Royal Tour of India and Bhutan 2016 Complete Lookbook

Royal tour of India and Bhutan, 10-16 April 2016

10 April 2016 - Arrival in Mumbai and wreath-laying ceremony at the Taj Palace Hotel.

New dress: bespoke version of an Alexander McQueen pre-fall 2016 paisley-print dress with peplum detail; new bag: Russell & Bromley "Curvy" clutch bag in taupe suede with a gunmetal frame and clasp closure; new shoes: L.K. Bennett "Fern" courts in trench leather; "Temple of Heaven" girandole pendant earrings by Cassandra Goad (Daily Mail article here).

10 April 2016 - Watching a young person’s cricket match at Oval Maidan, a public park in Mumbai, and meeting representatives and beneficiaries of three charities: Magic Bus, Doorstep, and India’s Childline, and later visiting Banganga Water Tank and meeting with representatives of the Smile Foundation.

New dress: "Gulrukh" tunic dress in viscose georgette by Indian designer Anita Dongre; new shoes: "Fleur" espadrille wedge in mink by Monsoon; new earrings: filigree bead short drop earrings by Accessorize; Ray-Ban Wayfarer (folding?) sunglasses (Daily Mail article here, Daily Telegraph article on how the Duchess had the dress customized here).

10 April 2016 - Attending a reception and dinner hosted by the British High Commission in partnership with the British Asian Trust at the Taj Palace Hotel to celebrate Mumbai’s film and creative industries and to raise funds for the three charity the couple met earlier in the day.

New gown: bespoke Jenny Packham evening gown and matching cape, hand-beaded in India; new bag: bespoke Jenny Packham clutch matching the gown; new shoes: plum suede wavy sandals by Prada; new earrings: bespoke lapis and diamond oval drop earrings by Jaipur-based Amrapali Jewels, similar in style to these (Daily Mail article here).

11 April 2016 - Meeting aspiring young entrepreneurs at a GREAT campaign event at The Social, a bar, restaurant and collaborative workspace in Mumbai. Later, arrival in New Delhi, wreath-laying at India Gate, the country's main war memorial and visit to Gandhi Smriti, where Mahatma Gandhi, India’s founding father, spent the last few years of his life.
New dress: ivory wool crepe midi dress with pocket detail by Emilia Wickstead; new bag: Mulberry "Bayswater" clutch in oatmeal suede; new shoes: "Calice" high heel pumps in pink lady textured kid by Rupert Sanderson; "Temple of Heaven" girandole pendant earrings by Cassandra Goad (Dail Mail article here). 

11 April 2016 - Garden party at the British High Commissioner's residence in New Delhi to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.
New top: "Delphia" crop top with opulent embroidery motifs of Indian chintz and lattice and new skirt: long "Delphia" skirt in embroidered silk, both by Temperley London; unidentified costume chandelier earrings, dating back to at least 2007; new shoes: criss-cross ankle wrap suede sandals by Gianvito Rossi; new bag: black satin clutch with crystal-embellished clasp by Prada (Daily Mail article here).

12 April 2016 - Visiting the Salaam Baalak Trust, a charity which provides a sensitive and caring environment to street and working children in New Delhi.
New dress: red navy border print lace up maxi dress by Glamorous; new shoes: Russell & Bromley "Xpresso" crossover flat shoes in blush suede; filigree bead short drop earrings by Accessorize (Daily Mail article here).

 

12 April 2016 - Meeting with a group of women's rights activists at the British High Commissioner's residence and lunch with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, a residence used by the Government for meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. Arrival at Tezpur Airport in Assam.

New dress: "Desdemona" lace dress in jade by Alice Temperley; L.K. Bennett "Natalie" clutch; new earrings: Kiki McDonough green tourmaline and green amethyst oval drop earrings; L.K. Bennett "Fern" courts in trench leather (Daily Mail article here).

 

12 April 2016 - Seeing dance and musical performances by local people at the time of the Bohag Bihu festival, the celebration of the Assamese New Year.
New dress: printed crinkled silk-chiffon and twill maxi dress by Anna Sui; gold-tone chandelier earrings with azure stones (chalcedony?), dating back to at least 2006; Pied-a-Terre "Imperia" wedges in black canvas (Daily Mail article here).

 

13 April 2016 - Open-air drive around Kaziranga National Park and meeting with local people, park staff and rangers.
New shirt: "Gretna" ruffled shirt in white/navy/sand from Australian brand RM Williams's A/W 2014 collection; new trousers: biker stretch pants by Zara; Kiki Classic citrine pear drop earrings by Kiki McDonough; Sebago "Bala" moccasin slip-on shoes in white/taupe; new scarf: beige Indian embroidered stole by Flora Garments; Ray-Ban Wayfarer (folding?) sunglasses (Daily Mail article here).

13 April 2016 - Visiting Pan Bari village and the Kaziranga Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Centre and meeting with young filmmakers from the Green Hub, a project that teaches film-making as a vocational skill to young people across North-East India. Then visiting the Kaziranga Discovery Centre, built by Elephant Family, the charity founded by Mark Shand, late brother of The Duchess of Cornwall.

New dress: embroidered smock dress by Topshop; filigree bead short drop earrings by Accessorize; Pied-a-Terre "Imperia" wedges in black canvas (Daily Mail article here).

14 April 2016 - Departing Guwahati Airport in Assam en route to Bhutan.
"Chrissy" dress by Tory Burch, in a Moroccan-inspired print of abstract fans and flourishes; L.K. Bennett "Fern" courts in trench leather; new earrings: lavender amethyst pear and oval drop earrings by Kiki McDonough.

14 April 2016 - Arrival at Paro Airport in Bhutan, ceremonial welcome and scenic drive to the capital city of Thimphu.
Bespoke Emilia Wickstead belted coatdress in buttercup yellow; L.K. Bennett "Natalie" clutch; L.K. Bennett "Fern" courts in trench leather; new earrings: gold charm earrings by Brora (Daily Mail article here).

14 April 2016 - Arrival at Thimphu Dzong, a Buddhist monastery, fortress and the seat of Bhutan's government; chipdrel (a traditional welcome procession, and rivate audience with the King and Queen. Later, visit to Thimphu’s open-air archery venue (archery is Bhutan's national sport) and meeting with young people from local schools and NGOs.
New cape: Paul & Joe cream wool cape embroidered in India with pink, turquoise and red florals; new skirt: inspired by the kira, the national dress for women in Bhutan, made in England by Catherine's dressmaker from material sourced and woven in Bhutan; L.K. Bennett "Fern" courts in trench leather; lavender amethyst pear and oval drop earrings by Kiki McDonough (Daily Mail article here).

 

14 April 2016 - Private dinner with the King and Queen at Lingkana Palace.
New dress: floral mesh gown by Tory Burch; criss-cross ankle wrap suede sandals by Gianvito Rossi; new scarf: John Lewis modal wrap in coral is a possibility; gold charm earrings by Brora (Daily Mail article here).

15 April 2016 - Hiking to Paro Taktsang, the Tiger’s Nest monastery, a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple in the upper Paro valley.
Shooting leather waistcoat by Really Wild Clothing in olive green nubuck; new shirt: white linen classic blouse by Jaeger; new jeans: unidentified khaki jeans; Penelope Chilvers long tassel boots in conker; Kiki Classic citrine pear drop earrings by Kiki McDonough; Ray-Ban Wayfarer (folding?) sunglasses; beige Indian embroidered stole by Flora Garments (Daily Mail article here).

15 April 2016 - Attending a reception in Thimphu for British nationals in Bhutan and Bhutanese people with strong links to the UK.
New dress: Beulah London "Juliet" dress in silk chiffon with a poppy print (the poppy is the national flower of Bhutan); "Temple of Heaven" girandole pendant earrings by Cassandra Goad; criss-cross ankle wrap suede sandals by Gianvito Rossi (Daily Mail article here).

16 April 2016 - Departing Bhutan en route to Agra, India.
White broderie anglaise suit by Alexander McQueen; L.K. Bennett "Natalie" clutch; L.K. Bennett "Fern" courts in trench leather; "Lauren" yellow gold pave diamond leaf earrings by Kiki McDonough; new necklace: gold and diamond necklace depicting the endless knot, one of the eight auspicious symbols in Buddhism, representing the harmony of wisdom and compassion, a gift from Bhutan's Queen Jetsun. The Duchess's is a bespoke version of this silver and cubic zirconia necklace by Sonam Rabgye (Daily Mail article here).

16 April 2016 - Visiting the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.
New dress: blue and white embroidered dress by Indian-born designer Naeem Khan; L.K. Bennett "Fern" courts in trench leather; Ray-Ban Wayfarer (folding?) sunglasses; new earrings: Bhutanese earrings bought at a market stall during the hike to the Tiger's Nest monastery (Daily Mail article here and here).

Daily Telegraph picture gallery for the tour here.

Official Kensington Palace press release for the tour here.

I'd love to know which outfit was your favourite, so make sure to leave a comment below to let me know! Personally, I have two favourites: the Anita Dongre tunic dress and the Naeem Khan embroidered dress!

Intriguing India - Part V: The More Recent Royal Tours

After our latest post in the Intriguing India series (you can find the previous posts here: Part I, Part II and Part III), which looked back at the official visits undertaken by the Queen, with less than a week to go before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge depart for Mumbai, it's now time to take a closer look at more recent royal visits, starting with the one made by the Prince and Princess of Wales in February 1992. Prior to the 1992 tour, Prince Charles had already been to India on his own three times: to New Delhi in 1975, in 1980 when he met Mother Teresa and representing the Queen at the funeral of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991.

 

The Prince of Wales with Mother Teresa in Calcutta in 1980. It was during this tour that the Prince visited the Taj Mahal and vowed to return one day with his bride. As it happened, the planned visit with Princess Diana didn't go ahead.

Princess Diana wore many magnificent gowns and colourful dresses during the 1992 tour. Below, in a black silk crepe and diamante paste embroidery Catherine Walker evening dress and the Spencer family tiara at a banquet given by Indian Vice-President Shankar Dayal Sharma:

The dress was later sold at the 1997 auction:

 

Receiving a warm welcome from a group of Indian dancers in Hyderabad. The Cambridges' tour will undoubtably provide similar photo opportunities, as per the official press release, they'll see dance and musical performances during their visit to Kaziranga National Park in the state of Assam:

 

 

The Princess met the sisters of Mother Teresa's mission at a shelter for the sick and the homeless in Calcutta:

 

The royal couple posing with the Presidential guard in Delhi:

 

 

Probably the most iconic look from the tour was another Catherine Walker creation: an evening gown of pink wild silk with a long-sleeved bolero jacket. The dress and bolero both have bodices embroidered with sequins, glass beads and gold braid, echoing Mughal embroidery motifs in a sort of diplomatic dressing nod to the host country which we'll surely see repeated in some way or another during the coming tour. The dress was among those auctioned by Christie's in 1997:

 

 

The Princess wore the gown with her emerald and diamond drop earrings...may I just take this opportunity to mention that this tour would be the perfect occasion for Catherine to repeat the stunning emerald demi-parure she debuted in New York City? ;-)

 

A joint visit to the Taj Mahal had been planned, but Prince Charles was due to attend a business leaders's forum in Bangalore, so the Princess ended up going on her own, and the press had a field day with pictures of her sitting alone on a bench in front of the mausoleoum just three days before Valentine's Day. The cracks in the Wales's marriage where already there for all to see. Before stopping at the Taj Mahal, she'd visited children at a Marie Stopes centre in Agra (above).

 

 

The Prince of Wales returned to India on his own eleven years later, in October/November 2003, when he visited New Delhi, Jodhpur, Jaipur and Mumbai. In March 2006 he visited for the first time with the Duchess of Cornwall:

The couple have since returned twice, in October 2010 to attend the Commonwealth Games in Delhi (shown below with President of India Her Excellency Pratibha Devisingh Patil):

and most recently in November 2013. Prince Charles celebrated his 65th birthday on tour, with a party at the British High Commission in Delhi:

Meeting dancers from the Kerala Folklore Theatre and Museum who performed for the royal couple.

As for other members of the Royal Family, the Duke of York undertook a tour of India in 2012 to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Widely criticized at the time as he flew by private jet, with costs being met by the taxpayer, the tour didn't get off to a particularly auspicious start:

 

Listening to a guide on a visit to the Dharavi slum in Mumbai.

 

The Duchess of York has visited a number of times, both privately to attend a wedding in Rajasthan and in her capacity as founder of Key to Freedom, a business structure for women in vulnerable situations in India who can sell their wares through the British retailer Topshop. She and Princess Eugenie visited together in 2012:

 

 

The Countess of Wessex undertook a trip to India in September 2013 with sight-saving charity ORBIS, and met with children who have been helped by the charity:

 

 

I very much hope you enjoyed this cavalcade through centuries of Anglo-Indian relations!

And now, with only a matter of days left before the start of this latest tour, I'm sure we can all look forward to many more fabulous photo opportunities, glitzy gowns and, in the words of the press release, new memories!