Will and Kate back to very busy business

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William laugh as they sign the visitors book as during a visit to Middle Temple on Monday in London. The royals met recipients of the Queen Mother Scholarship, the Diana, Princess of Wales Scholarship and the Duke and Duchess  of Cambridge  Scholarships at Middle Temple Inn. (Getty Images)

We're sure it wasn't planned this way, but there was a slight bit of irony as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge had her first official royal engagement since the topless Kate photos messed up their otherwise enjoyable royal tour last month.

On Monday, as she and Prince William met with law scholarship recipients in downtown London, she wore a burgundy skirt and jacket by Paule Ka, a French fashion house based in Paris. Of course, it was in France where those topless photos were captured and first published, and also where the couple chose to make a legal stand and push for a criminal investigation.

No hard feelings, though, seemed evident as Will and Kate visited Middle Temple Inn, meeting law students who are benefitting from scholarships awarded to those in financial need or have overcome obstacles.

It was the start of Kate's busiest week on home turf as a royal, with six official engagements. And she'll have to do much of it alone. Prince William will be attending the funeral of his former nanny, Olga Powell, on Wednesday, leaving Kate as a solo act for engagements in Newcastle, Gateshead and Stockton-on-Tees in northeast England.

She and William will also be in Burton-on-Trent on Tuesday, attending the opening of the National Football Centre with the English soccer team. It will be William's turn to go solo on Thursday, when he'll be at the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Gala Dinner at St. James's Palace while Kate is at a "prior private engagement."

All this doesn't leave much time for their life in Wales, where William is still a RAF search-and-rescue helicopter pilot. Over the next six months, it's expected they will take on even more royal duties (family planning aside) as William counts down to the end of his current tour on RAF duty. He'll have to sign up for another three years, give up the military, or find a forgiving branch of the service where he can serve both masters.

Prince William and Kate chat with scholarship recepients at Middle Temple in London on Monday. (Reuters)

 

 

 

 

 

The many faces of Kate as she chats it up with scholarship winners in London. (Getty Images)

 

The Duchess of Cambridge  signs the visitors book as she visits Middle Temple on Monday. (Getty Images)

 

 

 

 

Comments

[MLR]

It must suck to constantly be under the eye of the media and scrutiny of the entire world. I'd rather live a more chill, peaceful life. She is doing a good job of meeting the expectations she has in her role.... Good job, Kate!

[Sam Jackson]

Kate is looking as lovely as ever. Awesome outfit! Surely now one of the best dressed amongst them all.