Kate and William visited Dunedin and Queenstown for the 7th day of their tour. While it took place on Saturday for me, it was Sunday to them (NZ is 16 hours ahead of where I am), so they started the day by going to church. Apparently it is normal for royals to attend church while on tour, but it still seems odd to me to see the Cambridges going to church not on Christmas or for some other special occasion, because they are not regular church goers. After church they did a mini-walkabout where Kate rebuffed someone’s compliment. It’s always annoying to me when people do this, because usually they’re fishing for more compliments. Not saying that’s what Kate did here, but people in general do this all the time and it’s annoying. Next the Cambridges went to Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin and “coached” two teams of children aged five to seven in Rippa rugby (a non-contact form of rugby where the players wear flags on a belt and the other players have to rip it off, instead of tackling them). William’s team won, 30-20. After the game, William and Kate handed out medals to the winning team. After the rugby, the Cambs flew to Queenstown where they attended a wine tasting/tour of the vineyard and then went on a Shotover jet ride—which is some sort of high speed boat ride on a river; check out their website for further details.
FYI, on the RNZAF flight from Wellington to Dunedin, the royals flew with the entire press pack. The royals of course stayed in front with a curtain blocking them from the press, but still, it happened, which is kind of funny/cool. When the Cambs landed in Dunedin, they were met with bagpipes (there is a large Scottish population in Dunedin) and a Powhiri (a traditional Maori welcome) from the Ngai Tahu tribe—which is the main Maori tribe on the South Island. The Powhiri included chanting and a hongi (where they touch noses) with the members in attendance. Prince George got more gifts; this time it was some books from a five year old (who got a hug from Kate), and an albatross feather from a seven year old.
To church, Kate wore a teal Emilia Wickstead dress with pleating and a square neckline. Kate kind of went with a New Zealand designer this time—Wickstead is a New Zealander—but I’m not sure it really counts because Wickstead is based in London and Kate has worn her before, and so it’s not like Kate chose some local designer to wear for the first time. Kate wore a Jane Taylor custom hat in the same teal color. She also wore her Emmy pumps and clutch in the what-we-thought-was-green-but-turned-out-to-be-carbon color she wore on St. Patrick’s Day. She brought out the Queen’s diamond silver fern brooch again. Kate’s hair was covering it in a lot of the shots, but it was there. I really like that brooch. As for earrings, Kate wore her round Kiki McDonough green amethyst earrings. I have to say, I love this color, but I’m not sure I’m in love with the dress. I think this dress is better than the coats she’s worn the last week, but to me the square design and pleating make her look boxy and bigger in the middle than she is. Seriously, front pleating doesn’t look good on anyone. But other than that, the silhouette and color are great. If I had to pick best outfit so far, this one wins.
For rugby, Kate changed into navy skinny jeans (jeggings?) and a white Jonathan Saunders sweater and sneakers. For the wine tasting, the Wedges of Doom were back, as was the Zara jacket (with all those buttons) from Day 6. She paired them with a blue and white checked button-down shirt. For the boat ride she changed back into the sneakers and threw on a waterproof jacket.
Something that happened Day 6 I believe, but didn’t come out until Day 7, is that the Cambs were given a blanket made by a NZ woman (it was commissioned by the NZ government as the official gift) and upon accepting the gift, William is reported as saying, “You might have to make another one soon.” This sent people into a tizzy thinking that William was hinting that Kate is already pregnant with baby #2. But I guess now the woman is denying he said “soon” and really said “sometime”. But then everyone was waiting to see if Kate drank any of the wine—she reportedly did—and of course the Shotover Jet is not allowed for pregnant women, so… crisis averted? Stand down all you #GreatKateWait-ers out there, false alarm.
Here is an interesting article. You know how people keep saying Kate is Single White Female-ing Diana with her outfits? Well, what if Kate’s SWF-ing the Queen now?
I have to say, I’m kind of let down by this tour. I know the schedule came out months ago, but I guess I didn’t look at it too closely because I thought they would be doing more than they are. I mean, wine tasting and white water rafting? How is that “official royal appearance” worthy? That’s what people on vacation do. It’s almost like Will and Kate are championing the NZ tourism board or something. Kind of like how The Bachelor/Bachelorette are sponsored by the tourism boards from the cities they visit while filming. “Will and Kate’s Royal Tour 2014, sponsored by the New Zealand Tourism Board. Only on ABC.” And they’ve only spent a few hours each day with their “grueling” tour appearances. I guess I just expected more. My own fault, I suppose.
Links (there are a lot of them, sorry): Getty Images pictures of Day 7. Daily Mail article about Kate’s church dress. Daily Mail article about rugby and church. Daily Mail article about SWFing the Queen. Daily Mail article about pregnancy rumor. Mirror article about Kate’s church dress. Mirror article 1 and article 2 about rugby. Mirror article about wine tasting and jet ride. Express article about wine tasting and boat ride. Express article about baby rumor. Telegraph article about arrival and church. Telegraph article about rugby. Telegraph article debunking pregnancy rumor. Hello! article about arrival. Hello! article about rugby.
Photo credits: First and second photo from Governor-General of NZ twitter.
these two are a waste of taxpayers money, kate never looks like a royal, messy hair skinny jeans UGH!
Those jeans are gross. I don’t need to know that much about her body.
I know many people will probably disagree, but I just can’t stand her wearing dresses and skirts that come above the knee and higher, especially when she is out on official engagements and church. Granted, she has nice legs, but she is also the 32 year old wife and mother of future kings. The short skirts do nothing to flatter her. Her decorum leaves much to be desired. Leave the short skirts and tight jeans for home.
It’s the pillbox hats that make her look like a flight attendant. That was my first thought when I saw her church (?) outfit. Other than the red coat dress thing, I didn’t think her other outfits looked like flight attendant uniforms.
Yeah, this trip is boring. I think it was mainly to “connect” with the people so they get Royal Fever and remain a commonwealth. Also, I think she’s SWF-ing the Queen because the Queen’s dressers had a whole lot of input on her wardrobe. Hence the longer skirts and heavy coat dresses to prevent upskirt situations as much as possible. It’s worked! Except for the first day…
I didn’t see flight attendant even when I saw the red coat until someone pointed it out. I liked the red coat until I saw the comparison and now that’s all I see. I actually agree with the “not looking like a flight attendant” thing re the other two coats, but I thought I’d do a photo comparison because other people pointed them out.
I understand them wanting to visit two countries that had been threatening to go republic, and of course to copy Diana and Charles and to make Kate into a thing since her popularity had been waning, but I don’t see them “connecting” as much as they could if they did more.
LOL it’s got to sting that they tried so hard to change her look and make her more “regal” and then on the first day, as soon as she steps out of the plane, her skirt flies up.
That article was soooo annoying. Kate appears to be copying looks from Diana and The Queen because the royal family wears more of a timeless look not because she’s so special to be channeling their greatness. I would hardly call a Tory burch dress “regal”. Thank goodness for the longer hemlines but other than the coats these outfits have been more of the same old thing. The plane fly up skirt was ridiculous, why can’t William hold his own child, especially if its windy and kate needs to hold down her skirt.
Yeah, it seems like the press will do anything to make Kate seem more royal.
Just to clarify, the Kate Nichols article
I hope she didn’t go around blabbing about how she’s always wanted to visit New Zealand. Like she never had the chance…..
I’m pretty sure that’s what happened. The press and everyone has made such a big deal about how this is her first time to NZ and how she’s so excited.
This is a fluff tour and, as you say, more similar to a promotion of the tourism board. I can imagine a commercial shot with the two of them on a yacht and lifting wine glasses, cooing slogans for a vacation to NZ while Kate flashes her pearly veneers in a huge grin.
LOL, kind of like those “visit California” tv ads where Arnold and Maria were sitting drinking wine.
It’s strange to me that William doesn’t go to church every sunday- they are the leaders of their religion and its no wonder the Anglican church is loosing membership by droves – if even the leaders cannot be bothered!!!This is why its stupid to think you can be King/Queen and also Church leader – and why Charles life is so troublesome – being the head of a religion is not just dressing up and showing up on important church days you have to have moral authoruty and you have to believe and shows others your strong belief!That’s why I laughed when I heard Charles say once that he wanted to be the defender of all faiths- you can’teven protect your own buddy!! The other faiths really don’t need your dubious help!
As for waity she stumbled and almost fell walking in her ridiculous 5 inch wedges through the wineyard!!!
This is all I could think of when I read that: http://charlieweingroff.com/wp-content/uploads/nelson_muntz_ha_ha.jpg
I think they went to church because it was Palm Sunday yesterday. They’ll go next week for Easter too.
That may also be a reason, and would make sense. I read in one of the articles that the royals always go to church while on a tour, so even if it hadn’t been Palm Sunday they still would have gone.
The Royal Family do attend church regularly, The Queen is “defender of the faith”. Because this will one day be William’s role then I was surprised that he married a girl whose family were NOT church goers. I don’t think that Kate has even been “confirmed”.
She was – just before marriage.
I don’t think this is so necessary for her, she is not going to be Head of the Church – William will. We are not inn the times when you would need a special permission to marry someone who doesn’t belong to your Church. To be honest, I would prefer her not go unless she honestly feels like that. I hate when people lie about this just for the good image.
I agree.
As Astoria said, Kate was confirmed just before the marriage. But I agree that it doesn’t really matter what she does, it’s Will who will be head of the church. I think they should make a split and the head of the church and the head of state should be two different people.
Yeah, for someone who is going to be head of a church one day to not go to church is silly. But that just proves that the head of the church should be a separate entity from the head of state.
I wish that Kate’s hairdresser was sacked as Kate’s hair has looked messy nearly everyday she has been here. Apart from the neat ponytail with the blue coat she had one day. I did note that Kate had her hair up in a ponytail when sailing but pulled it out as soon as she could. so the vanity about wearing her hair down and long is all Kate?
I think it’s more than just vanity, but also insecurity. Having her hair down and around her where she can touch it makes her feel more secure when she’s really insecure. Her hair is her security blanket.
I think I’ve liked the Tory Burch dress the best. That sweater/jegging combo was awful. From certain angles she looked so mannish with linebacker shoulders and teeny waist/hips. She really needs to wear pants that balance out her bottom if she wants to wear a boxy top.