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- Kate and William touch down in remote island cluster of Tuvalu
- They donned grass skirts to take part in a traditional welcome dance
- They are carried from private jet on thrones behind procession of performers
- Royal couple had previously snorkelled and had private dinner before flying
- Stop in Tuvalu is the last leg of their Diamond Jubilee Tour
Swaying in time to the music, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge became true South Pacific royalty today when they donned colourful skirts and danced the night away at a gathering of island chiefs.
The couple are currently on the island of Tuvalu, one of the most remote spots on earth, to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
Until now they have been members of Tuvalu's royal family in name only - but after their display at an inter-island singing celebration earlier they became fully fledged members of the community.
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Shake
their hips: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge donned grass skirts and
took part in a traditional welcome dance today on the last leg of their
South Pacific tour
Traditional dance: The Royal couple seem to be enjoying the dance, known as Fatele after arriving in Tuvalu
Star of the show: Princess Kate joined local women in costume during the dance
The Duchess looked the more natural and got to her feet time after time to join the performers, while William left it till in later in the evening to try out his moves.
At one stage, however, both had colourful skirts tied around them to make them really feel the part.
Natural performer: Kate got to her feet and joined in many times during the dance
Looking the part: Kate got involved in the South Pacific tradition
Spraying dancers: Kate performed another
tradition where dignitaries sprayed dancers with perfume as a mark of
respect and gratitude
Armed with a bottle of Paul Smith London for Men, both royals liberally sprayed the performers.
The Duke and Duchess clearly enjoyed themselves, laughing and joking with each other.
VIDEO: Duchess of Cambridge dons a grass skirt to join in with tribal dance
To celebrate: The couple are on the island of
Tuvalu, one of the most remote spots on earth, to celebrate the Queen's
Diamond Jubilee
Shimmied: William and Kate shimmied along with
six island communities as the groups tried to out sing and dance each
other in a friendly rivalry
Hands in the air: Kate and her fellow dancers are all smiles as they perform
Line dancing: The Duchess looks a little nervous as she adjusts her headgear alongside the dancers
The rousing event capped a busy but exciting day for the royals who were welcomed with a greeting not seen since the Queen last set foot on the Funafuti, Tuvalu's main island in 1982.
The couple later toured the village in their carriage that had been fitted to a large flat bed truck that flew William's royal standard from its cabin.
On tour: Kate spoke to students at Nauti Primary School on Tuvalu
Kate was shown a child's school book as she sat in the classroom
William donned a wreath of flowers during the visit to the local primary school
Centre of attention: The couple took a tour of
the primary school as well as a university and an exhibition showcasing
traditional houses and crafts from the islands
Captive audience: The school children watch on as Kate speaks to the class
Their tour took them to a school and a university and to an exhibition showcasing traditional houses and crafts from across a number of the islands.
But the highlight of the visit was the rousing end to the night when the island communities sang in glorious unison to the enjoyment of the royal couple.
Before they arrived at the hall the royals enjoyed a banquet fit for two kings at a nearby venue that also saw the chiefs and politicians enjoy the sumptuous meal.
Table talk: William and Kate also spoke to locals at the University of the South Pacific
The locals listened intently as Kate spoke to them at the University of the South Pacific
Kate looked stunning in a yellow dress and flower head dress as she toured Tuvalu
Kate clearly enjoyed her time among the local children at the primary school, sitting with them and touring the school grounds
Sat on two low stools while everyone else sat crossed legged on the floor the royals watched as two men strained carrying a huge platter to the Duke while another pair lifted an enormous spread of food and placed it in front of Kate.
Having a smashing time: Kate applauds as William cracks open a coconut
Thirst quencher: William and Kate drink coconut milk from a tree planted by the Queen when she visited in 1982
Green fingers: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plant coconut trees
Island game: William played a Tulvaluian game with coconuts called Te Ano
For dessert were banana fritters and fruits from pawpaw to bananas and utanu tao – baked germinating coconut - but as is traditional there was no alcohol to wash down the food but pii – fresh green coconut juice drank with straws – and iced water.
Like the other guests each of the royals had a waitress sat in front of them waving a fan in case of flies and the Duke and Duchess chatted to the women who pointed out the dishes to describing what they were.
Throne of a different kind: The couple sat at heart-shaped thrones for a celebratory meal today
Offering: William and Kate were presented with food at the meal in Funafuti on Tuvalu
The
royal couple arrived on the small cluster of islands in the South
Pacific, and were greeted by an enthusiastic 5,000-strong local crowd.William and Kate’s plane had landed on the tiny strip at Funafuti which doubles as a playground for local children and sports pitch for adults who want to play football or the local game of te ano - similar to volleyball.
Thousands of residents from the island and Tuvalu’s other outcrops and atolls lined the runway which receives only a few planes a week, and waved and cheered the procession.
Two days of holiday have been called to mark the brief royal visit which ends tomorrow, but in the laidback tradition of ‘island time’ the previous two Fridays have seen little work done as people spruced up buildings and roads for the arrival of the royals.
The procession stopped in front of a guard of honour and nearby were island chiefs, dressed in colourful costumes, who were waiting to greet the royals along with Tuvalu’s governor general, Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli, and prime minister Willy Telavi.
A choir of schoolchildren gave a beautiful rendition of the British national anthem as the guard of honour stood to attention. The Duchess wore a sunflower yellow dress featuring broderie anglaise by an undisclosed maker, and her favourite wedges.
King and Queen for the day: William and Kate
are carried on thrones after their arrival at Funafuti in Tuvalu today
as they await the judgment in Paris
Special greeting: The Duke and Duchess's seated
journey continued even after they touched down, as they were carried on
thrones behind a procession of dancers
Grand entrance: The couple received a royal
welcome, led by some 40 singing women dressed in vibrant costumes made
specially for the occasion
After the couple chatted with the
chiefs, a bare-chested islander wearing a leaf skirt blew a conch shell
three times to signal the start of the fatele - a traditional welcoming
ceremony - and the chiefs and politicians filed into the Vaiaku
Falekaupule, a hall where community gatherings are held.After taking their seats William and Kate had a necklace of tiny sea shells and wooden beads, called a te pakasoa, placed around their necks and were crowned with a garland of frangipani flowers.
Sat at their feet was a man armed with a white handkerchief whose job it was to swat away flies from two coconuts, freshly picked and with straws sticking out of them, which were refreshment.
People began to crowd around the edge of the windowless building and a stray dog wandered past one entrance a few metres from the royal couple oblivious to the historic visit taking place.
After a performance by a group of singers and dancers who created an electric atmosphere, with singing that was as deafening as it was rousing, the Duke rose to his feet and described their island nation as the highlight of the couple’s Diamond Jubilee tour.
William tried his hand at speaking Tuvaluan and when he said ‘talofa’ - hello - the guests replied in the language.
Friendly welcome: William and Kate are carried
from their private jet in Tuvalu, where thousands greeted them on the
small cluster of islands
Speaking about the memorable greeting the Queen and Philip received when they were carried aloft in carriages from the Royal Yacht Britannia, the Duke said: ‘Indeed the whole world remembers the reception you gave Her Majesty back then it is one of the iconic images of her reign.
‘It is precisely because of the Queen’s deep love for this place and the stories we have heard from her about its great natural beauty, its rich culture and the friendliness and character of its people that Catherine and I have been so looking forward to our visit.
‘It is the highlight of the Diamond Jubilee tour on her behalf, we are very delighted to be here. Your wonderful welcome has to be the most original and quite literally uplifting ever. We will both remember it and the joy and happiness of what has followed for the rest of our lives.’
William ended with more Tuvaluan ‘fakafetai larsi’ - thank you very much.
Enjoying the scenery: The royal couple soak up the atmosphere in Tuvalu on the latest leg of their tour
Having a ball: After her giggling fit yesterday,
the Duke and Duchess were again in good spirits after arriving in
Tuvalu today despite the court case hanging over them
The Duchess, still wearing her headpiece, drinks
from a coconut in Funafuti, Tuvalu, during which she appeared to be
enjoying herself
Private moment: The royal couple share an aside as the welcome celebrations continue in Tuvalu
Meeting the locals: Kate talks to a dancer dressed with a brightly-coloured headpiece after touching down in Tuvalu
Happy to be here: The Duchess, wearing a primrose dress with a lace overlay, gets to know locals after touching down in Tuvalu
The Duke and Duchess also went snorkelling under the stars in the middle of a tropical downpour last night.
The couple were staying on the South Pacific isle of Tavanipupu, one of the most romantic spots on earth.
After the anguish of recent days, they enjoyed a few brief hours of private time as they cooled off in the Coral Sea before enjoying dinner on the deck of their £785 a night thatched bungalow on the exclusive resort, away from even their Scotland Yard bodyguards.
A source said: 'It was utterly beautiful and they enjoyed themselves immensely.'
Pamela Kimberly, the resort's co-owner, said: 'I was astounded at how down to Earth and lovely they were. They just seemed to love it. They were happy and relaxed.
'When they arrived, we gave them a pina colada each made from rum, fresh pineapple juice and coconut cream. William liked it so much, we gave him another one. He had two, she had one.'
'They got straight into the snorkelling and saw lots of beautiful fish. They were just swimming and enjoying the island. They had dinner on their own private jetty. This morning they walked out on the big dock.
Safe descent: The Duchess disembarks from the private jet after landing at Honiara International Airport today
Fan of flying: The Duchess earlier held a fan as she prepared to board the private jet to Tuvalu with her husband
The Duchess battled the humidity in the South Pacific by using this fan as she boarded the private jet
Ready to board: Kate gives a cheerful wave to
onlookers at Honiara Airport as the couple embarked for the final leg of
their tour
Pre-flight routine: The Duchess had earlier
chatted to Solomon Island officials as she and her husband prepared to
board the private jet to Tuvalu
THE SOLOMON ISLANDS: A WELL KEPT SECRET PARADISE
They were the scene of fierce fighting between the Americans and Japanese during WWII before infighting broke out in the late 1990s. In 2007 they were struck by a major earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
It's fair to say the Solomon Islands were in desperate need of this Royal boost.
Lying east of Papua New Guinea there are nearly 1,000 islands in all covering around 11,000 square miles.
They are still far from being a tourist destination, but some parts remain an undiscovered gem for divers and those looking for adventure. A wealth of coral reefs team with fish - and WWII wrecks - in the Central Province area, while to the west volcanoes bubble under the surface.
Tonight Kate and William are staying on the five star private island resort of Tavanipupu, an ideal honeymoon destination.
The island had been a coconut plantation in the 19th century before English interior decorator Dennis Bellote and his late partner Keith Paske bought it in the 1970s.
In 2010 the population of the Solomon Islands was just over half a million people. The majority are Christian but the worship of ancestors is still widely practised in village areas.
One of the ancestral beliefs is that the soul is re-incarnated in birds, reptiles or sharks. As such these creatures are held in high regard. Solomon Islanders have traditionally worshipped the shark and when warriors went out on raiding parties to rival islanders, some of the tribesmen would usually swim alongside in shark costumes.
Handicraft skills are also passed down through the generations as is the ability to play the pan pipes.
The Duke and Duchess have received nothing but a warm welcome from islanders during their tour of the South Pacific, so it's hard to believe that up until the 1930s they were considered violent and dangerous head-hunting, cannibals who worshipped skulls.
The Islands remain at a steamy 27C (80F) throughout most of the year, but there is some respite from June to August with cooler temperatures. November to April sees more, frequent rain - and the occasional cyclone.
'They had some shelter but that's not completely waterproof, I can tell that but they just wanted to be outside,'
'They couldn't have been more complimentary about the island. They said they would definitely tell their friends about it. And that meant a lot to us.
Ms Kimberly, who has spent £3.69 million buying and upgrading the island, hopes that the royal visit will lead to a boom in bookings. 'After four years of hard work, it felt like it was worth the whole thing,' she said.
Tavanipupu is already the top-rated destination on holiday review website TripAdvisor in the South Pacific and in the top 10 rated in the world, according to John Sullivan, chairman of the board that runs the island.
The couple have spent the last two days in the Solomon Islands learning more about the Melenesian culture and passing on the good wishes of the Queen, who is still, remarkably, head of state.
Today they arrived back in the capital, Honiara, where they boarded their private jet for the last leg of their Diamond Jubilee tour to Tuvalu.
Kate, 30, was wearing a pretty primrose dress made for her by an anonymous dressmaker which had a lace overlay dotted with flowers.
Her hair was swept back in a bun - no bad thing due to the oppressive humidity - and on her feet were one of her favourite Russell and Bromley wedges.
As they changed over planes, William, dressed in a dark blue suit, stood for the National Anthem and then inspected a guard of honour before he and his wife waved one last goodbye and then flew off out over the crystal waters.
The couple will swap their night of luxury to stay in the spartan apartment of an Australian naval officer on Tuvalu, as accommodation is so limited on one of the most remote places ion the globe.
Tuvalu is a remote cluster of islands at the other end of the South Pacific, with a population of barely 10,000 people.
It last hosted a royal visit in 1882 when the Queen, who is also head of state there, and Prince Philip were ferried to shore from the royal yacht in garlanded canoes.
They were then hoisted onto the shoulders of dozens of strapping warriors and carried through the street of the capital Funafuti.
Although they are arriving by plane, the Duke and Duchess have been promised a similarly exotic welcome involving some sort of vessel and the same strapping young men - but even aides admit that they don't quite know what the locals have in mind.
'It will be a bit of an adventure - for all of us,' said one.
Tuvalu is the fourth smallest state in the world after the Vatican City, Monaco and neighbouring Nauru.
The islands were granted self governance in 1978.
Television was only introduced five years ago - allowing islanders to watch William and Kate's royal wedding last year for the first time.
Ifikhar Ayar, Tuvaluan Consul to the UK, said the islanders were thrilled at their visit.
'Tuvaluans respect royalty very much. The people have a strong devotion to Her Majesty The Queen.'
Flying high: The royal couple have received a
hugely warm and friendly welcome from all officials in the Solomon
Islands throughout their trip
The Duke of Cambridge climbs into the private
jet for the trip to Tuvalu, a cluster of islands with a population of
just over 10,000
All smiles: The Duchess looked relaxed and happy as her and William flew from the international airport in Honiara today
Jetting off: William and Kate flew from Honiara on a private jet to the last leg of the tour in Tuvalu
EBAY REMOVES COPIES OF ITALIAN MAG WHICH PUBLISHED PICS AS BIDS TOP £120
Trashy: The issue of Italian 'Chi' magazine which published the pictures
eBay's decision came after feedback from mebers.
A spokeswoman said today: 'Following strong feedback from the eBay community, we will be removing these items, and are already in the process of doing so.'
Bids for a copy of Italian 'Chi' magazine containing the images had by this morning reached a staggering £122.
A description of the magazine shows the offending image itself of Kate sunbathing topless.
It adds underneath that the magazine 'features the much talked about topless photos of Kate Middleton'.
The description then insists that the magazine is 'well worth it - 26 page spread!!'.
By 8am this morning there had been 26 bids for a copy of the magazine, with the top price a whopping £122.
The down market Italian magazine published 18 controversial pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on holiday.
And in a bizarre and at times embarrassing series of interviews its editor described Kate as a 'Greek goddess' and William as a 'fine figure of man.'
Alfonso Signorini, 48, went ahead with the publication despite calls from Buckingham Palace to respect the couple's privacy.
In a tasteless and trashy article accompanying the photos the magazine also commissioned a plastic surgeon Paolo Santanche to describe the Duchess’s body.
Signorini, 48, a former Latin teacher said: 'I really don't see what all the fuss is about. I don't see how a topless photo in 2012 can create all these scandal and controversy. Kate is a very beautiful woman. What is the problem - and William is also a fine figure of a man.
'All Kate is doing is sunbathing topless like millions of other women. They are a normal couple in love.'
The pictures are the same ones that were used in the French magazine Closer last week and which were taken while the couple were on holiday in a French chateau in Provence.
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