Kate Middleton Meets With British Olympians at Buckingham Palace

Duchess of Cambridge gets another gold medal for style at queen's reception for homegrown athletes

By Natalie Finn Oct 23, 2012 11:02 PMTags
Kate Middleton, Catherine, Duchess of CambridgeJohn Stillwell/PA Wire PRESS ASSOCIATION

Another golden style moment for Kate Middleton today at Buckingham Palace. 

Continuing her run as the unofficial face of the London Olympics, the Duchess of Cambridge met with members of the British national team at a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

But while Middleton attended a host of Olympic events this past summer clad in Union Jack-touting sportswear, this time she opted for a black Alice Temperley dress with sheer sleeves and intricate flower detailing.

And there was plenty to celebrate—Great Britain won 65 medals on their home turf, 29 of them gold. British athletes were even more dominant at the Paralympics last month, winning 120 medals, second only to China's whopping 231.

"Coming here to Buckingham Palace to celebrate a home Games is also special because so many of the royal family came out to watch us," para-equestrian rider Lee Pearson, who added a gold and bronze to his career haul this summer and enjoyed a chat with Middleton today, told London's Daily Mail.

Asked about another highlight of the London Games, Queen Elizabeth seeming to parachute into the stadium with James Bond during the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister David Cameron called it "extremely courageous" of the royal-in-chief to take part.

"To me, her majesty the queen and James Bond are the two coolest things about Britain," Cameron said.

Prince William's cousins Princess Beatrice and Zara Phillips, who pulled double duty as royal receiver and silver-medal-winning equestrienne today, were also in attendance, along with Beatrice's father, Prince Andrew.