Just the two of us! Kate shares a blanket with the Queen during a rare joint engagement at King's College London

The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge had first joint engagement today

Kate, 37, and the Queen, 92, shared a blanket in the back of the car as they pulled up at King's College London, where they will reopen Grade II-listed Bush House.

The Duchess was elegant in a grey Catherine Walker coat, believed to be a new bespoke addition to her wardrobe, which she teamed with her new favorite Gianvito Rossi block heels and a black Mulberry clutch.

In a rare move for such an outing, Kate, 37, completed her outfit with a hat, which is likely to be a sign of respect to the monarch. 

Meanwhile the Queen, 92, plumped for a rose pink coat by Stewart Parvin and matching Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat with beautiful floral detailing at the brim.

While the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge have attended dozens of events together, it is their first without any other member of the royal family.In 2012 the pair visited Leicester as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour but were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh. However they did make individual stops on the schedule without him, including watching a student fashion show.

The Queen unveiled a plaque marking the official opening of Bush House, King's College

The outing took place in March, shortly before William and Kate's first wedding anniversary. Later that year the Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen at Fortnum & Mason for an event launching a military initiative, where they were joined by the Duchess of Cornwall.

Today the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge appeared in excellent spirits as they arrived at Bush House, which previously served as the headquarters for BBC World Service but is being leased by King's College London. It marks the newest building as part of the university's Strand Campus.

Kate and the Queen could be seen sitting with a blue blanket over their laps as they arrived in the back of a car. There was much fanfare, with well-wishers crowding outside the gates to the building and some even standing on bollards in the hope of getting a better glimpse of the royals. 

Following royal protocol, Kate waited for the Queen to leave the car before exiting the vehicle herself. She continued to walk behind the monarch as they made their way into the building.

The Queen, who is patron of King's College and visited in 2002 and 2012, will tour the facilities with Kate and meet supporters of the development. They will view a robotics demonstration, including robotic surgery, and a demo showing how sensors made from textiles can measure useful information about the body.

They will also visit a virtual trading floor and meet students from the Entrepreneurship Institute, which supports entrepreneurial thinking, skills and experiences amongst King's students, staff and alumni. 

The Duchess of Cambridge remained by the Queen's side as she officially opened Bush House

The Duchess of Cambridge followed the royal rule book today as she attended her first joint engagement with the Queen.

Kate, kept to her usual style in a smart grey Catherine Walker coat, as they both attended King's College to Open Bush House, but she also teamed her dress with black tights and a hat. Unless it's a special occasion Kate is rarely seen in hats for informal day events, so wearing a hat could have been a sign of respect to the monarch, who also wore a pink Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat with floral detailing at the brim.

In fact, the hat she wore today, was the same one she wore when she last had a royal engagement with the Queen - visiting the city of Leicester together in 2012 during her Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK.

William Hanson, etiquette expert said: 'Formal day dress always requires a hat and the Queen is rarely seen in public during daytime events without one. Catherine will undoubtedly have known that a hat was required if she wished to keep in the royal good books.' But it wasn't just a hat that the Duchess sported to keep in the Queen's good books, she also wore black tights, instead of her normal sheer tights and allowed the Queen to exit the car first.

Hanson adds about the Duchess: 'As a future queen, she completely understands the role and her current place in the royal pecking order. At today’s engagement in London she followed the royal rule book, as usual, to the letter.'

The Queen smiled warmly at the Duchess of Cambridge following a brief ceremony to officially open Bush House

Meanwhile the Queen, 92, plumped for a rose pink cashmere coat by Stewart Parvin and matching Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat with beautiful floral detailing at the brim. Although they have carried out a handful of public visits with other members of the Royal Family, it was the first time that they have been on one together in public, outside of Buckingham Palace.

In 2012 the pair visited Leicester as part of the Diamond Jubilee tour but were joined by the Duke of Edinburgh. However they did make individual stops on the schedule without him, including watching a student fashion show.

Kate attended a reception at Buckingham Palace in March.

KATE MIDDLETON, the Duchess of Cambridge, attended a reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace with Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and her husband, Prince William today.

Queen Shaking Hands Receiving Line Archbishop Welby Investiture Reception March 5 2019.

Meghan, who is heavily pregnant, also looked stunning at the event, wearing an Amanda Wakeley overcoat and heavily brocaded dress. She teamed this with a Wilbur & Gussie Oyster silk clutch, which costs £205. Like Kate, Meghan wore nude heels - hers were from Paul Andrew, and cost £475.

Her Majesty the Queen stood out in a bright purple jacket and white and purple dotty dress. Prince Charles' wife, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, opted for a forest green dress and a matching bag today.

The duchess was a pastel dream in this baby-blue dress, which featured a high collar and small buttons down the front. She paired the look with a matching clutch and cream-colored pumps.

Second Day Royal Tour in Northern Ireland 2019

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were greeted by hundreds of cheering well-wishers as they arrived for the second day of their Northern Ireland visit with Kate telling fans: "I'm feeling a little broody."

Several hundred people lined the streets of Ballymena as William and Kate went on a walkabout. Kate admitted feeling a “little broody” when she met a cute 5-month old baby on the walkabout of the Co Antrim town. She was smitten by James Barr and told his dad Alan, “He’s gorgeous. It makes me feel broody.”

Alan asked, “Baby number four?” The Duchess laughed and said, “I think William would be little worried.”

The crowds, many waving flags, braved the cold outside the Braid Centre.

The crowds, many waving flags, braved the cold outside the Braid Centre.

Kate Middleton Surprise Trip to Ireland with Prince William 2019

Kate Middleton and Prince William have secretly jetted off to Northern Ireland for a two-day trip that will "celebrate the young people" in the region, Kensington Palace announced in a press release. 

The royal couple is starting the tour with a stop in Belfast with an engagement Windsor Park stadium, where they'll learn about the International Football Association's outreach programs benefitting the local communities' physical and mental wellbeing. The project hits close to home for the Duke of Cambridge, who is president-delegate of England's Football Association.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have touched down in Belfast for their previously unannounced two-day visit to Northern Ireland. William and Kate – or Baron and Lady Carrickfergus as they're known in Northern Ireland – spent the day meeting locals and carrying out a string of engagements.

Despite the surprise nature of the trip, the Duchess of Cambridge looks classy as always, opting for a bold red coat by Carolina Herrera for first day of tour. She layered the bright piece of outerwear over a black sweater, leggings, and a pair of lace-up ankle boots, which appear to be her pair from L.K.Bennett. 

Earlier in the day, she charmed in a retro-looking red coat that recalled the style of another fashion legend, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

The double-breasted, crimson coat, which the duchess wore on a visit to the Irish Football Association, is similar to one worn by the late first lady in early 1960, as John F. Kennedy announced his plans to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

As it happens, the duchess’s coat was designed by Carolina Herrera, who created looks for Jackie Kennedy in her later years.

The duchess paired the coat with opaque black tights, laced ankle boots and her signature, flawless blowout.

Day one of their trip had a strong focus on the positive impact that sport, nature and the outdoors can have on childhood development, and improved physical and mental health for all.

William and Kate started with a visit to Windsor Park, where they learnt about the Irish Football Association's community Football projects, and how sport can play a role in bringing communities together. The royals then travelled to County Fermanagh where they visited a youth centre, before returning to the capital for a party at the iconic Belfast Empire Hall. Let's take a look at the best photos from the Duke and Duchess' first day in Northern Ireland.

The duchess also wore the coat during a visit to Canada in 2016, pairing it with neutral tights and classic pumps.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Get Affectionate While Playing Soccer in Belfast

During Prince William and Kate Middleton's surprise two-day trip to Northern Ireland, the royal couple played soccer at National Football Stadium at Windsor Park and exchanged adorable PDA moments throughout the game. Despite getting competitive during the match, Kate was seen putting her hand on William's back at one point, and he put his hand on her arm. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are less likely to show PDA during official engagements, but they do sneak in some sweet exchanges from time to time, like at Princess Eugenie's wedding last fall.

William and Kate learnt about the IFA's community Football projects and met a number of representatives from a variety of sports programmes, including Female Football Leaders, which encourages more women into key decision roles within football, and Powerchair, a programme designed for wheelchair users.

The married couple seemed to be in high spirits as they laughed and played with young school children. According to The Telegraph, Will teased Kate about her soccer skills—or lack thereof. He jokingly told the kids, "Look out, she goes for the ankles," and shouted out, "Tackle her!"

The publication added that Kate told a group of young children that her five-year-old son Prince George is also learning how to play "the beautiful game." The duchess kept it real with the young children, telling them what her son really thinks about his mother's soccer skills. "Mummy, you’re so rubbish," Middleton quipped. "I should have picked up some tips from George," she added.

Their day of outdoor activity wasn't just limited to the soccer field. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also participated in a canoe race, where William's team beat Kate's, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph. Despite the loss, Kate was seen with a smile on her face in the canoe as she held her paddle.

During the visit Kate and William had a private talk with some of the youngsters using the centre, with the media and other onlookers excluded. Charlie Mack, the chief executive of Extern, the charity which runs the centre, said: "It was an opportunity for them to listen directly to the young people. They were on their own. They specifically asked that they wanted to engage directly with them." 

The royal couple later posed with the group for this photograph.