Will and Kate

The longer hemline is definitely happening, at least more often. Whether that did come from the Queen or not is a matter of debate, but I have to say I am not super thrilled with this trend (although at least it kind of IS on trend). I think this dress is LOVELY and I really wish it hit the middle of/very top of her knee.

Kate in Jenny Packham

Additionally, the Hair is up to 11 at this event. So shiny. So bouncy. Such a Patene ad waiting to happen if she were a totally different person famous for a completely different reason.

Kate and THE QUEEN

"I'm always looking over your shoulder, Kate. ALWAYS." In the portrait, the Queen is wearing the same pin that Kate wore when they arrived in New Zealand. Kate's also got fern detailing on her shoulders in her cocktail dress; it's so interesting to me how much thought goes into these things, truly. You know, I pick out a dress and leave the house (or, like right this second, I wake up with a start in a Dodgers tee shirt and shorts and look for my laptop), but a trip like this takes an insane level of planning and organization by people.

Kate

Here's a good look at the beading detail.

Artist Nick Cuthell and Kate

This is the man who painted said portrait; judging from facial expressions, I can only assume he's admitting that he and QEII once had a blazing love affair.

Wills and Kate

Before everyone gets all WAAAAAAIT A SECOND over how she's drinking water here, so is he. I think. Unless they're both drinking vodka. I actually really just tossed this snap in because the Queen lurking in the background makes me giggle. (It's 2:30 a.m. I might wake up tomorrow and realize I wrote this entire thing in emoji.)

Well Played: Kate, Wills, and George’s Royal Tour of Australia and New Zealand, Day Four

And this was the post where I accidentally fell sleep before the late night round of photos came in, and woke up with a start around 1 a.m. with all the lights on in my bedroom and no idea what was even happening with my life/choices. The all-hours Royals updates of the last couple of nights have not been a trial whatsoever because I am (a) a total night owl and (b) often up late working on the book and whatnot anyway, but tonight I just conked out. ANYWAY. WE'RE AWAKE NOW. WE'RE ALL AWAKE NOW. This is a state reception where William is unveiling a new portrait of the Queen (there's actually video of the event here; he gives a speech and all whatnot, rather than just going, "Yo, here's a new painting of my grandma, see y'all later"), and I appreciate that Kate brought out the custom Jenny Packham for us (a better call than this bottomless Packham frock, I guess). I believe that next up is A Yacht Race, which is actually how Heather and I settle all our arguments here at GFY HQ, so I'm looking extra forward to it. [Photos: Getty]