Kate and William bring the glamour for Royal Variety

THE Princess of Wales kick-started the countdown to Christmas in a festive green velvet gown set off by a winter woodland bouquet at the Royal Variety Performance last night.

- BY EMILY FERGUSON Royal Editor

Husband Prince William, 43, clearly got the memo too - in a coordinating velvet dinner jacket as they arrived at the Royal Albert Hall.

Unfortunately the couple had not a hat or a handbag between them in which to hide a marmalade sandwich as they looked forward to the event headlined by the cast of Paddington The Musical.

Catherine, 43, said their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis would be devastated to miss out on the royals' favourite bear.

The princess said it was “so nice to be back" as she returned to the Royal Variety for the first time since her recovery from cancer.

She had goosebumps on her bare arms when she arrived with temperatures outside plummeting towards freezing.