Inspiration for this post came from the emergence of an unseen photo of the Duchess meeting cast and crew of the 2011 production of the Royal Ballet's adaptation of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, it was staged with elaborate sets featuring a giant Cheshire Cat, a tap-dancing Mad Hatter, and starred the actor Simon Russell Beale in the fictional role of the Duchess. The Duchess has a particular interest in Carroll, and wrote her university dissertation on the subject of the author’s photography. The photo below was taken just a few months after the royal wedding. Kate wore her navy blue blazer and sheath dress for the evening.
Kate was accompanied by her father-in-law Prince Charles on the night. It was one of several visits to Covent Garden the pair made in 2011 to watch ballet and opera productions. Prince Charles, a lifelong fan of the opera was said to be encouraging the Duchess with a view to her supporting the Royal Opera House in an official capacity. At the time, the Telegraph reported: "The Duchess is keen to become a patron of the arts, and a move into the opera and ballet world would be welcomed within royal circles. The Queen is patron of the Royal Ballet, with Prince Charles acting as president, and Lady Sarah Chatto as vice president. The Prince is also patron of the Royal Opera."
A Royal Opera House source, said: "The Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales have made several private visits to the Royal Opera House together, before and since the royal wedding in April, to watch several opera and ballet productions. The Prince is a firm supporter of the Opera House and the Duchess also seems to hugely enjoy her visits to Covent Garden. Both have been very enthusiastic about the productions they have seen together."
There's a fascinating video on creating Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with interviews and rehearsal video.
Kate went on to become patron of the National Portrait Gallery, the Natural History Museum and the Art Room, but has never undertaken an official visit to the opera or ballet. It's quite surprising to think how Charles and Kate (at a time when media attention was at fever pitch) were able to enjoy the arts without as much as a phone picture making it onto social media.
Surrounded by family and friends, Kate celebrated her 31st birthday in January 2013 at Cirque de Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall.
The appearance came just over a month after Kate was released from King Edward VII hospital where she spent three nights in the private facility in London suffering from Hyperemesis gravidarum. Kate left the hospital and said, "I'm feeling much better, thank you", but looked terribly pale and poorly. The birthday appearance provided an early indication Kate was feeling better.
The couple were joined by the Middleton family, cousins Adam and Lucy Middleton, and friends including Edward and Trini Foyle, and David and Emilia Jardine Paterson (Trini and Emilia are old friends of Kate from Marlborough College).
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| Video Screenshot from E! Video |
Cirque Du Soleil's KOOZA tells the story of the Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world. KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque Du Soleil: it combines two circus traditions - acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of performance and is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world of surprises, thrills and chills. E! reported: "The Royal party arrived to London's Royal Albert Hall at 7.15 p.m. last night, and headed straight into a private room (and bar) on the premises. At one point during the show, a clown onstage has his crown stolen, and pointed into the crowd, asking, 'Who has my crown?' Both Kate and Carole burst into laughter and cast glances at William."
William and Kate enjoyed a rare night out on the town as they spent the evening at Bunga Bunga in Battersea, to celebrate the birthday of Louise Aubrey-Fletcher the wife of one of William and Harry's oldest friends Harry Aubrey-Fletcher. The Mail reporter Kate spent much of the night chatting with close friend Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who is Prince George's godmother. The Duchess looked chic in her black Temperley London Odele coat and a short black printed dress.
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The Bunga Bunga restaurant on the ground floor comprises a gondola bar and authentic Italian pizzeria. The venue has a pizzeria and a karaoke bar and is described as an "Englishman's Italian".
The first floor club features a Roman DJ booth, retro mirrored ceiling and iconic Italian stripe decor.
A lucky onlooker made the ultimate royal sighting in 2015 as she spotted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge entering their vehicle following a private dinner at Berry Bros. & Rudd. Kate looked elegant in the L.K. Bennett Madison Chiffon Print Dress.
Royal warrant holders Berry Bros. & Rudd are one of Britain's oldest wine merchants, established in the 17th century. Their flagship store has been located at No. 3 St James's Street, London since 1698 when it was founded by the Widow Bourne. A supplier to the Royal family since the reign of King George III. Historic customers have included Lord Byron, William Pitt the Younger and the Aga Khan.
It wasn't the Cambridges' first time to dine there. Two months earlier, they joined members of the Royal family, including the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Harry, Princess Anne and her family, and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice at the exclusive wine bar and dining club to mark the monarch's 89th birthday. At the time, the Mirror reported: "The lavish dinner was held in the private Townhouse dining room, which seats 14. A minimum spend of £2,500 applies with set four-course menus costing up to £295 a head and wine at up to £7,000 a bottle. Dishes on offer include veal sweetbread, beef cheek, tandoori monkfish and oysters with chorizo jam."
In 1998, two years before the start of a new century, Berry Bros. & Rudd celebrated 300 years in business. The run-up to the 300th anniversary celebrations was marked in 1997 with the award of Berry Bros. & Rudd’s second Royal Warrant by Prince Charles.
In December 2015, it was a festive Middleton girls night out as Kate, Carole and Pippa were spotted having dinner at the romantic Clos Maggiore restaurant in Covent Garden. The restaurant is a very popular venue for pre and post show dinners, and it's thought the trio took in a show after their meal. Rod Stewart also dined there the same night.
The eatery - known as the world's most romantic restaurant - offers French cuisine and is influenced by the country inns of Provence and Tuscany. Chef Marcellin Marc’s love of Provençal cuisine is recreated with individual style and flair. Marcellin is committed to sourcing local and seasonal products throughout the year to create perfectly balanced menus which have consistently been recognised and awarded with AA-rosette awards.
A look at the apple blossom-adorned conservancy.
The pre and post theatre dinner menu includes pan-roasted Cornish pollock, oven-roasted, corn-fed, lemon and thyme chicken breast, honey glazed breast of Goosnargh duck and crispy duck leg pastilla, English raspberries and citrus tart, and European artisan cheeses.
The restaurant's wine cellar boasts over 2,500 selections from 18 different countries and vintages spanning four centuries. The cocktail menu is impressive too. How does the Clos Maggiore spritz made with St Germain elderflower liqueur, Becherovka bitters and strawberry purée and prosecco sound?
I've very much enjoyed looking through some of Kate's favourite places in London. Perhaps we'll see William and Kate enjoying a date night at one of them when she's feeling better!
