Kate Middleton revealed that travelling on the Tube is an element of her former life that she misses when she attended an event to celebrate the London Underground's 150th anniversary on Wednesday morning.The radiant Duchess of Cambridge was the height of sophistication in a teal blue coat with black beading which skimmed her blossoming baby bump. Kate, whose baby is due in July, laughed when she was presented with a 'Baby on Board' badge and said she'd be sure to wear it at home.
The pregnant royal topped her outfit with a striking black hat and dazzling sapphire earrings. She relied on her signature accessories including Cornelia James black gloves, black suede court shoes from Episode Angel and a matching clutch bag, to complete the outfit. She joined forces with the Queen and Prince Philip at Baker Street tube station to mark the world's oldest underground's milestone occasion.It seemed that the Queen had made a full recovery from her recent bout of gastroenteritis as she smiled and waved to the gathered crowds,. She kept the winter chill at bay in a Karl Ludwig dress in summer tweed, matching coat and an Angela Kelly hat. The sprightly Duke of Edinburgh, 91, followed his wife and granddaughter-in-law into the station. Kate, who spent yesterday visiting the charity Child Bereavement UK with Prince William, joined the Queen and Prince Philip to meet staff in the ticket hall before going underground to meet maintenance and train workers. Crowds gathered on the opposite platform to catch a glimpse of the royals.
The trio unveiled a new plaque naming a new train "Queen Elizabeth II" and got on board. It was the first public engagement for the 86-year-old monarch who recently spent a night in hospital, her first in ten years, with a stomach bug. She made a speedy recovery and was able to return to Buckingham Palace less than 24 hours later. All her official engagements, including a highly-anticipated visit to Rome with Prince Philip, were cancelled or postponed. The Queen is no stranger to the iconic Underground. Her Majesty's most recent Tube visit took place in February 2010. She met staff at Aldgate station and viewed a memorial plaque dedicated to the seven people who lost their lives there in the July 7, 2005 bombings.
In 1969 she got behind the wheel and drove a train when she opened the Victoria line. In 1977 she unveiled the Piccadilly link from central London to Heathrow airport. She first travelled on the Tube in May 1939, four months after it opened, with Princess Margaret and her governess. It was a far cry from the sprawling network it is today. The first stretch of the tube to be built was the Metropolitan line and was less than 4 miles long.