The Duchess Arrives for Tea with 8,000 of Her Closest Friends

Readers, we’ve been seeing our fair Duchess stepping-up her fashion game the past couple of months; finally sporting some seriously expensive designer wares on a few occasions. Well, if you think Kate has changed her sensible ways — think again!

Today was another “first” for the Duchess of Cambridge as she attended the Buckingham Palace Garden Party for guests who were invited after being chosen for their work with various institutions, charities and businesses. She joined the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen for tea and cakes with the 8,000 guests on the grounds of the Queen’s residence as the family prepares for this weekend’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Only when Kate stepped out with Prince Charles and Camilla, we were shocked to see that she was already recycling her $1800 pink Emilia Wickstead pleated dress.

At the Royal Sovereign's Lunch

Yes, we know…Kate is certainly a fan of raiding the closet as we’ve witnessed time and time before. Only…the last time we saw her in this frock was a mere fortnight (you read that right…two weeks) ago when she attended the Royal Sovereign’s lunch in honour of the Queen’s Jubilee at Windsor Castle. The Duchess is certainly taking recycling to a new level!

Kate changed her look up a bit today, pairing the dress with a matching Jane Corbett hat and her trusty L.K. Bennett heels in lieu of the satin pumps she wore before. The Duchess received rave reviews again as she mingled with the crowd. One attendee, Gareth Jones, 23, remarked to PEOPLE, ”She congratulated us, and asked me how long I’d been in the RAF,” about Kate’s greeting to him and his brand new bride, Rebecca, just back from their honeymoon in Florida. “She seems to share a lot of empathy and genuine interest in people.”

With the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations and 2012 Olympics ahead in London…we’re seeing a busy summer ahead for the Duchess. Keep up the good work, Kate!

Happy Friday lovely readers!  What a week it’s been for Kate sightings!  We first saw Kate looking lovely in white at the Thirty Club, then saw her dressed down while she and Lupo were volunteering for the Scouts and to top it off, the Duke and Duchess looked stunning at an Olympic Gala.  What a busy week for our favorite Royal couple!  In case you missed it, here’s a roundup of everything Kate related from the past week including all the appearances this week.

Kate does an updo and stunning teal dress at an Olympic event [ Daily Mail ]

The Duchess will attend her first Buckingham Palace garden party later this month [ Daily Mail ]

It’s official – the first born of Will and Kate will get the crown, regardless of gender [Daily Mail ]

Kate and Lupo go camping with the Scouts [ PopSugar ]

The Duke and Duchess dine at the exclusive Thirty Club [ PopSugar ]

Hello lovely readers!  Hope everyone enjoyed celebrating the one-year anniversary of our favorite Duke and Duchess last weekend!

Lots of buzz this week continuing about everything from Kate’s fashion to *gasp* a suggestion she should cut her hair!  Here’s your weekly Kate roundup:

Kate’s “faultless” first year [ Telegraph ]

From blushing bride to style icon [ The Mirror ]

Nude tights sales surge thanks to Kate [ Daily Mail ]

Is it time for Kate to chop her hair? [ Daily Mail ]

The next appearance set for May 11 [ stv ]

Kate’s goes grocery and outlet shopping [ US Weekly ]

The Westleton Crown

We reported over the weekend that Will and Kate spent the day before their first wedding anniversary attending the wedding of one of Kate’s close friends from Marlborough College. Now, we’ve learned from PEOPLE that the couple spent the eve of their anniversary with other wedding guests, staying at the nearby intimate Westleton Crown in Suffolk.

Swan Room

The couple stayed in the “Swan Room” ($267) of the quaint 34-bedroom inn that had been rented out for wedding guests. A hotel source shared, “They would have been familiar with everyone who was staying at the hotel.” The source also revealed that they woke on the day of their anniversary and had breakfast with the other guests before departing to celebrate the rest of the day together.

Sounds like a wonderful romantic weekend to us!