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Kate Celebrates the Commonwealth on Final Engagements Before Maternity Leave!

Ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting next month, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stepped out for two engagements celebrating the Commonwealth in London.


Kensington Palace confirmed today marks Kate's final engagements before her maternity leave.


The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (April 16-20) is one of the most important events on the royal calendar this year. Leaders from all 53 member countries will gather in London and Windsor to reaffirm common values, address the shared global challenges faced and agree how to work to create a better future for all Commonwealth citizens, particularly young people. It will be the largest summit every held in Britain and the royal family will be out in force for a series of receptions, meetings, forums and a glittering state banquet at Buckingham Palace. The week will conclude on April 21 with a special birthday concert for the Queen celebrating her lifelong relationship with the Commonwealth.


Although the Duchess will be on maternity leave during the week, she has attended important events in the lead up, including the Commonwealth Fashion Exchange and the Commonwealth Day service.


The couple met schoolchildren before heading inside.


A sea of flags and terrific artwork on display.


Kate chatting with children.


William greets excited pupils.


They were both in great spirits.


William and Kate began the day at a SportsAid event at the Copper Box in the Olympic Park.


The visit comes less than a month before the 2018 Commonwealth Games get underway on the Gold Coast with hundreds of previous SportsAid recipients set to represent home nations across a wide range of sports.


SportsAid is the only national charity of its kind - helping young British sportsmen and women aspiring to be the country's next Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and world champions. Every year SportsAid supports over 1,000 athletes - the vast majority aged 12-18 - by providing a financial award to help with training and competition costs. The charity also helps develop other vital skills for professional athletes, such as media training, nutritional advice and performance lifestyle guidance. Kate has been patron of the charity since 2013.



The royals watched a wheelchair basketball session and met the players, some of whom hope to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in which the sport will feature for the first time.


With a little support from Kate, Prince William has a go...


...and scores!


The couple posed for official photos.


Finally the Duke and Duchess participated in a Commonwealth Quiz in which athletes, coaches and supporters were questioned on their knowledge of the Commonwealth Games.


Next, The Duke and Duchess took part in preparations for a Commonwealth Big Lunch at St Luke's Community Centre.


An arrival video.


The centre provides services and activities for locals at the heart of the EC1 community, and has a range of facilities including a fully-equipped Cookery School, which runs community classes on healthy, home cooking and avoiding food waste.


On arrival William and Kate were given a briefing on the work of the community centre in the café.


Then it was time to get their aprons on!


The couple chatted about the menu and options on offer.


William and Kate took part in a recipe workshop and discussion in the kitchen with service users, who regularly discuss their favourite dishes and what inspires them to make them.


More from the Mail Online:

'William told staff in the kitchen that he enjoyed cooking, as did Kate. Asked what his favourite cuisine was, the prince said he ‘really loved curries’. ‘I love a lot of things, curries, really do love curries. I do like fish as well, I like Italian, pasta, and pizza, really love pizza. I don’t make it but the children do. I just eat. 
Kate earlier told a community centre user, Yolanda from Bolivia, that their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, loved to make pizza. ‘I have done that with George and Charlotte, making pizza dough. They love that, don’t they? Because they can get their hands messy,’ she said, smiling.
The royal couple were asked to put garnishes on the dishes before they were taken out to members of the local community to dine on. Told he would help with a Malaysian dish, William said: ‘Not Durian Fruit [ a pungent Asian delicacy] is it? I fell for that one before, never again!
He was also asked if he spoke Spanish . ‘Un poquito [a little] ,’ he laughed,’but I’m not brave enough to try it here!’ Kate said she was a keen cook. ‘Yes, yes, I cook a lot,’ she told Sofia Larrincua-Craxton, the manager of the cookery school. '

William certainly looks like he knows his way around the kitchen :)


However, he joked "She knows, but I have no idea".


People all over the world are being encouraged to host a Commonwealth Big Lunch. More from the Palace: "Commonwealth Big Lunches are delivered in partnership with the Eden Project. They are simply about sharing food and bringing people together to celebrate what we have in common. From a couple of people in a back garden to hundreds in a community space, by hosting or attending a lunch you'll be joining millions of people across the Commonwealth in the official summit celebrations. We already have some exciting lunches confirmed; from a research ship off the coast of South Africa to a school of 30,000 pupils in India, we are aiming for a lunch in every Commonwealth country."


A short and sweet video from Simon Perry.


The Duchess looked stylish in a 'smart casual' ensemble today. Kate sported her much loved GOAT Redgrave coat. She first wore the piece in 2013 when she was expecting Prince George for a visit to Child Bereavement UK and again last November for an engagement with Family Action. She was also spotted wearing it last week for a tennis meeting at Kensington Palace.


The nude A lined shaped coat features side seam diagonal welt pockets. It's described as "classic and sophisticated". The piece remains available in several colours at GOAT and FarFetch.

GOAT

Kate debuted a very pretty new top by Hobbs London. The Blue Rosie Top features a charming floral print - perfect for Spring! Offering an elegant boat neck, the piece has flattering three quarter-length sleeves with notch detailing. The top is on sale on the Hobbs UK website for £49 and Debenhams (reduced to £44). It retails on the Hobbs US website for £165. It's also available at Bloomingdales and Next.

Hobbs London

A closer look at the print.


The Rosie dress featuring the same print is available at Hobbs London and Bloomingdales.

Hobbs London

It appears Kate teamed the look with her Stuart Weitzman Power pumps.


Kate carried her Mulberry Bayswater clutch.


Kate wore her Cartier Ballon Bleu watch.

Cartier

And accessorised with her Annoushka pearls and Kiki McDonough hoops.



I very much enjoyed today's engagements. William and Kate make a great double act. It's an incredibly exciting time for them with just weeks to go until the arrival of Baby Cambridge. Unless there's a surprise Easter Sunday appearance, the next time we see Kate, she'll have a little prince or princess in her arms :)


We have a number of posts in the planning during Kate's maternity leave :)