The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
This first event involved laying a wreath at the Taj Hotel for the victims of the terrorist bombing that happened in Mumbai in general, but specifically there, in 2008 -- which I remembered, but the Wiki article is freshly horrifying, and worth a somber moment of hope for peace in all of our futures. Not to kick this off too seriously.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
Conveniently, they are also STAYING at the Taj, so they technically started this whole trip in the lobby of their own hotel. (Which makes sense; this is absolutely the first thing you'd put on your agenda.)
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
On to more frivolous endeavors -- AKA, my entire job -- namely, our first blue suit (of how many? I should keep tally, except I can't tell them apart) and Kate's Alexander McQueen dress, which I actually love, except for the the fact that the pattern across her rib cage reminds me of Rihanna's tattoo that's in the same spot, and I ALWAYS think that tat is some weird bra Rihanna's is wearing, and thus it gives me Fashion Writer Confusion. On the other hand, should Kate's wardrobe slowly contain more subtle shout-outs to Rihanna, I would be delighted. And overall, this pattern feels very appropriate for the location and event and also I find it extremely neat.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
Here's your pattern detailing.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
Next up, everyone changed to visit the Banganga Water tank, where more flowers were laid, and soccerfootball was played with children, and this dress was worn. I LOVE it. It's by Indian designer Anita Dongre, and I think it's fabulous. I would have paired it with a flat sandal, but sometimes sandals aren't a great choice if you're going to be walking around a city, kicking balls.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
This is at the historic Banganga water tank, which is FASCINATING, per Wikipedia. For one thing, it's 900 years old. For another, "[a]ccording to local legend, it sprang forth when the Lord Ram, the exiled hero of the epic Ramayana, stopped at the spot in search of his kidnapped wife Sita. As the legend goes, overcome with fatigue and thirst, Rama asked his brother Lakshmana to bring him some water. Laxman instantly shot an arrow into the ground, and water gushed forth from the ground, creating a tributary of the Ganges, which flows over a thousand miles away, hence its name, Banganga, the Ganga created on a baan (arrow)." Here, they're making a traditional offering.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
This seems like a really beautiful and fascinating location, and this also seems like the right moment for me to remind everyone in Fug Nation to PLEASE chime in with any interesting facts or details you may know about anything that happens during this trip. Part of the fun of a visit like this is learning all kinds of things about the countries in question. (Remember how they went to Australia and we learned that koala bears can get chlamydia, for instance? That's the kind of factoid that stays with a person and enriches their life.)
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
After visiting the temple, W&K met with a variety of local children's charities -- here, they're kicking a soccer ball around -- including taking a bus ride with the kids, in a photo I haven't been able to nab for us yet, but you can see at The Mirror. Obviously, this has been terrible and no one is having any fun at all.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
Yeah, I think he likes her alright.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
We seem overdue for Informative Caption: "Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge, meet children from Magic Bus, Childline and Doorstep, three non-governmental organizations, and watch a game of cricket at Mumbai's iconic recreation ground, the Oval Maidan." Also, everyone looked hotter in their sunglasses.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
You know I love it when Kate levitates.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
You know I ALSO love an action shot, in general. This is awesome; she's hitting to Wills in the outfield, I believe, along with Sachin Tendulkar, who is a VERY famous cricketer. (I am a huge sports fan, but we Americans do not, as a whole, Grasp Cricket.) The man behind her is Dilip Vengsarkar, who is ALSO a famous cricketer. (If I have any of this wrong, as always, please let me know!)
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 192
Everyone appears to be having a blast. I wish I was wearing a fabulous floaty patterned dress and attempting to whack a cricket ball over Prince William's head right now, myself.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
This dress works very well in the breeze.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
And finally! Onto tonight's Bollywood Gala.I think this dress is GORGEOUS. I'd kind of like to see it without the wrap -- not because I dislike the wrap; it makes sense. Just because I'm nosy, and I want to get a more complete eyeball of it. (I THINK it's a wrap? It might be sleeves? I feel like this is info that will make itself clear in the fullness of time.) But I think it's fabulous, and totally appropriate for this event.
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
Kate's dress is Jenny Packham, and all the beading was done in India. (William's tux is the same tux William always wears, which is surely bespoke and worth a forture; you know you've been doing my job a long time when you can recognize the lining of someone's tuxedo.)
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
Bonus points for Kate's earrings, which are by an Indian designer called Amrapali. (They WERE on Gilt, and on sale, until...well, probably like ten minutes ago.)
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
I TOLD YOU they always seem like they're enjoying themselves when they get out of town. Let's see more of this tomorrow, you two!
The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit India & Bhutan - Day 1
Late-breaking update! The dress without the wrap! (I may eventually get one without the bouquet in front of it, although the bouquet is MAJOR.) I think this is utterly regal and so lovely.