It's Solomon Islands style for William and Kate as they ditch their designer gear and slip into something more comfortable

Kate makes last minute-change of wardrobe ahead of banquet by wearing strapless dress given to her by the couple's hosts

PUBLISHED: 07:06 EST, 16 September 2012 | UPDATED: 09:57 EST, 16 September 2012

The Duchess of Cambridge had a last-minute change of wardrobe when she ditched plans to wear to the banquet a dress she had brought from London and chose instead one that she had just been given by her Solomon Islands hosts.

She made the switch just half an hour before the banquet when she walked into her room at the hotel in Honiara and discovered that the government had left her a strapless dress with a bright pink and orange batik design.

'She tried it on, she loved it and she is wearing it,” said a royal aide. The dress came from a shop called Island Print.

Stylish: William and Kate slipped into some more comfortable ahead of a banquet in the Solomon Islands

VIP treatment: The Royal couple were attending a reception hosted by Governor-General Frank Kabui

In keeping with island tradition the Duke also wore a colourful shirt. His also was a gift from his hosts – but contrast with his wife he knew it was coming because the Solomon Islands had gone so far as to check his size in advance.

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The Duke was clearly taken with his new blue shirt. In a formal visit on the Governor-General, Sir Frank Kabui, the Duke told him: 'I have my shirt on. What do you think? Looks OK?'

Glamour girls: Kate chats to Lady Grace Kabui, wife of the Governor-General of the Solomon Islands

Distinguished guests: The Duke and Duchess pose for a photo with their host, Governor-General Frank Kabui

New look: William new his colourful shirt was coming because his hosts had checked his size in advance

Splash of colour: Kate taken her own outfit with her but decided to wear a gift from her hosts

New look: The colorful outfits worn by the Duke and Duchess were a contrast the formal gear worn earlier

The couple were also obviously struck by the warmth and enthusiasm of their welcome to Honiara. The Duke told Sir Frank that there had been 'a lot of energy, a lot of screaming… it was great.'

The Duchess told the Governor-General’s wife Lady Grace: 'It was a beautiful service earlier. All the singing – it was lovely.'

As a sign of what a good mood the couple were in, as the couple joined the diners at the island feast they agreed to pose for pictures for the waiting British press photographers. 'As you asked so nicely,' said the Duke, 'of course.'

Grand entrance: Kate and William arrive wearing traditional island clothing supplied by their hosts

During the dinner the couple were entertained by musicians including a choir and the Haguelu Pan Pipers, who performed on a stage clad in grass skirts with white body paint and beads around their heads.

In his speech the Duke tried his hand at pidgin English. 'Mifala barava Tagio tumas,' he said – 'We thank you very, very much.'

Fit for a king: The Duke and Duchess with the Governor-General at his residence

Public speaking: William addresses guests at the state banquet in Honiara

Describing their visit as 'a great thrill'. He said: “This land is the most beautiful place imaginable, and the people of the Solomon islands are amongst the most gracious and friendly we have ever met. The Queen told us this would be so, and as with so much else in her long reign, Her Majesty was absolutely right.

'Catherine and I were overwhelmed with the warmth of the reception we received this afternoon. Our expectations were pretty high after what the Queen had told us, but nothing had prepared us for the welcome we received.'

Dressed up: Kate was said to love the strapless dress with pink and orange batik design

Wardrobe change: Kate arrived wearing an £820 John Saunders dress and bespoke cocktail hat by Jane Taylor

Back in Britain, William's father the Prince of Wales was joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, Battle of Britain veterans and their families at a service of thanksgiving at London's Westminster Abbey today.

A Spitfire and a Hurricane flew high above the Abbey to commemorate the battle, one of the turning points of the Second World War.

Some 544 Royal Air Force pilots were killed in the bitter struggle to save the UK from invasion, and Winston Churchill famously declared: 'Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed - by so many - to so few.'

Thanksgiving: Charles and Camilla watched the flypast with Wing Commander Bob Foster

Remembrance: The service at Westminster Abbey commemorated The Battle of Britain

The annual service marked the nation's gratitude for the pilots and aircrew of the RAF who prevented Germany from gaining air superiority in the summer and autumn of 1940.

The Battle of Britain Roll of Honour was escorted to the Sacrarium by airmen who had fought in the battle, and prayers were said for those currently serving in Afghanistan, the Middle East and the South Atlantic.

Chaplain in Chief Raymond Pentland told the congregation: 'If our Olympians and Paralympians, of who we are rightly so proud, held the hope of our nation, then those men, the Few, held the hope of the world.'

National gratitude: 'Never has so much been owed - by so many - to so few

The Few: Prince Charles enters the abbey with Dead of Westminster John Hall

The head of the RAF, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, greeted Charles and Camilla as they arrived at the Abbey.

Speaking after the service, he said: 'It's very important from the point of view of passing on the message to the next generation of what these men did in terms of serving their country, their commitment and their courage.

'Today's young men and women also want to serve their country. This is to make sure they understand why this is like a flame, a torch, that is handed on from one generation to another just like the Olympic flame was passed on this year.

'That is the same concept of passing the spirit and the ethos onto the next generation.'

Turning point: The RAF prevented Germany gaining air priority in the summer and autumn 1940

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Kate smokes? Yuck. That's a disappointment.

- Lynda , US, United States, 17/9/2012 04:24

Click to rate Rating 6

Bright pink dress is very becoming, and gracious of Kate to wear it. They look relaxed and happy under the circumstances (astonishing!).

- CaliforniaGirl , Palo Alto, 17/9/2012 04:18

Click to rate Rating 3

Kate Middleton is an anagram for "naked tit model", how appropriate with regard to her topless photos...LOL! Yes, it's a well known fact that Kate is a smoker as is WIlliam and Harry as well. Kate's mum is also a smoker. Kate, William and Harry have all been documented in photos smoking, perhaps the British media doesn't want to publish photos of Kate smoking as it taints the Palace and PR saintly image of her...personally I think it's a disgusting, nasty habit which isn't conducive to a healthy pregancy...but it's her choice if she chooses to smoke. Have no sypathy for her and William regarding the topless photos, they both knew better...Kate's been around long enough to know that the paps are looking for the perfect opportunity to take her picture regardless if she's walking the red carpet or sitting by a pool, and she gave it to them by taking her top off and going topless. They're angry because they've been caught in the Palace lies as to why they left the Paralympics early. R

- Me , My Opinion, 17/9/2012 03:47

Click to rate Rating 9

Funny how the royalists arrogantly tell the rest to get educated... OPEN YOUR EYES: The rest of the world think the royals are archaic like dinosaurs! Blind worshipping of these birth privilege is UNscientific and UNeducated. Looking at Kate's topless photos, she's human but smaller than average and ugly.

- Public Consensus , NYC, 17/9/2012 03:40

Click to rate Rating 12

"When I look at these photos I still can't get the image of the future King rubbing sun cream over his wife's bottom out of my mind. The fact that she pulled down her bikini bottom to make his job a bit more thorough was a nice touch. The Queen and fans of the Monarchy must be so proud. I will never be able to look at these two in the same way again." - harriet, toronto, Canada. ============= Agreed, Harriet. The cow has left the barn on that one and no efforts at litigation will get that horrible image out of our minds. I just hope that she stops bending forward at a ninety degree angle when talking to kids now - it will bring it all back!

- Mary , USA, United States, 17/9/2012 03:39

Click to rate Rating 5

- Me , My Opinion, 17/9/2012 03:24

Click to rate Rating 4

What grace and class- some would turn their nose up at being given a gift of clothing, but what a showing of thoughtfulness and good manners to change outfits just to show the hosts and the people of the islands their gratitude. Couldn't love W&K; more! No doubt they have some wind in their sails knowing tat the vast majority of thinking citizens are also furious & outraged over the recent publication of the very personal photographs, and stand behind them.

- Montreal , Canada, 17/9/2012 03:11

Click to rate Rating 34

Well, the Solomon Islands certainly seem to agree with them. Perhaps she should invest in a few more dresses from them, the Duke appears to be pleased with his wife new look.

- Lee , Randolph, 17/9/2012 03:03

Click to rate Rating 29

Glad she put the gift dress on - it looks fabulous on her. Some of her dresses on this trip look like the Queen's old wardrobe has been raided, what with the pleats and boring colours. The pink/orange look good on her. // As for the royals visiting - we got stuck with Eddie and Sophie ... they can't complain, they got about 10 seconds of coverage so we know who that stuffy looking couple are wandering around Hamilton, a smelly steel town.

- Lynzey , Toronto-Canada, 17/9/2012 02:48

Click to rate Rating 10

jack - essex, United Kingdom - Funny, most think that the laughing stock are people who don't respect other people's cultures. To the commonwealth, that includes the Royals. Some traditions remain for good reasons.

- Mary , Calgary, 17/9/2012 02:42

Click to rate Rating 9

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