The Duchess of Cambridge at Sports Personality of the Year Awards

The Duchess of Cambridge made her first formal appearance since announcing her pregnancy to attend the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award ceremony in London where she presented two awards.

The first one was a Lifetime Achievement Award to Lord Sebastian Coe; Lord Coe was the chairman of the London Organising Committee and is widely credited as being instrumental at securing the London will host the 2012 games, as well as actually putting the whole thing together this year. In a short tribute video, another member of the Royal Family – The Princess Royal – paid tribute to Lord Coe’s involvements and his role in the great success story London 2012 was.

The second award was the highlight of the night – the Sports Personality of the Year Award, won by Bradley Wiggins. The cyclist enjoyed a fantastic year which saw him won gold at Olympic Games as well as the Tour de France. In doing the latter, be became the first British winner in Tour de France history, as well as the only cyclist to have won the Tour and an Olympic gold in the same year. Wiggins has won a total of seven Olympic medals – the most won by any British athlete (a result equalled by Chris Hoy only). For of the medals are gold, the third most gold medals won by any British Olympian behind Chris Hoy (with six gold medals) and Steve Redgrave (five gold medals).

Kate, who is still recuperating from severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum), wasn’t well enough to attend the entire four-hour-long ceremony and so was present for the last 40 minutes before returning to Kensington Palace. The Duchess, a Team GB Ambassador, was eager to pay tribute to the amazing achievements of British athletes in one of the most successful years for British sport.

The Duchess dazzled in a spectacular green gown, combining it with delicate jewellery. She attended the event alone since the Duke of Cambridge is currently back to work as RAF Search and Rescue pilot stationed in Anglesey. Another member of her family was present, however; Zara Phillips – who won an Olympic silver this year – was in the audience and beamed with delight as her cousin appeared on the stage.

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged London 2012, Olympic Games, Sport, The Duchess of Cambridge, Zara Tindall.