Kate Middleton wears Floral Jenny Packham Dress as she Tours Botanic Garden in Singapore (2012 Jubilee Royal Tour)

On the 11th of September 2012, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Changi International Airport in Singapore to kick off day one of their royal tour in celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The couple were running about 15 minutes late at the airport before they quickly rushed over to Singapore Botanic Gardens where an orchid was named “Vanda William Catherine” in their honour.

While visiting the Botanic Gardens, William and Kate viewed an orchid that was named after the late Princess Diana;  the orchid was chosen for her ahead of a planned visit to the country in 1997.  Sadly, the visit never took place due to her tragic death weeks earlier.

Kate’s outfit:

Kate wore a silky pink knee-length dress with an orchid pattern, which some reporters described as ‘kimono style.’  The dress was created by one of Kate’s favourite designers, Jenny Packham.  

Kate’s wearing her Russell and Bromley Park Avenue shoes in off-white.

Kate is wearing her Annoushka pearl drop earrings, hooked onto Kiki Mcdonough hoops.

Kate’s bag is from Jimmy Choo. It’s the designer’s Cosma Disco Bar clutch.

Tidbits from the tour so far:

Royal firsts:  According to Georgina Brewer from ITV News, visiting Singapore is a first for Kate.  Buckingham Palace aides revealed The Duchess has never been to any of the places she is to visit during the tour.

Keeping it in the family:  While in Singapore, the royal couple will be staying at the Raffles Hotel.  In a press release on their website, the General Manager of Raffles Hotel Singapore said that the hotel is “delighted” to host the Duke and Duchess during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.  The Queen and Prince Philip stayed at Raffles during their State Visit to Singapore too.

Global superstars:  During a press briefing, Britain’s high commissioner to Singapore Antony Phillipson described Will and Kate as “a couple who are global superstars”.

Quotes:  The senior parliamentary secretary for the Ministry of Defence Maliki Osma and his wife Sadiah Bte Shahal met Will and Kate at Changi airport.  Sadiah presented Kate with a bouquet of yellow flowers and told ITV News that:

They are such a lovely couple, so affable. Kate was asking me about my children, what their ages are.

We talked about the UK and particularly about shopping at Bicester. I said I’ve been there and I love it and she said she does as well. She said it’s great how everything is so contained. 

She also asked me about the flowers I gave her, she said they are very unusual and what are they.

I said I’m not sure but I think they’re two types of orchids.