Duchess Kate has golden touch with Olympians at Palace

The Duchess of Cambridge chats it up with the British women's hockey team during a reception for Team GB Olympic and Paralympic medallists at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening. (AFP/Getty Images)

To the victors go the royals.

The British Olympic team, fresh off their highly successfully 65-medal Olympics, earned a trip to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday for an official ‘thank-you’ reception with both politicians and royals.

As usual, it was Kate, Duchess of Cambridge who earned top-of-the-podium points with both the athletes and the stylists. Wearing a black floral Alice by Temperley Esmeralda dress ($300 on sale) with black suede Jimmy Choo Cosmic pumps ($700), Kate stood out from athletic crowd in their official formal wear, which included a special inside pocket just for their medals.

This was not, however, a Kate-only show. The Queen and Prince Philip started the show by welcoming Prime Minister David Cameron (left, with sports minister Hugh Robertson) and other dignataries, including Games CEO Sebastian Coe. Kate joined the party, along with Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Phillips (also an Olympic equestrian), Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Prince Andrew and his daughter Beatrice.

The gathering was accompanied by the news from the sports minister that the cost of the Games will actually come in about $600 million under the budget of $14.6 billion.

"It was an amazing summer and I think people will cherish those memories, you know, almost more then the 1966 World Cup," PM Cameron said before the Palace reception.

"I think people will look back and just think, ‘what an incredible summer -- success after success, medal after medal and the whole country putting on its very best face for the world. What matters now is that we maximize the momentum and the legacy following the Olympics and Paralympics."

The Royal Family played their part, with Kate joining Princes William and Harry as official team ambassadors, one or the other of them appearing almost daily at events through the Games. There was, of course, also the Queen, making her now famous appearance as a Bond girl in the opening ceremony. And just to show they can be competitive on the field as well, Zara Phillips helped the British equestrian team win a silver medal.

Kate talks to, from left, Carl Hester, Charlotte Dujardin and Scott Brash during a reception for Team GB medallists at Buckingham Palace. (AFP/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth meets Eleanor Simmonds, a Paralympic swimmer, during the reception for Team GB medallists. (AFP/Getty Images)

The duchess meets Heather Stanning, centre, and Helen Glover during a reception for Team GB medallists. (AFP/Getty Images)

The Duchess of Cambridge smiles as she talks to Olympic and Paralympic athletes during the reception for Team GB medallists. (Reuters/Getty Images)

 

Queen Elizabeth meets rowers during a reception for Team GB medallists at Buckingham Palace. The Queen's own starring role at the Games came in the opening ceremony when she performed in a James Bond video. (AFP/Getty Image)

MEANWHILE, SPEAKING OF JAMES BOND ...

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall meet actors Daniel Craig and Judi Dench as they arrive for the royal world premiere of the new 007 film "Skyfall" at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Tuesday night. Proceeds from the premiere are being donated to charities connected to Britain's intelligence services. (Reuters)