Kate Middleton
is stepping up to the plate in the Queen's absence.
For the first time in her position, the Duchess of Cambridge was saluted by the troops at the annual?Beating the Retreat musical event. Typically, this honor is reserved for?
Queen Elizabeth II
, but Kate was saluted as she was the sole member of the Royal Family to attend.?
Soldiers saluted the Duchess, who was wearing a?Catherine Walker coat,?Gianvito Rossi pumps, Cassandra Goad earrings and the Irish Guards gold shamrock pin. She perfectly accessorized the ensemble with a Mulberry clutch. As for her hair, the mother-of-three had her hair elegantly pulled back into a slick chignon.?
The event was held to showcase the British Army, but also included a tribute to the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Her husband,?
Prince William
, attended an earlier event commemorating the?Allied invasion of Normandy.?