in the world, and only eight pilots are authorized to attempt the descent.

William and Kate arrive in the Kingdom of Butan via @KeirSimmons https://t.co/AxPdLymlvX #RoyalVisitBhutan

— Elliot Wagland (@elliotwagland) April 14, 2016

As Kate stepped onto the tarmac, she looked stunning in a pale gold “demure frock by designer Emilia Wickstead.” The dress, which stopped just above the knee, was the perfect mix of semi-formal and regal. The color blended with the bright Bhutanese national dress worn by the locals. The dress was pared with an elegant pair of nude pumps.

Famed for recycling her clothes like the rest of us, the Duchess of Cambridge still looked like a picture-perfect princess on her arrival the tiny kingdom. Bhutan, which only opened its door to visitors in the 1970s, is known as the “Land of the Thunder Dragon.” Most of the 800,000 citizens were their colorful national costume every day, and the country’s wealth is measured “not in terms of pounds and pence but ‘Gross National Happiness.'”

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William were greeted at the airport by the eldest sister of the King. Princess Chhimi Yangzom and her husband looked wonderful in their spectacular outfits. The Bhutanese royals presented the Cambridges with “a ceremonial scarf called a khadhar, given as a symbol of friendship.”

The Duke and Duchess were then “whisked off for a scenic drive to the capital city of Thimphu to meet the King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife Jetsun Pema, who have been dubbed the ‘William and Kate of the Orient.'”

The Duchess had changed into a top and skirt outfit showcasing the best of both the United Kingdom and the host country. Her white floaty cape with colorful embroidery is by Paul and Joe. It was teamed with a beautiful skirt, “sourced and woven by local weaver Kelzan Wangmo in Bhutan and brought back to London where it was made up to her specifications.”

According to the Mirror, the weaver “Kelzang Wangmo is from Khoma, Lhuentse, popularly known as ‘weavers’ valley.'” Wangmo is one of the most sought-after weavers in Bhutan and the “most high profile Bhutanese and elites seek out her hand-loomed products…tough she had no formal education at school, her inborn creativity and ingenuity have been widely appreciated by the Bhutanese people.”

The King formally welcomed the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William with a spectacular ceremony, notes the Daily Mail. The Duke and Duchess were “ushered by traditional dancers, flag-bearers, pipers, drummers and Buddhist monks down a 500-meter (1,600-foot) walkway to the 13th-century royal fortress.”

Video of Kate and William's welcome into Bhutan pic.twitter.com/fQl0YPYAho

— Victoria Murphy (@byQueenVic) April 14, 2016

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William posed with the king and queen “in front of a statue of the laughing Buddha,” and both couples looked radiant in the bright sunshine.

Video: William and Kate with the King and Queen of Bhutan pic.twitter.com/AfjIv8sWDJ

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) April 14, 2016

The royal couple next went to the outdoor archery venue in Thimphu to see demonstrations of the Bhutanese national sport. The Duke and Duchess chatted to local children and had tea as they watched the archery displays.

Video: Kate tries her hand at archery, Bhutan's national sport #RoyalVisitBhutan pic.twitter.com/0cHgmpFrzm

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) April 14, 2016

Much to the delight of the press, the Duchess of Cambridge tried her hand with a bow and arrow. Judging by Kate’s laughter, her attempt at archery went pretty well.

This evening, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William will “meet the Bhutanese royal couple’s baby, born in February, and dine with Bhutan’s king and queen.” As usual with her outfits during the tour of India and Bhutan, the Duchess promises to surprise and delight us.

Goodness me the Green Arrow @StephenAmell has really changed ? #arrow #RoyalVisitBhutan pic.twitter.com/kZsvvhrFXN

— Jo-Anne Rowney (@JoAnne_Rowney) April 14, 2016

[Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images]