Kate’s big cover-up: Demure Duchess of Cambridge keeps her legs under wraps in £500 spotted dress as she and William meet young people from India and Bhutan ahead of their official visit this month

It is set to be one of the most colourful - and challenging - royals tours they have ever taken on.

And with just days to go before their week-long trip to India and Bhutan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge threw open the doors of their London home tonight to young people from both countries living, working and studying in the UK.

For the reception, the Duchess wore a £498 full-length dress by Indian designer Saloni, with a keyhole back to reveal a hint of flesh. 

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With just days to go before their week-long trip to India and Bhutan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge threw open the doors of their London home tonight to young people from both countries living, working and studying in the UK

Also there to meet William and Kate was India's High Commissioner to the UK Navtej Sarna, and key figures from Prince Charles' Britain Asian Trust. The couple will also meet to Bhutanese and Indian students enrolled on the FCO's Chevening Scholarship Programme, the UK's international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders

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Oh how we adore a Duchess of Cambridge spot!

It's been a while since Kate stepped out in something so glamorous, but we really do love seeing her all dressed up for a Royal reception.

Attending an event ahead of the tour of India and Bhutan, Kate dazzled at Kensington Palace this evening in a gorgeous navy Saloni maxi dress. It's not the first time the Duchess has been spotted in this royally approved brand, and when Kate wears it you know it's going to be popular overnight so we're currently crushing on all things navy and polka dot right now.

This elegant long dress has a Victorian vibe to the style with long sheer polka dot bell sleeves and a high ruffle neck. And in a slightly daring look for Kate it features a sheer plunge neckline. Beautiful right? It's from the brand's pre-fall 2016 collection and so unfortunately not available but click (right) to shop the label at Net-a-Porter.

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The royal blue 'Mary Illusion dress', which is currently sold out online, has a plunging neckline with an illusion panel to make it more demure.

Kate accessorised her glamorous gown with diamond and sapphire statement earrings and wore her lustrous hair down.

'It is a chance for Their Royal Highnesses to learn more about India and Bhutan's people, history, current affairs and culture ahead of their forthcoming tour to the two countries,' a spokesman said of tonight's event.

Among the recognisable faces at Kensington Palace - the group included members of the business, charity and academic sectors - was Burberry model Neelam Gill, who has carved a path for young Asian women in the fashion industry.

Also there to meet William and Kate was India's High Commissioner to the UK Navtej Sarna, and key figures from Prince Charles' Britain Asian Trust.

The couple will also speak with Bhutanese and Indian students enrolled on the FCO's Chevening Scholarship Programme, the UK's international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders.

Three quarters of the population of Bhutan are Buddhist, while the nation's ethnic Nepalese community are overwhelmingly Hindu.  

For the reception, the Duchess wore a £498 full-length dress by Indian designer Saloni, with a keyhole back to reveal a hint of flesh. The royal blue 'Mary Illusion dress', which is currently sold out online, has a plunging neckline with an illusion panel to make it more demure

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception at Kensington Palace in London ahead of their tour to India and Bhutan, during which they met young people from India and Bhutan living, studying or working in the UK

At reception Kate revealed she was a fan of spicy food but her husband William 'struggles' with fiery food.

Model Neelam Gill, whose family is originally from the Punjab, said: 'For my generation [William and Kate] have always seemed cool and approachable and I felt they were just that in person. It was really sweet seeing them as a couple.'

She added: 'She told me that she loved Indian food so I told her that she'd be fine with the spices. But William told me that he struggles with the spices so I told him to watch out.'

The Duke told one group that the weather in Mumbai, where they will start their visit next week, will be very hot.

He said: 'Mumbai is about 35 degrees - it will be a belter. I've had enough of winter time, I want to get away.'

The conversation turned to the recent Twenty20 World Cup cricket tournament hosted by India which the West Indies won in dramatic style, beating England in the final at the weekend.

William said: 'I wish I was there for the last week, for the final - amazing game.'

Kate laughs as she greets guests at Kensington Palace. The royals will start their tour in chaotic Mumbai on Sunday, playing cricket with local street children and attending a glittering Bollywood charity gala

Kate looks captivated as converses with her guests. 'It is a chance for Their Royal Highnesses to learn more about India and Bhutan's people, history, current affairs and culture ahead of their forthcoming tour to the two countries,' a spokesman said of tonight's event

He added: 'As much as England lost, the West Indies winning is not bad, they're so passionate.' 

The couple also met with Syco executive Sonny Takhar who has managed One Direction and is involved with the British Asian Trust.

The charity is helping to organise a Bollywood evening at the Taj Palace Hotel on William and Kate's first night in Mumbai on Sunday.

Sonny said: 'It would be remiss of them to go to India and not experience Bollywood culture because it's such an important part of the cultural fabric of the country. It's fantastic they're going to experience it.'

He added about the trip: 'The biggest thing they bring is a spotlight, not only on the country but on some of the causes.'

The royals will start their six-day tour in chaotic Mumbai on Sunday, playing cricket with local street children and attending a glittering Bollywood charity gala.

They will also attend an event for young entrepreneurs before flying onto Delhi where they will pay tribute to the Indian military and the country's founding father.

William and Kate will also pay a visit to Kazaringa National Park in Assam to highlight India's considerable conservation efforts, from which they will fly on to Bhutan.

Kate and William arranged the reception ahead of their official visit which kicks off this weekend. After two days in Bhutan, which will include a six hour trek up a mountain to the stunning Tiger's Nest monastery, the couple will fly back to Britain via Agra's famous Taj Mahal

Kate accessorised her glamorous gown with diamond and sapphire statement earrings and wore her lustrous hair down

A landlocked and rather mystical Himalayan kingdom, where tourism is tightly controlled and television is only a recent introduction, the visit is likely to be a fascinating one.

The Duke and Duchess will spend time with the revered King and Queen of Bhutan, a glamorous young couple known as the 'Will and Kate of the Orient' who have recently celebrated their birth of their first baby.

Although the British royals will be forced to leave their own children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte behind due to the pace of their travels, there will, clearly, be plenty for them to chat about.

After two days in the tiny kingdom, which will include a six hour trek up a mountain to the stunning Tiger's Nest monastery, the couple will fly back to Britain via Agra's famous Taj Mahal.

It will be a bittersweet moment for William, whose late mother, Princess Diana, posed so memorably - alone - in front of the monument to love at the height of her marital woes.

Within months of the snap being taken, she and Prince Charles had announced their separation.

But a spokesman for the prince says he and his wife are keen to visit the landmark as they want to create some happy 'new memories' of their own.

The Duke and Duchess will visit the Taj Mahal on their trip, where Princess Diana posed so memorably alone, pictured, at the height of her marital woes to Prince Charles

Princess Diana pictured meeting locals on her infamous trip to India. The Duke and Duchess are keen to make some happy 'new memories' of their own when they follow in her footsteps

THE KATE EFFECT: HOW BIG, BOUNCY HAIR IS BACK IN FASHION 

The long-held maxim that blondes have more fun is in question, with online sales of brown hair dye doubling year-on-year, overtaking sales of blonde hair dye.

And it's not only brown hair that's making waves. Sleek, poker-straight hair has been replaced by big, bouncy hair with sales of round hair brushes soaring by more than 1,600 per cent year-on-year, even outstripping sales of hair straighteners.

'Last year we saw a trend for women and men dying their hair grey, resulting in an 80 per cent year-on-year uplift in sales of grey hair dye, said Sebastien Oebel, Beauty Store Manager at Amazon UK. 

The Duchess effect: Amazon have reported that sales of brown hair dye and round brushes have soared

'This year, we're going back to our roots and emulating the darker shades of well-known brunettes such as Victoria Beckham, Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan and Kit Harington.'

Celebrities like Kylie Jenner have also sparked an enthusiasm for experimenting with wigs. The model's taste for brightly-coloured faux locks at varying lengths has fueled a year-on-year sales boom of more than 90 per cent as customers opt for a speedy transformation with minimum effort and commitment.

Increasingly choosing to style at home, Brits are embracing haircare products, resulting in hair-raising sales growth of 430 per cent across the category as a whole.