They have earned the nickname of the Fab Four and it seems that Harry and Meghan, Kate and William proved themselves worth of the title on Tuesday.
The two couples led a host of dignitaries and politicians into the service for the first of several events to take part today, ahead of one of the largest military flypasts in recent memory this afternoon.
Kate and the newly-minted Meghan fought it out in the style stakes with the Duchess of Sussex making her debut in Dior while the Duchess of Cambridge reached for an old favourite for the RAF centenary on Tuesday.
As the Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Kate could be seen wearing Air Cadets Dacre brooch, known to be the highest award any female cadet can achieve as she arrived at Westminster Abbey for the service.
The mother-of-three opted for a tried and tested style as she wore the same Alexander McQueen coat worn to Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding but in a pale blue.
As she is wont to do, the Duchess paired her hat perfectly to her coat, wearing a chic headpiece by Sean Barrett in the same shade, complete with elegant lace detailing and a white floral decoration.
The ‘fab four’ make their way into Westminster, where Kate and William tied the knot seven years ago. Also in attendance were Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Sophie, and Princess Anne, and Prince Michael of Kent
As the Honorary Air Commandant of the RAF Kate could be seen wearing Air Cadets Dacre brooch, known to be the highest award any female cadet can achieve as she arrived at Westminster Abbey for the service
Royally rushed off their feet! This afternoon, Harry and Meghan will join royals at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force. Their Royal Highnesses will meet RAF servicemen and women
Kate looked fresh faced as she arrived at Westminster after celebrating her son Prince Louis’ christening on Monday
The group later assembled on Buckingham Palace balcony where they awaited a fly-over from the RAF
The royals watched on as the fly-over took place – although Kate appeared a little distracted during the display
Meanwhile Meghan, who will fly to Dublin with Prince Harry tonight, stunned in a little black dress by Dior for a service commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force.
The Duchess, 36, paired the fit-and-flare frock with an elaborate netted headpiece from milliner Stephen Jones, just hours after she divided fans with her olive green Ralph Lauren ensemble for Prince Louis’ christening at St. James’s Palace.
She wore her tresses in an elegant side bun, which celebrity hair stylist Jason Collier says is a ‘sleeker and more elegant’ take on what is fast becoming her signature look.
Despite the cobbled entrance both Kate and Meghan opted for a pair of chic nude heels and could be seen holding clutch bags upon arrival.
The Duchess of Cambridge was accompanied by Prince William who looked dapper in full military uniform as did his brother the Duke of Sussex.
Meghan and Harry, who have been noted for the tactile public displays, arrived arm in arm while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were true to their more formal public approach, walking separately.
Known as the ‘fab four’, Kate, William, Harry and Meghan appeared to be getting along famously as they arrived having travelled together from their home of Kensington Palace.
The royals were lead by the Queen for the service to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force.
Arriving at Westminster Abbey this morning the Duchess, 36, paired her A-line dress with a stunning netted headpiece, just hours after she divided fans with her green Ralph Lauren ensemble for Prince Louis’ christening at St. James’s Palace
Prince William was dressed in full military garb decorated with his many medals as he prepared to mark 100 years of RAF
Known as the ‘fab four’, Kate, William, Harry and Meghan appeared to be getting along famously as they arrived having travelled together from their home of Kensington Palace
The most recent take on the coat is a duck egg blue, perfectly displaying Kate’s Dacre RAF brooch on the collar
KATE’S AIR CADETS DACRE BROOCH: THE HIGHEST OF HONOURS
It was hard to miss Kate’s spectacular brooch that could be seen below the collar of her Alexander McQueen coat that she wore during the RAF centenary today.
However, some may be surprised to see it on the Duchess as The Dacre Brooch is usually only bestowed to those who are Air Cadets themselves and is said to be the highest honour that a female cadet can achieve.
The tradition of the brooch originated in 1979 when Mrs Elizabeth Dacre MBE TD JP presented to the Air Training Corps the dress sword of her late husband, Air Commodore G B Dacre CBE DSO DL RAF to be awarded to the ‘ATC Cadet of the Year.’
As girls began to join the cadets in 1982, Mrs Dacre presented the Corps with a diamond and ruby brooch mounted on a sash, for presentation to the best female cadet.
From then on each year one male member of the cadets would be awarded with the sword and a female with the sash and brooch with the selection based on their all-round performance throughout the year.
This tradition took place until last year when it was decided that the girls should receive the Dacre sword like their male counterparts.
Ms Conder who was the best female cadet in 2015 told the Telegraph: ‘It is quite an honour (to wear the brooch). I was the last cadet to wear it, and now she is wearing it. It is the best accesory.’
Although the Duchess is not a cadet they seem to think she was deserving of the brooch. A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace says that the cadets presented the brooch to the Duchess as a gift following her appointment as Honorary Air Commandant of the organisation.
Source: Royal Air Force Air Cadets
It was 100 years ago on April 1 1918 that the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service merged to create the RAF – the world’s first independent air service.
The royals will then appear on the balcony of the Queen’s London residence to view a flypast of up to 100 RAF aircraft, a parade of more than 1,000 personnel, and a feu de joie.
Also joining the monarch will be Prince Charles and Camilla as well as Prince William and Kate for the RAF event on July 10.
Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex as well as Princess Anne who will all attend a service at Westminster Abbey.
This year marks the centenary of the Royal Air Force – the world’s first independent air force – which was founded on 1 April 1918, independent of the British Army and Royal Navy.
As she is wont to do, the Duchess paired her hat perfectly to her coat, wearing a chic headpiece by Sean Barrett in the same shade, complete with elegant lace detailing and a white floral decoration
The Duchess joined the Duke of Cambridge to greet members of the RAF upon entering the Abbey ahead of the service
She took her pew alongside her husband where she was seen perfecting her famous ‘Duchess slant’
Something appeared to have amused the couple during the service celebrating 100 years of the RAF on Tuesday
Based on the cut and style of Meghan’s elegant bateauneck frock, royal watchers were convinced it was a bespoke piece by her wedding dress designer, Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, however it was later revealed as Dior
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were whisked off to Buckingham Palace for a reception (pictured). Harry and Meghan will later board a private jet to Dublin to kick-start their tour of Ireland
Meghan takes Harry’s arm as they make their way into the church. The couple were joined by the Queen, Prince Charles and Camilla, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, despite Kate still being on maternity leave
Busy day: Following this morning’s service, Harry and Meghan joined royals including William and Kate at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force
For one hundred years the RAF has defended the skies of Britain, preventing conflicts, delivering aid and combating cyber threats while working in partnership with other services.
These include Operation Ruman – the UK’s humanitarian assistance operation in the aftermath of hurricane Irma which hit the Caribbean in September 2017 – and the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon Aircraft, providing a UK air defence capability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Today, the RAF is engaged on some 13 missions across 26 countries and is heavily committed on operations both at home and abroad.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were last seen less than 24 hours ago for the christening of their youngest son Prince Louis.
When it came to her ensemble the mother-of-three proved that if it ain’t broke don’t fix it as she wore the same Alexander McQueen coat worn to Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding but in a pale blue
The couple were flanked by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with the newly-minted Meghan putting on an elegant display in all-black
Fellow RAF members could be seen saluting the two royal couples as they stepped from their cars into the chapel
The mother-of-three wore her brunette locks in a low chignon showcasing a pear of diamond earrings
Following along behind was Her Majesty the Queen who was brightly dressed in blue and green and wore a hat decorated with peacock feathers
The Prince of Wales followed on behind dressed in full RAF uniform as were his two sons William and Charles
The Duchess of Cornwall looked her elegant best in an all-cream ensemble and a four-string pearl necklace and the Countess of Wessex also went for an ivory coloured outfit
Louis, who is fifth in line to the throne, was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace.
The Lily Font and water from the River Jordan was used during the baptism.
Following the service, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gave a private tea at Clarence House. Guests were served slices of christening cake from a tier taken from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake.
The guest list for the christening included the Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Kate’s family members in attendance included her father Michael Middleton, her pregnant sister Pippa along with her husband James Matthews, and her brother James.
Noticeable absentees were the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
The great-grandparents of the 11-week-old prince missed the service although their absence was not due to ill health.
The Queen, 92, was due to be travelling back from Norfolk at the start of a busy week, which includes high-profile celebrations marking the centenary of the RAF on Tuesday and a visit by US president Donald Trump in Windsor on Friday.
The baby prince – Louis Arthur Charles – was born in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, on April 23 – St George’s Day – weighing 8lb 7oz.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed Charles and Camilla out of the Abbey following the service
Kate appeared to have taken home her order of service, seen tucked under her arm, as a souvenir
To mark the anniversary today soldiers marched along The Mall to the applause of spectators