A beaming Duchess of Cambridge made her last solo public appearance before the birth of her first child next month today at the naming ceremony of the 1,082ft cruise ship, the Royal Princess.
Sporting a £169 dalmatian print coat from high street retailer, Hobbs, which she wore over a pretty, white knee-length dress accessorised with classic black court shoes and a neat black fascinator, the Duchess walked up the royal blue carpet to a rousing musical welcome courtesy of the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth and The Pipe Band of 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
Smiling broadly, the eight-months pregnant Duchess shook hands with officials and representatives from the cruise line watched by guests and a celebrity contingent that included veteran TV presenter, Sir Bruce Forsyth and former Atomic Kitten singer, Jenny Frost.
After a performance from pop singer, Natasha Bedingfield, the Right Rev Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester, blessed the ship and delivered a prayer.
Before the Duchess smashed a £1,250 Nebuchadnezzar of Moet et Chandon champagne against the hull of the Royal Princess to officially name the ship.
The Duchess, who is around eight months pregnant, looked relaxed as she stepped from her chauffeur-driven vehicle to the quayside in Southampton, after making the journey from London by helicopter.
She took her place on a stage in blustery conditions that threatened rain and seated opposite in a large grandstand were guests associated with charities that have the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge or Prince Harry as their patrons.
Spectators were from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice, Kate’s charity, SkillForce which has William as its figurehead, and Harry’s organisation WellChild.
Captain Tony Draper invited the Duchess up to perform the naming ceremony on a nearby platform. Two youngsters, Isobel Rowbotham, 14, and her eight-year-old brother Charles, handed the Duchess a pair of scissors to cut a length of rope to launch the bottle into the hull.
The youngsters’ brother died from a brain tumour while a toddler but they were supported by Kate’s charity East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice.
Before cutting the rope, Duchess chatted to the pair, then carried out the ceremony, telling the guests: ‘I name this ship Royal Princess, may God bless her and all who sail in her.’
The bottle was released and flew into the hull, smashing to a large cheer. The 15-litre Nebuchednezzar of champagne was the third to be smashed today and came after at least two trial runs earlier this morning. In total, the champagne bill was thought to be in the region of £4,000.
The Duchess then looked on as the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth and The Pipe Band of 1st Battalion Irish Guards staged a colourful parade to round off the christening ceremony.
Despite the ship’s regal name, the vessel was not named after the Duchess of Cambridge. Instead, the name was taken from the original Royal Princess ship which launched in 1984 and is no longer in service.
Becoming a ship’s godmother is a symbolic position similar to a patron or sponsor that dates back to the mid-19th century when leading women were selected for the honour.
Princess Cruises has a history of illustrious godmothers for past ships including Diana, Princess of Wales, who named the first Princess Royal in 1984, actress Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, and Baroness Thatcher.
‘Appointing a godmother to name a new ship is one of maritime’s oldest traditions,’ said Paul Ludlow, UK Director of Princess Cruises.