Kensington Palace posted this beautiful photo of the Cambridges coming down the stairs. It looks very much like a still plucked from a move - a truly memorable shot!
The black-tie event was held at the official residence of the British Ambassador to France, Edward Llewellyn - Lord Llewellyn of Steep - David Cameron's former chief of staff at Downing Street. The Ambassador, who earlier described the visit as "a special day" has been accompanying the royal couple throughout their visit. Below we see William and Kate arriving for the dinner with Lord Llewellyn and his wife Anne.
Royal reporter for ITV Chris Ship shared this lovely photo of the British Embassy on Twitter.
Kensington Palace shared a look at the ballroom before guests arrived.
What's on the menu tonight? The Mail Online reported guests dined on "sole crown and Dublin Bay prawns, crayfish, braised leg of Welsh lamb with a seasonal vegetable garnish and roast potatoes with thyme, and an iced white and dark chocolate soufflé, butterscotch sauce with a pistachio and almond diamond shortbread".
The Cambridges were joined by a host of well-known figures including sportspeople and actors. Among those present were Kristin Scott Thomas (who played the Queen on Broadway in Peter Morgan's The Audience), Audrey Tatou and footballer Robert Pires.
Below, Kate chats with actor Jean Reno.
Prince William delivered a message from Her Majesty.
More from the Telegraph:
"The Duke used a short address at the black tie dinner to deliver a message from his grandmother, the Queen. Recalling her numerous visits to France during her reign, she said: "Although much has changed since my first visit, the ties between our nations have stood the test of time and will, I am sure, continue to prosper."
Indeed, there was a moment of comedy when Kids United performed Pharrell's 'Happy' for William and Kate, the song he danced to in Verbier.
William and Kate mingling with guests.
The awkward moment a kids vocal group sang Pharrell's Happy to Prince William in Paris (the tune he was energetically dancing to in Verbier) pic.twitter.com/gOw2f8a3vI— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) March 17, 2017
William and Kate mingling with guests.
For the most glamorous event on the itinerary, Kate selected an ice blue gown from her go-to evening designer Jenny Packham. As we've come to expect from Packham, the garment is a shimmering creation with intricate embellishment and sheer detail. I love the colour (on social media many find it reminiscent of Elsa in Frozen) and the placement of the floral detail.
The attention to detail is exquisite.
Kate styled the gown with her Oscar de la Renta Platinum Lamé Cabrina pumps. The shimmering $690 pumps are described as "our enduringly classic Cabrina pumps...reworked for the new season in glistening platinum lamé. This Italian-made pair has a sleek, architectural silhouette with a pointed toe, scalloped sides and raised back". They are available in limited sizes on the website.
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| Oscar de la Renta |
The Duchess carried her Jenny Packham Casa clutch.
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| Jenny Packham |
Kate's sparkling jewels are on loan from the Queen. The chandelier diamond earrings have been in Kate's jewellery box since shortly after the wedding, and we've seen her wear them on numerous occasions since.
Kate's sparkling bracelet tonight.
The bracelet was originally a choker Queen Mary wore, circa 1920. It was later converted to a bracelet and worn by the late Queen Mother. We saw Kate wear it at the Chinese state banquet in 2015.
A closer look at Kate's partial updo.
Day one has certainly been interesting. From their arrival in Paris to this evening, it all seemed to go by in a flash. The schedule was obviously very close in terms of time. What did you think of Kate's looks today? We saw the Duchess opt for tried and trusted favourites Catherine Walker, Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham. There were surprises in the jewellery department, and two new pairs of Gianvito Rossi's. Will we see Kate sport a French label tomorrow? To read our post on William and Kate's appearance at the St Patrick's Day parade please click here, and for the post on their Paris arrival, meeting with President Hollande and Embassy reception please click here.
Day one has certainly been interesting. From their arrival in Paris to this evening, it all seemed to go by in a flash. The schedule was obviously very close in terms of time. What did you think of Kate's looks today? We saw the Duchess opt for tried and trusted favourites Catherine Walker, Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham. There were surprises in the jewellery department, and two new pairs of Gianvito Rossi's. Will we see Kate sport a French label tomorrow? To read our post on William and Kate's appearance at the St Patrick's Day parade please click here, and for the post on their Paris arrival, meeting with President Hollande and Embassy reception please click here.
Tomorrow's itinerary:
- The Cambridges visit Les Invalides - a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France. The couple will meet survivors and first responders involved in the terrorist attacks at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris as well as the lorry attack in Nice on Bastille Day last year.
- William and Kate will then attend a Six Nations Rugby Match between Wales and France which is scheduled to begin at 2.45 pm.
It's been enormously fun following the visit with all of you and reading your comments. I look forward to doing it again tomorrow! :)
