Duchess Of Cambridge And Prince William: Where They Went And What She Wore On The Royal Tour Of India And Bhutan

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William have just returned from a jam-packed tour of India and Bhutan. The royal couple, who are probably relaxing after reuniting with their children, made quite a splash on their week-long tour. And not just for Kate’s many, wonderful outfits.

William and Catherine arrived in a steaming hot Mumbai on Sunday, April 10. There had been much speculation about the Duchess’ wardrobe and the mix between British, Indian, and Bhutanese attires. In the end, Kate usually went for a smart mixture of all of them, writes The Daily Mail.

Day One

The Duchess stepped out in a gorgeous red paisley “Persian Pickles” Alexander McQueen outfit for the Duke and Duchess’ first official engagement in Mumbai. William and Kate laid a wreath at a memorial to victims of the 2008 terrorist bombing at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William then went on to the Oval Maidan cricket ground. There, the royal couple played cricket and games with local children. Kate also had the privilege of facing the bowling of “Indian cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar, and was eventually caught-out despite her best efforts to get a handle on the sport,” reports The Telegraph. For the cricket ground shenanigans, the Duchess changed into a lovely, floaty green and pink dress by Mumbai designer Anita Dongre.

Later that evening the couple attended a gala with the cream of Bollywood society. The Duchess wore a sparkling royal blue beaded dress and cape by her “favorite designer” Jenny Packham. Kate fit in perfectly with the gorgeously-attired models and actresses. The gala was organized by the British Asian Trust charity and featured music and dancing.

Day Two

After trying his hand at Indian cookery, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge laid a wreath at the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi. Catherine wore a simple and elegant “cream Emilia Wickstead dress.” The outfit was beautiful but made of wool crepe, which was at odds with the very warm weather. During the wreath-laying ceremony, the Duchess suffered a “wardrobe malfunction;” her dress lifted up in the wind “in what has been dubbed a ‘Marilyn Monroe’ moment,” notes The Telegraph.

Later, the royal couple attended a lavish garden party in the glorious grounds of the British High Commissioner. Catherine wore a very pretty Indian-inspired “monochrome top and matching skirt by Temperley London,” writes the Daily Mail. The couple cut a birthday cake in honor of the Queen’s 90th birthday and chatted to guests while musicians played James Bond tunes.

Day Three

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William had a quieter day on Thursday. The Daily Mail reports that the Duchess wore “a laid-back style…with a [$70] maxi dress,” by British high street label Glamorous. The airy, delicately printed dress was perfect for the couple’s visit to the children’s charity Salaam Baalak Trust.

The royal couple next traveled to the famous tea-producing region in the far east of India, Assam. The Duchess had changed for a private dinner with the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The new dress was an unusual outfit in pale sea-green, again by Temperley.

Green was the favored color again at celebrations for Assamese New Year, with the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a “printed silk-chiffon maxi from Anna Sui’s Fall 2015 collection.”

Day Four

The Duchess of Cambridge dressed casually for the couple’s outing in Kazaringa National Park. Standing up in a jeep as she traveled around the park, Catherine looked every inch the safari princess in plain brown trousers and a “loose-fitting…polka dot blouse.” Catherine and the Duke of Cambridge had a wonderfully happy time in the park, including feeding orphaned baby rhinos and elephants.

For a visit to the park center to learn more about the conservation efforts in the park, the Duchess wore a lovely “embroidered smock dress from Topshop.” The dress, which quickly sold out, was a snip at just over $100.

Day Five

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William arrived in the tiny, mountainous kingdom of Bhutan. The Cambridge couple were met on the tarmac of Paro airport by the King’s sister. For the occasion, Catherine wore Emilia Wickstead again, this time a lovely gold coat dress.

The afternoon’s activities were a mixture of pomp, ceremony, and fun. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were officially welcomed to Bhutan by the King and Queen and even tried their hand at archery, much to their (and the audience’s) amusement. Kate seamlessly blended British and Bhutanese influences with her second outfit, an embroidered white cape and blue skirt. The skirt was handwoven in Bhutan.

In the evening, the couple dined with the Bhutanese royal couple. Kate wore a striking “Tory Burch tulle gown with intricate floral embroidery,” notes the Daily Mail.

Day Six

The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William had a chance to demonstrate their athleticism on Thursday. Dressed in casual chinos and jeans, with Kate in leather boots and a vest, the Cambridges trekked 11,000 feet up into the Himalayas to the Tiger’s Nest monastery. Hiking for several hours, accompanied by the press, the royals were perfectly at ease in the sweltering heat. They also got to spend some quiet time together, being seen with their arms around each other as they walked up the mountain path.

Thursday evening was a reception for the many British citizens who live in Bhutan. The Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to Bhutan in a gorgeous, sweeping red dress with a delicate poppy design. The blue poppy is the national flower of Bhutan.

Day Six

For the final day of the tour, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William left a rainy Bhutan to return to India. Kate wore a sweet and simple Alexander McQueen outfit, a white top and skirt in broderie Anglaise.

Upon arrival in Agra, to visit the Taj Mahal, the Duchess of Cambridge had changed into a sweetly pretty, short white dress with a royal blue pattern similar to the decor at the Taj itself. The dress is by Naeem Khan.

In what many consider to be the defining moment of their tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sat on a stone bench in front of the Taj Mahal to recreate the 1992 photo of a lone Princess of Wales. William and Catherine were full of smiles, however, insisting that they wanted to “make their own memories.”

The royal tour of India and Bhutan has been short but very busy. The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William have packed a lot into six days, and we’ve enjoyed it every bit as much as they have.

[Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images]