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The sartorial woes continue for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their Diamond Jubilee Tour when they each wore traditional garb from Cook Islands to an official Solomon Islands dinner. These islands are 3,000 miles away from each other, so, for reference, that's like wearing L.L. Bean hiking boots from Maine to an official SoCal house party. Or an American Apparel hoodie and Vans—the traditional garb of LA—to a State dinner in DC. That is offensive.
The story goes something like this: Kate and Will were all set to go to a Solomon Islands dinner with their wardrobe already chosen by Royal Wardrobe Choosers, per usual. Will would wear a shirt made specially for him by the Island's tailors and Kate would wear her own summer dress. But alack! An overenthusiastic member of the welcoming committee, Kethie Sunders, took an unofficial trip to the couple's room, filling it with extra gifts including a blue printed shirt for him and strapless pink number for her, both inexplicably from an entirely different island. The two saw them, thought it was their chosen outfits for the night, and donned them for dinner.
Image via Getty
The Solomon Islander's government has taken the blame for the ordeal. It released this statement, which was printed in the The Independent:
We are incredibly frustrated that this situation has come about and see Kethie as entirely to blame. It was completely inappropriate for her to go to Their Royal Highnesses' room, which she filled with various things, causing confusion.Yikes, that's a strongly worded statement, but at least it seems the people of the Solomon Islands are willing to forgive, so let's all forget this gaffe and just dance.
· Why islanders are feeling shirty over Kate Middleton's costume gaffe in the Solomon Islands [The Independent]
· How to Dance Like Prince William, A Play-by-Play [Racked]