Kate dazzles in black velvet, diamonds and rubies

Video: Duchess of Cambridge dazzles at charity event

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2. Closed captioning of: Duchess of Cambridge dazzles at charity event

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   >>> kate middleton is preparing to celebrate her first christmas as a member of the royal family and last night she shined at a ceremony for military heroes. jim maceda is at buckingham palace . good morning.

   >> reporter: good morning, carl. well, with each public event kate middleton seems to be eating up the cameras and all the attention with both grace and ease and no more so than last night. it's called the night of heroes, a gala awards event at london's imperial war museum to honor british soldiers ' courage in battle. but the real star of the evening was kate middleton , the dutchess of cambridge dazzled the crowd and cameras with a stunning black velvet dress designed by alexander mcqueen , the same british fashion house that turned out kate 's memorable wedding dress . to complete the classic but elegant look, a matching diamond bracelet and earrings and a diamond and ruby necklace, given as a wedding present by a family friend.

   >> i think kate was making a statement that she's a far more confident royal now that she's been married for half a year.

   >> accompanied by prince william and harry, the royal tree row stood out in a crowd that included international soccer star david beckham . kate , herself a military wife, was visibly moved as she listened to stories of loss and heroism.

   >> like any person related or knows anyone serving in the forces, she will feel it in her heart and i think that's why we saw her tearing up a little bit and getting emotional.

   >> reporter: attending her first buckingham palace christmas lunch as a dutchess earlier in the day, she's embraced her new role as a supporter of charities. like william at this rehabilitation center and harry, seen here walking with wounded veterans here recently near the north pole , her very presence at an event can trigger a donor frenzy. it's one reason why kate and william are making their london home at kensington paling palace. for the princes who grew up there it has special meaning .

   >> kensington palace to them was one of the most exciting places of their childhood. d diana was instrumental in making sure that happened.

   >> there's more than a touch of diana in the royal family 's newest and hottest asset. next up in january, the royal premiere of steven spielburg 's new movie " war horse " with so-called golden tickets going for, get this, $15,000 each, carl, to see kate and the princess with all those proceeds going to charity.

   >> thanks, jim.

   >>> coming up, new details on the reality show producer who's in jail accused of killing

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