Prince William and Duchess Kate’s visit to Gardens by the Bay
I got to see a real-life Prince in person! Britain’s Prince William and his wife Duchess Catherine are in Singapore for a three-day visit celebrating the 60-year Diamond Jubilee reign of Queen Elizabeth II. This kicks off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour which includes Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and the Pacific Island of Tuvalu. See here for what’s in store for the royal couple’s visit.
I caught a royal glimpse of the couple at Gardens by the Bay’s SuperTree Grove after a sweltering-hot wait in the sun. It was crowded and everyone excited for this probably once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When it happened, it lasted a quick 15 minutes, of which 10 eight minutes were of figuring exactly where they were, three minutes trying to get a clear shot of them away from the sea of cameras, iphones and iPads, and the remaining ONE minute glimpse of the Prince and Duchess. That’s what I call once-in-a-lifetime adventure – it’s one of the craziest photo outings I had. It’s also the inspiration for the post title. Usually, it’s “Where there is a will, there is a way.” I had to chase them round the Gardens just to get a decent photo of them together. And the pair seemed inseparably lovely – “Where there is a Will, there is a Kate” *Wink*
Proudly waving my Brit and SG flags
Hundreds gather at Gardens by the Bay eager to catch a glimpse of William and Kate
School children brought out to welcome the royal couple.
Photos to remember this special moment – we are going to see a Prince!
Bet this must be the only time you will see him in such a hairband.
Posing for pics
Hardcore!
Me: “I think Singapore’s entire British population in here.”
Brit lady next to me: “No, it’s more like Singapore’s entire FEMALE British population is here. The men don’t give a hoot.”
I like her :)
Anticipating royalty
These girls look terribly excited. I looked terribly sun-burnt.
Photo By Pool/Reuters
What a Birt brolly!
Hilarious!
And he’s here! *swoon* for just a moment.
Thanks Ferne for the photo
That’s Kate looking lovely in a white Alexander McQueen broderie anglaise suit, paired with her favourite Stuart Weitzman wedges in navy blue.
Photo By Gardens by the Bay
Talking to the public. The Prince bent down to talk to pre-school toddlers who got tired of waiting and were sitting down, oblivious to the roars of excitement around them. Super cute.
Thanks Ferne for the photo
Don’t they look regal?
Photo By Pool/Reuters
Their Royal Highnesses planted a Pachira glabra ‘Variegata’, commonly known as the Money Plant, to commemorate their visit to Gardens by the Bay.
Photo By Gardens by the Bay
Saying royal bye-byes
And off they go like a whirlwind…that’s the Prince waving
The Royal Couple’s itinerary in Singapore
The Duchess receiving a bouquet of orchids, Singapore’s national flower upon arrival. She is wearing a hand-painted dress of orchids by British designer Jenny Packham, which took a team of skilled artists at Chelsea firm De Gournay eight weeks to complete.
Photo By Wong Maye-E
Prince William and Duchess Kate admiring the Vanda William Catherine Orchid named in their honour – a free-flowering hybrid whose white petals are dotted with leopard-print purple spots.
Photo By Pool/Reuters
The couple looking at the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana white orchid named after William’s late mother. Diana, Princess of Wales had been delighted to have the flower named in her honour, but she died in a Paris car crash just two weeks before she was due to fly out to see it.
William: “‘It’s beautiful,’… ‘Did she ever come to Singapore?’
Photo By Pool/Reuters
Prince William and Duchess Kate with Singapore President Tony Tan and his wife at the Istana. Love her floral printed wool-silk dress from Singapore-born designer Prabal Gurung.
Photo By Pool/Reuters
Prince William talking to a guard. Somehow, the photo turned out to be quite humorous. Caption please! LOL
Photo By Wong Maye-E
The Duke and Duchess make a toast in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee at a British Gala reception at the Eden Hall, Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Photo By Pool/Reuters
Girl Power!
The Duchess unveils the new Trent engine at Rolls-Royce new factory in Seletar. The factory aims to produce 250 engines a year for aircraft that include the A380 and create 500 new jobs.
Photo By The New Paper
“Hubby, this is even more fun than the Wii Kinect we have at home!”
“Hey, that’s Grandma when she was young!”
Prince William looks at a 1953 newspaper issue of the coronation of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth during his tour of Strathmore Green at Queenstown public housing estate.The queen herself made previous state visits to Singapore and Queenstown in 1972, 1989 and 2006. Queenstown estate is Singapore’s first satellite town outside the urban centre and has roads like Margaret Drive and Strathmore Green named after British towns, institutions and the Royal family.
Photo By Pool/Reuters
A pair of Chinese lions welcoming the couple to their visit to Queenstown. I think the couple looked intrigued. Perhaps they would have bonded better with our LED-lit shuffling lions, haha
Photo By Pool/Reuters
Prince William with a football jersey given by a fan
Photo By Pool/Reuters
Kate is in local designer Raoul’s pre-Fall 2012 dress – you go girl! Woot!
I love this photo…they look like they are lost in each other’s world. Sometimes, being great friends makes a marriage last longer than being great lovers. I think these two make a terrific pair. Envy.
Photo By Pool/Reuters
I think this photo pretty sums up the different perceptions of the Royal Visit
Mum to daughter: “That’s a real-life Prince like those in your fairytales. Do you want to marry one next time? (Actually I wish I still could!)”
Daughter: “Oh, he looks human. Where’s Fairy Godmother and the elves?”
Son: “Bleahk! I think I look 100 times better! What’s the fuss, Mum? Can we just go home to my Wii Kinect?!”
Speaking to student Tan Si Xue who gave them one of his paintings following a performance at Rainbow Centre, a school for disabled children
spunktitud3 