Smashing Kate Middleton christens Royal Princess cruise ship - Los Angeles Times
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Smashing Kate Middleton christens Royal Princess cruise ship

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greet well-wishers and media outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London on May 2 after the birth of their second child, a girl.   (Hannah McKay / EPA)
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Prince William escorts his two ladies, the former Kate Middleton and newborn Princess Charlotte, down the steps of the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London on May 2.   (Andy Rain / EPA)
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Catherine heads out of St. Mary’s Hospital with her husband and their new daughter less than 12 hours after being admitted.   (Leon Neal / AFP / Getty Images)
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On the last day of official visits before the arrival of her baby, Catherine gets flowers from the niece of an 18-year-old who was killed in a racially motivated attack in 1993. The duchess and her husband were visiting London’s Stephen Lawrence Centre, which was created by Baroness Doreen Lawrence in memory of her late son and provides training for underprivileged youths.   (WPA pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, speaks with cadets during a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Mons Barracks in Aldershot, west of London. She presented traditional sprigs of shamrocks to the officers and guardsmen of the regiment.   (Adrian Dennis / AFP / Getty Images)
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Kate receives a bouquet from children while visiting the Irish Guards with her husband, left, during a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Mons Barracks in Aldershot, west of London.   (Adrian Dennis / AFP / Getty Images)
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A very pregnant Duchess of Cambridge leaves St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on March 13, 2015, after attending a memorial service to mark the end of Britain’s combat operations in Afghanistan.   (Ben Stansall / AFP / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, takes advantage of a what-a-cute-baby moment during a visit to Brookhill Children’s Centre in London.   (Alex Lentati / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine is presented with a train for her son Prince George by actor Oliver Barker, who plays his namesake George Crawley on the show.  (Chris Jackson / AFP / Getty Images)
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The duchess visits Downton’s kitchens and speaks with actresses Sopie McShera, right, and Lesley Nicol, center, who play kitchen servants Daisy and chef Mrs. Patmore, respectively  (Chris Jackson / AFP / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (front, fifth from right), poses with the cast, crew and producers of British television series “Downton Abbey†during an official visit to the set at Ealing Studios in west London on March 12, 2015.  (Chris Jackson / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, leaves the Turner Contemporary Art Gallery in Margate wearing an animal-print Hobbs of London coat.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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The Duchess of Cambridge applies paint to a sail boat as part of a mural outside the new base for Ben Ainslie Racing, in Portsmouth, England, on Feb. 12, 2015.   (Stefan Wermuth/ AP)
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Catherine, who is due in April 2015, visits the construction site of the new Ben Ainslie Racing headquarters in Portsmouth on Feb. 12, 2105. She wears a sailboat-printed dress from the Alice Temperley Somerset for John Lewis collection.  (Christopher Pledger / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, patron of the 1851 Trust, takes in the view from Spinnaker Tower during a visit to Portsmouth to see the construction site of Ben Ainslie Racing’s new headquarters and visitor center.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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The avid sailor tries out a sailing winch simulator at the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. Catherine is a Royal Patron of the 1851 Trust, which aims to inspire and engage a new generation through sailing and the marine industry.  (Christopher Pledger / AFP / Getty Images)
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The duchess attends coffee morning at Family Friends in Kensington on Jan. 19, 2015, in London wearing a Seraphine maternity coat.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine visits with members of Family Friends, an volunteer organization that helps families in deprived areas of the borough of Kensington. The duchess wears a floral Seraphine dress.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine is presented with a large inflatable duck for her son, Prince George, to use during swimming lessons while she tours Kensington Leisure Centre in central London on Jan. 19, 2015.  (Richared Pohle / AFP/Getty Images)
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The duchess talks to a young girl on Jan. 16, 2015, in London when she attends an event hosted by the Fostering Network organization to showcase the work of foster care givers in providing support to young people.  (Lefteris Pitarakis / AFP / Getty Images)
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Artist Grayson Perry looks on as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is presented with a child’s chair during a visit to Barlby Primary School on Jan. 15, 2015, in London.  (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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The former Kate Middleton visits Barlby Primary School in a Madderson London dress on Jan. 15, 2015.  (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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Prince William, left, and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, attend Christmas Day church services at Sandringham in eastern England on Dec. 25, 2014.  (Paul Ellis / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, carries flowers from well-wishers after attending Christmas church services at Sandringham in eastern England.  (Paul Ellis / AFP / Getty Images)
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The blindfolded duchess ices a cake with Fynley Gooch, 7, while promoting disability awareness while meeting with children at the newly established 23rd Poplar Beaver Scout Colony in east London on Dec. 16, 2014.  (Ben Stansall / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, takes a cognitive test at a SportsAid workshop at the GSK Human Performance Laboratory in West London on Nov. 12, 2014.  (David Parker / EPA)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, speaks with young athlete Emma Allen at a SportsAid workshop at the GSK Human Performance Laboratory in West London on Nov. 12, 2014.  (David Parker / AFP / Getty Images)
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visit Pembroke Refinery on Nov. 8, 2014, in Pembroke, Wales. The duchess’ baby bump is concealed by the pale blue coat.  (Matthew Horwood / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrives at L’Anima restaurant in London to attend an Autumn Gala Evening in support of the British charity Action on Addiction on Oct. 23, 2014.  (Hannah McKay / EPA)
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Wax figures of Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Catherine make their debut at Madame Tussauds New York on Oct. 23, 2014, in New York City.  (Cindy Ord / Getty Images for Madame Tussauds)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, walks with museum director Michael Dixon as she leaves the Natural History Museum, for which she is patron, after attending the Wildlife Photographer of The Year 2014 Awards Ceremony on Oct. 21, 2014, in London.   (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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The duchess wears a Jenny Packham gown to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards at the Natural History Museum, where she met the finalists, viewed the exhibition and joined David Attenborough to present awards to the overall winners of the adult and under-18s competitions.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend the welcome ceremony for Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the start of a four-day state visit at Horse Guards Parade in central London on Oct. 21, 2014.   (Leon Neal / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, William and Harry walk through a sea of red poppies inside the moat at the Tower of London. The moat was turned red as some 888,246 ceramic poppies were planted in memory of the British and Commonwealth dead from World War I.  (Andy Rain / EPA)
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The year 2014 sees the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Great War, which cost more than 37 million military and civilian casualties between 1914 and 1918. The poppy display is due to be completed by Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 2014.  (Stuart C. Wilson/ Getty Images)
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Catherine, Belgium’s King Philippe, Prince Harry, Belgium’s Queen Mathilde and Prince William attend a commemoration ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I at the St. Symphorien Cemetery in St. Symphorien, Belgium.  (Virginia Mayo / AP)
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Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, is fanned in the heat of Tollcross Swimming Centre by Prince William, duke of Cambridge and a Games volunteer, as they watch the swimming competition at the 20th Commonwealth Games.  (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Prince Harry and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, react as they attend the women’s field hockey match between Wales and Scotland at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre during the 2014 Commonwealth Games.  (Glyn Kirk / AFP / Getty Images)
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The duchess laughs and the duke makes a face as they sit in the Royal Box on center court during the men’s singles quarterfinal match between Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Andy Murray of Britain.  (Toby Melville / AP)
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Prince William and Catherine, duchess of Cambridge applaud from the Royal Box on center court after Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria defeated Andy Murray of Britain in the men’s singles quarterfinal match.  (Toby Melville / AP)
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Catherine wears an eyelet dress by Zimmerman that she debuted months earlier during her tour of New Zealand and Australia.   (Pool / Getty Images)
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The updated Madame Tussauds waxworks of William and Catherine now show the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wearing a Guy and Hawkes suit and Issa London dress rather than their engagement garb.  (Madame Tussauds / Handout / EPA)
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The duchess laughs during a visit to an M-PACT Plus Counselling program at Blessed Sacrament School on July 1, 2014, in London. M-PACT Plus provides early support for schoolchildren affected by a parent’s drug or alcohol misuse.   (Stuart C. Wilson / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and her son, Prince George, attend the Royal Charity Polo during the Maserati Jerudong Trophy at Cirencester Park Polo Club in June 2014.   (Chris Jackson / Getty Images for La Martina)
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Catherine, in a Jaeger dress, walks with Olympic sailor Ben Ainslie, left, as she arrives at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, on June 10 to launch the bid for a British team for the America’s Cup, headed by Ainslie.  (Leon Neal / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine attends a garden party held at Buckingham Palace for Prince Philip’s 93rd birthday on June 10.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, chat as they attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings June 6, 2014, in Arromanches-les-Bains, France.   (Christopher Furlong / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, the duchess of Cambridge, with son Prince George, board their flight in Canberra, Australia, on Friday as they conclude their three-week state tour of Australia and New Zealand.  (Rob Griffith / AP)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arrives to plant a tree at the National Arboretum in Canberra, Australia.  (Lukas Koch / EPA)
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William and Kate pat a koala by keeper Lucinda Cveticanin during a wildlife show.  (Rob Griffith / Associated Press)
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Catherine, duchess of Cambridge receives flowers from 9 year-old Ashleigh Kearnan.  (Dan Peled / Getty Images)
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Prince George receives a stuffed wombat from Governor-General Peter Cosgrove, at Admiralty House, Cosgrove’s official Sydney residence.  (Admiralty House / Getty Images)
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The Duchess of Cambridge bats during a game of cricket during the countdown to the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup at Latimer Square in Christchurch, New Zealand.   (Joseph Johnson / Getty Images)
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Catherine is the subject of a smartphone photo taken by “Lord of the Rings†director Peter Jackson during a visit to Omaka Aviation Heritage Center in Blenheim, New Zealand.   (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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Prince William, Catherine and Prince George visit a group of other new parents at Government House.  (Handout / Getty Images)
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Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, receives a hongi, a traditional Maori greeting, by a Maori elder during a welcoming at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital.  (Marty Melville / AFP / Getty Images)
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Prince William and Catherine arrive in Wellington, New Zealand, with their son Prince George. The family was scheduled to be New Zealand April 7-16. The duchess wears a scarlet Catherine Walker coat and a Gina Foster hat.  (STR / EPA)
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George of Cambridge pose for an official family portrait at London’s Kensington Palace, ahead of their tour to Australia and New Zealand, on March 18, 2014.  (Jason Bell / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears a Hobbs coat and Gina Foster hat as she presents a shamrock to Domhnall, the Irish Guards’ regimental mascot on March 17, 2014.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits the Shooting Star House Children’s hospice where she toured facilities, viewed a music session and met with volunteers on Dec. 6, 2013, in Hampton, England.  (WPA Pool /Getty Images)
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Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive for the royal film performance of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom†at Leicester Square in London on Dec. 5 -- the same day former South African leader Nelson Mandela died.   (Tal Cohen / EPA)
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Catherine, in Roland Mouret gown and Zara necklace, chats with Idris Elba, who plays Nelson Mandela in “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom†at the film’s U.K. premiere, which took place the same day the former South African leader died.  (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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The duchess, accompanied by SportsAid chief exec Tim Lawler, wears an Alice Temperley cocktail dress and Jimmy Choo heels on Nov. 28, 2013, during a sports award ceremony at Victoria Embankment Gardens in London.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is presented with a onesie for her son Prince George of Cambridge from Aaron Russell-Andrews and his daughter Teegan at the Only Connect charity.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visit the London headquarters of Only Connect, an organization focused on preventing crime.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, right, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, listen from a balcony during a service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. The duchess’ hair flip inspired several memes online.  (Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press)
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Prince William, duke of Cambridge, left, and Kate, the duchess of Cambridge, third right, ride with television personality Barbara Windsor, second right, on a 1960s Routemaster bus en route to meeting London Poppy Day staff and volunteers in London.  (Carl Court / Associated Press)
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The duchess and duke of Cambridge wear poppies on their coats to commemorate Britain’s war casualties as they prepare to meet staff and volunteers from the Royal British Legions London Poppy Day Appeal at Kensington Palace in central London.  (Carl Court / AFP / Getty Images)
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The evening following Prince George’s christening, the Duchess of Cambridge arrives in a Jenny Packham gown at a gala dinner for Action on Addiction, hosted by the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Philanthropic Initiatives in central London on October 24, 2013.   (Ian West / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing an Alexander McQueen dress and fascinator by milliner Jane Taylor, carries her son, Prince George of Cambridge, after his christening at the Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace on Oct. 23, 2013, in London.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, attend the start of the Ring O’Fire Anglesey Coastal Ultra Marathon on Aug. 30, 2013, in Holyhead, Wales.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pose with their newborn baby boy, Prince George of Cambridge, at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.  (Michael Middleton / Getty Images)
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The royal couple step out with their son -- George Alexander Louis, His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge -- in London just hours after the duchess gave birth.   (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Prince Harry, leave Westminster Abbey in London after celebrating the 60th anniversary of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.  (Anthony Devlin / Associated Press)
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The duchess watches as a bottle of champagne smashes on the hull of a ship to officially name Princess Cruises’ new ship, the Royal Princess, in Southampton, southern England on Thursday. It is what is expected to be her final solo engagement before the birth of her and Prince William’s child.  (Chris Jackson / AFP/Getty Images)
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The duchess walks past a painting of Prince William at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The Art Room, for which she is a patron, is a charity offering art as therapy to increase children’s self-confidence and independence.   (Toby Melville / Associated Press)
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The duchess plants a willow tree with British comedian John Bishop as she listens to speeches during her visit April 23 to the Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe at Manchester, England, to launch a new school counseling program.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Prince Harry, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William raise their wands on the set used to depict Diagon Alley in the “Harry Potter†films during the inauguration of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden on April 26, 2013, in London.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the National Review of Queen’s Scouts at Windsor Castle in Berkshire on April 21, 2013. The duchess attended the event in place of Queen Elizabeth II, who was celebrating her 87th birthday privately.  (Olivia Harris / AFP / Getty Images)
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In Scotland, the British royals are known by different titles. There, Prince Charles is called Duke of Rothesay, Catherine is called Countess of Strathearn and Prince William is the Earl of Strathearn.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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The Duchess of Cambridge happily holds a badge that says “baby on board,†which signals London’s Underground passengers to give their seats to pregnant patrons. The Duchess attended the 150th anniversary celebration of the subway lines.  (Matt Dunham / Associated Press)
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Britain’s Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visit the offices of Child Bereavement in Saunderton, Buckinghamshire.  (Paul Edwards / AFP/Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William attend the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.  (Danny Martindale / Getty Images)
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The duchess views photographs taken by students during a visit to the Havelock Academy in Grimsby, northeast England, on March 5, 2013.  (Darren Staples / AFP / Getty Images)
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A close-up of the duchess at a gala dinner for the SportsAid charity on Nov. 28, 2013.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is given flowers from 3-year-old Isobelle Laursen as she visits Humberside Fire and Rescue Peaks Lane Fire Station on March 5, 2013 in Grimsby, England.   (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, greets children during a visit to the Havelock Academy in Grimsby, England.  (WPA Pool / Getty Images)
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Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, leaves the evangelical church in Arosa on March 2, 2013, after attending the wedding of friends, Swiss-British dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer and Polo player Mark Tomlinson.  (Arno Balzarini / EPA)
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Prince William first met Kate Middleton at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. As the story goes, they were friends first until a 2002 charity fashion show where Kate walked the runway in a partially see-through dress.  (Chris Jackson / Associated Press)
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Prince William and Kate Middleton pose together following their graduation from St. Andrews University, in Scotland on June 23, 2005.  (The Middleton Family / Associated Press)
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Prince William beside girlfriend Kate Middleton in the paddock enclosure on the first day of the Cheltenham Race Festival at Cheltenham race course in Gloucestershire on March 13, 2007.  (Carl De Souza / AFP / Getty Images)
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Prince William and Kate Middleton watch the action during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between England and Italy at Twickenham on Feb. 10, 2007.  (Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)
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Kate Middleton attends the U.K. premiere of “Tenacity of the Tasman†at Odeon Leicester Square in London on Nov. 19, 2009.  (Jon Furniss / WireImage)
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Kate Middleton attends Harry Meade and Rosie Bradford’s wedding at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Northleach, on Oct. 23, 2010, in Cheltenham, England.  (Indigo / Getty Images)
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Kate Middleton’s parents, the wealthy businessman Michael and his wife Carole, make a statement at their home in Berkshire, southern England on Nov. 16, 2010.  (Stefan Rousseau / AFP / Getty Images)
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Kate Middleton and Prince William during the photo call.  (Ben Stansall / AFP / etty Images)
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A closeup of the couple.  (Sang Tan / Associated Press)
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Legendary photographer Mario Testino took the couple’s official engagement portraits.  (Mario Testino / AFP / Getty Images)
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Kate Middleton and Prince William smile as they visit Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station at Anglesey on Feb. 24, 2011 in Trearddur, Wales.  (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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Britain’s Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton leave City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on March 8, 2011.  (Peter Morrison / Associated Press)
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Britain’s Prince William and his fiancée Kate Middleton are pictured during a visit to Witton County Park, in Darwen, north-west England, on April 11, 2011. The couple also visited Darwen Aldridge Community Academy earlier in the day Monday.   (Alastair Grant / AFP / Getty Images)
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends a reception to mark the launch of Tusk Trust’s U.S. Patron’s Circle on July 10, 2011, in Santa Barbara, Calif. The newly married couple was on the final day of their first joint overseas tour to the U.S.   (Chris Jackson / Getty Images)
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On her wedding day, Kate Middleton is accompanied by her maid of honor and sister Pippa Middleton.  (Alastair Grant / Associated Press)
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Britain’s Prince William kisses his wife Kate, Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the royal wedding in London on April 29, 2011.  (Matt Dunham / AP)
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Queen Elizabeth waves from a balcony at Buckingham Palace accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, during the Queen’s Jubilee on June 5, 2012.  (Stefan Wermuth / Associated Press)
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Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry walk to their seats prior to the Show Jumping Eventing Equestrian on Day 4 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Greenwich Park on July 31, 2012.  (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)
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The Duchess of Cambridge visits the Kranji Commonwealth War Memorial in Singapore on Sept. 13, 2012.  (Nicolas Asfouri / Associated Press)
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The Duchess of Cambridge prepares to present Lord Sebastian Coe with the Lifetime Achievement Award during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2012 in London on Dec. 16, 2012. This was the duchess’ first public engagement after her pregnancy had been announced.   (David Davies / EPA)
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Artist Paul Emsley next to his newly commissioned portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London on Jan. 11, 2013.   (Sang Tan / Associated Press)
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The cover of Italian magazine CHI hits the stands in Milan, Italy on Feb. 13, 2013. Royal officials in Britain expressed disappointment that paparazzi shots of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge strolling on a beach were published.  (Antonio Calanni / Associated Press)
By Nardine Saad
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Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, is officially godmother to ... a cruise ship.

The pregnant wife of Britain’s Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, christened Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess ship in Southampton, England, on Thursday with the ceremonial smashing of a Champagne bottle.

Middleton, whose name was changed over to Catherine when she married Prince William in April 2011, wore a $260 Hobbs Dalmation print black coat that accentuated her pregnant belly and a black Sylvia Fletcher at Lock & Co. fascinator for the occasion.

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PHOTOS: Kate Middleton through the years

The naming ceremony, which took place during a blustery day at the harbor, was one of her last official pre-baby appearances before the royal takes maternity leave. She is expecting her first child next month.

The duchess comes in a long line of Brits who have christened ships. Princess Diana, Britain’s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, actress Audrey Hepburn and Martha Stewart have all done the ceremonial champagne bottle smashing, according to the Times’ travel blog.

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“We can think of no more fitting godmother for our magnificent new ship. Her Royal Highness is an inspiring ambassador for Britain, and she is admired around the world for her style, her grace and for her compassion for others. We thank the duchess for graciously agreeing to name our new vessel,†said Alan Buckelew, chief executive of Princess Cruises, an American-owned company that comes from a British heritage.

PHOTOS: Celebs and dignitaries who christened ships

Naming ceremonies usually asks for a blessing of good fortune and safety of the ship. A minister was on hand for a prayer and the duchess blessed the ship with a shorter salutation accompanied by two children from her charities.

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“I name this ship Royal Princess. May God bless her and all who sail in her!†the duchess said before cutting a ribbon that sent the Champagne bottle sailing against the side of the ship.

It was a $1,600 bottle of Moet et Chandon Champagne, People reported. The Duchess later took a tour of the ship.

PHOTOS: The royals’ ‘Harry Potter’ studio visit

The Royal Princess (the ship, not the person) is the cruise line’s largest yet and will hold 3,600 passengers, including 1,346 crew members, onboard. It will feature many of the amenities of gargantuan cruise ships these days including an atrium, multiple dining rooms, pools and cabanas. The ship also features a TV studio, top-deck fountain, glass-bottom walkway and “the largest pastry shop at sea,†Buckelew said.

Its maiden voyage will begin in Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday and make its way through the Grand Mediterranean for the summer. The ship will then make its way to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and sail the Eastern Caribbean in the fall.

The Band of Her Majesties Royal Marines Portsmouth, pop star Natasha Bedingfield and Brit singer Kerry Ellis performed at the event.

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Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.

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Entertainment & Arts
Nardine Saad

Nardine Saad covers breaking entertainment news, trending culture topics, celebrities and their kin for the Fast Break Desk at the Los Angeles Times. She joined The Times in 2010 as a MetPro trainee and has reported from homicide scenes, flooded canyons, red carpet premieres and award shows.

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