Prince William and Kate Middleton are taking a final bow on their three-week royal tour of New Zealand and Australia. After traveling throughout the two countries, the royal couple hit the Australian capital of Canberra on Thursday, April 24.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a stop at the Parliament House, where Prince William made a speech reflecting on their trip with their son Prince George.
“Reluctantly, Catherine, George and I leave Australia tomorrow,” William said. “Thank you for the warmth and generosity that has been shown to us during our visit. We go away with wonderful memories, and George goes away with his cuddly wombat, which he has taken to chewing so lovingly. We greatly look forward to coming back. And when we do return, it will be to marvel again at all that Australia is, and will yet become.”
“I spoke to Kate about her time in Australia,” an 18-year-old guest named Caroline Hendy told Us. “Kate joked that George now has more stuffed toys of Australian animals than any other type. He loves his toys.”
The Duke and his wife dressed up for the occasion, he in a smart navy suit and she in an emerald green Catherine Walker coat dress with a pair of nude pumps.
Known for her style sensibility, the Duchess did not have a chance to add to her closet during the trip. “Kate said she really wanted to go out shopping and had been driving through cities looking out the window peering in to show windows,” journalist Angela Bishop told Us. “I think she was a little disappointed that she couldn’t shop here.” Middleton did get a chance to mingle with Jordanian ambassador Rima Alaadeen, who told Us she invited the royal family to visit Jordan.
Later in the day, the British royals pulled off an outfit change for an engagement at Australia’s Governor-General’s reception at the Government House in Canberra. Prince William swapped out his light-colored tie for a dark blue spotted one, while Duchess Catherine pulled her hair back into a low chignon and changed into a stunning ivory Lela Rose dress, which she paired with silver jewelry and black pumps.
The high-class reception of around 100 guests was hosted by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, who compared William and Kate’s trip to the 1927 Australian tour taken by the Prince’s great-grandparents, George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The royals will stay at the Government House on Thursday evening before departing Australia on Friday, April 25.
“The royal couple have done so much for Australia during this visit,” INXS rocker Kirk Pengilly told Us on Thursday.