Kate Middleton News Updated: The Duchess of Cambridge was attired in a £245 ($440 AUD) Lasa Poppy Print dress by luxury British designer L.K. Bennett, with her hair half swept from her face and matching high heels as she and her husband, Prince William continued their tour of Australia at the Royal Australian Airforce Base at Amberley, near Brisbane.
According to daily Mail, the royal couple visited RAAF base Amberley, where they climbed inside the cockpit of a Super Hornet fighter jet.
The duke and duchess were presented with a framed photograph of a jet in flight before posing for a photograph with 1 Squadron.
William climbed into the front pilot's position in the aircraft before switching to the back seat, which is used to control the jet's weapons systems.
Jasmine Richards, 25, a flight lieutenant who stood by the duchess as she saw the Super Hornet, said: "She asked if she would be able to get in and I said 'Yes, if you're careful' and William said 'Oh my goodness, really?' He kept telling Kate to be careful."
The duchess then saw her chance and stepped elegantly into the front seat despite wearing four-inch heels and a tight-fitting knee length white LK Bennett dress with blue flowers.
The pair sat for a while asking questions before moving on to a simulator where they took an imaginary flight over Queensland and the Gold Coast in a simulated super hornet flight.
Aware that photographers' lenses were trained on her, the duchess executed a three-stage manoeuvre that made sure the minimum amount of thigh was on display. After putting her left foot across her right on to the step plate at the root of the port wing, the Duchess brought her right leg over and into the cockpit, moved her left leg into line, then slid into the ejector seat of the £39 million aircraft, the Telegraph reported.
According to Daily Mail, The prince chatted to Guard members during his inspection, pausing while four F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets flew over in formation to mark the event.
General Hurley and his wife shared chitchat with the duchess on the edge of the tarmac while the duke finished his inspection.
The royal couple then met Queensland's Governor Penelope Wensley, Premier Campbell Newman and his wife Lisa, Defence Minister David Johnston, Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and other VIPs, who were standing on a red carpet on the edge of the tarmac.
They couple were then whisked out of the hot Queensland sun to inspect one of the Super Hornet jets and meet members of the RAAF's No 1 Squadron.
The visit was, said a royal aide, a chance to for the couple - particularly William - to foster and ongoing relationship with the armed forces in Australia.
During the visit the duke and duchess spent some private time with the relatives of four Australian servicemen who lost their lives in recent conflicts.
According to The Independent, Air Commodore Tim Innes, Senior Air Force Officer at RAAF Amberley, said the meeting would mean much to families still struggling with an enormous sense of loss.
"That's an extremely important point about the visit. That is a big part of why they are visiting the base - to honour those fallen and those who made a sacrifice in Afghanistan and other conflicts around the globe," he said.
The duke and duchess also planted a eucalyptus tree in remembrance of RAAF personnel who have died in service.
