Kate Middleton, Duchess wows in a floor-length cream gown

Be careful sitting down in that dress Kate! Duchess wows in a floor-length cream gown... with a daring thigh-high split

By Rebecca English
PUBLISHED: 19:57, 8 May 2012 | UPDATED: 01:23, 9 May 2012

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The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at a 'secret' engagement in London last night in a show-stopping cream dress.
Although her private dinner was meant to be under the radar Kate was anything but, in a stunning floor-skimming gown slit to the thigh.
The dress, believed to be a design by Roland Mouret, had a demure high neckline, was teamed with crystal-studded Jimmy Choo Vamp sandals that revealed crimson-painted toenails.

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Kate teamed her gown with a pair of sparkly heels and a cream, sparkly clutch and her trademark locks hung elegantly around her shoulders

White out: The showstopping gown is believed to be a 2009 creation by designer Roland Mouret

The Duchess carried a diamante clutch bag that matched her shoes and sported a pair of chandelier-style diamond earrings.
Kate was accompanying her husband, Prince William, to one of the most elite dining clubs in the country.

 

The royal couple were at Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair for a meeting of the Thirty Club, whose members are some of the most powerful men and women in advertising and the media.
Founded in 1905 for the ‘betterment of advertising’, its monthly dinners are a chance for the movers and shakers of the industry to meet, discuss issues of the day and sometimes even seal deals.

Back in the spotlight: The royal couple looked relaxed and happy as they stepped on to the red carpet

Supportive: Kate was accompanying husband Prince William, who was a guest speaker at last night's event

The man with the keys to entry is Bartle Bogle Hegarty's Nigel Bogle but it also attracts big media players including Michael Grade, Lord Puttnam and Stephen Carter. Rupert Murdoch is believed to have attended one dinner, although clearly in light of recent events was not present yesterday.

PALE... AND VERY INTERESTING: WHY KATE'S DRESS IS ANOTHER HIT

The Duchess of Cambridge's floor-sweeping gown is believed to be a 2009 design from RM by Roland Mouret.
Named the Lombard dress, it was first worn in its original teal colour by model Amber Valetta in 2009. It was then seen on France's former First Lady Carla Bruni at a State Dinner in 2010.
The slim-fitting arms of the off-white version appear to have been altered for the Duchess, though.
The classic design is at once grand and understated, in keeping with what has become a signature style.
This isn’t the first time she has worn Roland Mouret, however. Kate famously kicked off her tour of North America last year in a navy dress by the same London-based designer.

Their meetings feature a guest speaker – in this case Prince William - who was following in the footsteps of many other senior royals who have made address including his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, his grand-father Prince Philip and aunt Princess Anne.
The Duchess was accompanying him, palace sources said, for support.
A St James’s Palace spokesman said William had decided to attend in honour of the Queen’s jubilee and his own 30th birthday next month.
‘The Duke has been invited for around nine years now and thought that it was right to accept the invitation this year because of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
'It also seemed rather apt as it his 30th birthday next month,’ they said.
‘Other senior members of the Royal Family also suggested that it was an interesting event to attend.’
They declined to say what issues his speech would be tackling, however, as it was ‘a private occasion’ and the engagement was not publicised in advance.
The Thirty Club was named after its 30 founder members  - ten senior figures from the advertising industry, those who advertise and the media. Today it still has 30 full members on roughly the same line, but has expanded its number of include some associate members.

Dazzling: The Duchess teamed her simple gown with a beaded clutch, platform heels and diamond earrings

Designer accessories: Jimmy Choo was the label behind both the sparkly beaded bag and the silver crackled leather shoes, which retail for £484

Some refer to Thirty Club members as ‘peacocks’ and their dinners as a ‘great flurry of feathers’.
Apparently  a great deal of meaning is written into the table plans and the further you sit away from ‘the top table’, the less influential you are considered – although clearly the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had little to worry about there.
Kate's decision to wear the show-stopping heels comes just a week after shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood criticised her for playing it too safe when it comes to footwear.

Heading home: Kate kept her usual make-up style of kohl eyeliner and pale pink lips

She normally wears plain nude, black or navy court shoes with a lower heel, so the choice of silver strappy sandals were quite a surprise.
He said last week: 'She just wears too much high street stuff. I know she’s trying to be democratic, but I don’t know how many pairs of LK Bennett you can wear.
'She does occasionally come out and is wearing McQueen or something like that. It’s like, "Do that more! You’re meant to be a princess-y type of person, so act like one."
Her unusual choice of heels also meant Kate had to forgo her signature shiny nude tights.

Star guests: Gary and Danielle Lineker (left) and businesswoman Karren Brady were also in attendance