Radiant Kate in Red Marchesa Notte for 42nd Street Opening Night Inspirational Fun Stories and Articles

The Duchess of Cambridge attended the Opening Night of the musical 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in aid of East Anglia's Children's Hospices this evening.

Ahead of the engagement the Palace said "Her Royal Highness became Royal Patron of EACH in January 2012 and has supported this organisation by attending a number of official engagements since that time."

The charity supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. Their specialist services include nursing care, symptom management support, well-being activities, and therapy and counselling – all meeting the individual needs of the child or young person, and the whole family.

A glamorous red carpet for the show's opening night.

The Duchess walks the red carpet.

Attendees included Judy Murray (mum to Andy) who swapped the tennis court for the red carpet.

Academy Award winning actor Morgan Freeman.

Kate was greeted by the show's team and EACH representatives.

Kate also met Michael Linnit (Producer), Mr Mark Bramble (Theatre Director), Dr Johnny Hon (Executive Producer) and his wife Vicky. Michael Linnit and Michael Grade, together with the Global Group of Companies for Gate Ventures, will be supporting the Nook appeal for the run of the show.

Kate was presented with a programme for the evening from 12-year-old Ollie who uses the hospice at Milton in Cambridgeshire.

Ollie Duell lives with a complex medical condition that affects his bowel and stomach. In October 2010 he underwent a transplant of those vital organs, but it was ultimately unsuccessful as Ollie’s body rejected the new tissues in 2014. It means Ollie needs to be attached to several tubes to help with breathing, feeding and more. He is also attached to a pump 22 hours a day and requires 36 medicines four times a day plus four lots of intravenous drugs. In addition, Ollie also has an under-active thyroid, juvenile arthritis and sleep apnoea. He can walk short distances, but often needs an electric wheelchair. It's been an enormously difficult journey for Ollie's family who have found a constant source of support in EACH. He's been visiting the Milton hospice since he was just three and now benefits from two or three day-long care sessions each month and also enjoys hydrotherapy to alleviate pain in his joints. Ollie's mother Claire said: "Without EACH I really don't believe we would have made it this far together as a family. They make a really hard time just that little easier to deal with." Ollie has been hugely excited about tonight, meeting the Duchess and seeing the musical. EACH revealed"he recently showed off his own musical credentials at EACH’s Christmas party when, although naturally shy, he decided to stand up and sing for guests, prompting tears from his family and members of our care team who have been with them through their journey."

Readers will be familiar with the Nook appeal which Kate officially launched in 2014. EACH has a hospice at Quidenham in Norfolk and are currently fundraising for a new purpose-built one, which is to be called the Nook and will help to provide more families with the same facilities as those offered by their hospices in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk. The appeal aims to raise a total of £10 million and they are half way there. Trojan fundraising efforts have been underway attempting to secure the latter half of funds needed. Indeed, an auction of the Boden hat Kate tried on during an EACH charity shop opening raised almost £900. The charity shared further good news revealing they have been pledged £250,000 from a very generous donor and are hoping proceeds from tonight's event will see them getting closer to their goal. If you are considering donating or would like to find out more please click here.

EACH Twitter Feed

Kate was seated in the Royal Box.

The revival of the popular Broadway musical 42nd Street stars Grammy winner Sheena Easton and is expected to be hugely popular, as even the preview performances have received standing ovations. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 Hollywood film adaptation, the show focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression.

The show includes songs such as 'We’re in the Money', 'Lullaby of Broadway', 'Dames', 'I Only Have Eyes For You' and '42nd Street'. The musical has played to great global acclaim for almost 40 years and its popularity serves as a legacy to Gower Champion, the legendary director and choreographer of the original Tony Award-winning production. The new West End production will be directed by the show’s author and director Mark Bramble.

A video teaser of the show.

Those Dancing Feet have arrived in London. @42ndStreetLDN opens tonight! https://t.co/7vixW6p5AO pic.twitter.com/u1ZnFdkMmY
— 42nd Street (@42ndStreetLDN) April 4, 2017

After the show, Kate joined the cast on stage and posed for a photograph.

The Duchess was presented with a pair of tap shoes from producers Michael Linnet, Michael Grade and director Mark Bramble following the performance.

42nd Street posted lovely shots of Kate backstage meeting with the cast and crew.

It very much appears Kate had a wonderful time!

Kate chose a stunning dress by Marchesa Notte for the event (with thanks to @followallroyal &
@_lexismart for the swift ID). The Embellished Tulle Dress was a lovely choice for the evening. always say red is Kate's colour and teamed with the 1950s style of the dress it's a major sartorial winner. It's also another brand debut for the Duchess. British designers Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig launched their second line, Marchesa Notte (a diffusion line) in 2006. Many of us have been hoping to see Kate in Marchesa for some time, their evening wear options offer modern, glamorous eveningwear season after season.

The tulle dress is detailed with tactile lattice and rosette motifs. Partially lined to create a sweetheart neckline, the fit-and-flare design has flexible boning and a defined bead and crystal-embellished waist. The dress is available for $1,195 at Net-A-Porter, Farfetch and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Net-A-Porter

A closer look at the detailing.

Net-A-Porter

Kate's new earrings are the Kate Spade Pretty Pom Tassel Drop Earrings (with thanks to @heyitsmelina and What Kate Wore). The style of earring is quite a departure for the Duchess. The tassel earrings have been quite popular recently with everyone from Oscar de la Renta to Kenneth Jay Lane offering them as part of their collections. Are you a fan?

Kate Spade's creative director, Deborah Lloyd said

"tassels are the new bows. and, in bright hues, the ultra-chic design elements are especially well-suited to jewelry. each of the earrings and pendants in our new pretty poms collection is made from colorful silk thread and glass beads, for a look that's equal parts elegant and eye-catching."

Another look at the earrings on Kate.