Royal Watch News

Duchess Catherine to give speech in Malaysia

Aug 31, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Duchess Catherine

Britain's Duchess Catherine will give her first speech outside of the UK while on a tour of the South Pacific and East Asia.

The 30-year-old royal and her husband Prince William will head to the regions in September as part of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee tour, and Catherine will speak at a hospice in Malaysia as part of the trip.

The trip will begin in Singapore before moving on to Kuala Lumpur, Borneo and the Solomon Islands, before completing the nine-day venture in the fourth smallest country in the world Tuvalu.

However, Catherine is said to be concerned enough about her public image to be taking along her personal hairdresser with her, with the bill footed by her father-in-law Prince Charles.

Despite the rigid schedule, the couple do not know exactly what local customs they will be taking part in while on the Pacific Islands.

Their private secretary said: 'We have really no idea what to expect.'

Catherine has so far only given one speech in the UK.