'I'm not a clothes horse,' says Kate is she forgoes stylist on American tour (but takes a hairdresser)

• The Duke and Duchess' entourage will include Kate's hairdresser, James Pryce, but no 'dresser'
• William will give a number of speeches and addresses but his wife will not be speaking publicly
• The couple will be in Canada from June 30 to July 8 and will then spend two days in Los Angeles
  

The Duchess of Cambridge has vetoed plans to hire her a dresser, saying it is a ‘waste of money’ and that she doesn’t want to be ‘seen as a clothes horse’.

Staff at St James’s Palace have been forced to withdraw an internal advertisement for the post of ‘housekeeper/dresser’ – and admitted yesterday that they made a mistake.

Sources close to the Duchess have told the Daily Mail that she feels ‘perfectly happy and confident’ choosing her own clothes for official engagements. For her forthcoming inaugural foreign tour to Canada and the U.S., she is purposely wearing outfits from her existing wardrobe.

Scroll down for the Royal Tour itinerary...

On duty: The Duke and Duchess will take just seven members of the royal household with them when they visit Canada and the US at the end of the month

Jamie Lowther Pinkerton, William and Kate’s private secretary, said: ‘I made a boob. It is the first time I have worked for a lady. It was a move on my behalf to create a structure that was based on what is traditional.’

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will have an entourage of just seven people for their tour of Canada and the US, St James's Palace said today.

Seven may seem like quite a lot of support for two people. But the entourage includes two press secretaries and a couple of private secretaries to ensure that royal protocol is followed.

Catherine - who is fast becoming a fashion icon - has broken with tradition by asking not asked to be accompanied by a dresser.

But she will be taking her hairdresser, James Pryce, to help style her look for the many engagements on her itinerary.

William and Catherine will fly out to North America with the small group of Royal Household staff to help them during the 11-day trip, which begins at the end of the month.

Sunshine state: The Royal couple's Canadian tour will be followed by a three day trip to California this July

Royal officials said they have tried to keep the entourage as small as possible while still providing enough support for the Duchess, who will be making her first official overseas trip as a member of the monarchy.

Outlining the reason for the US trip, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, their private secretary said: 'The visit will support the interests of the United Kingdom through the prism of the royal couple's interests.

'The Unites States' West Coast is a tremendously important market for British business.

'The Duke and Duchess will support UK technology investment as well as the creative industries through Bafta.

'They will highlight the bond between the US and UK's armed forces, particularly focusing now on the next step of re-integration of service men and women into civilian life once they have finished active service.'

The highlight of the US leg of the visit, details of which were released today, will be a glitzy Bafta black-tie reception where the Duke and Duchess will promote British creative talent from the worlds of film, television and video games.

Breaking with tradition: Catherine will not be taking a dresser with her, but she will be accompanied by her hairdresser James Pryce

From the royal couple's household will be Mr Lowther-Pinkerton, whose 10-year-old son, William, was one of the pageboys at the April wedding, Chris Keeley, assistant private secretary, Miguel Head, press secretary, and the Prince of Wales's press secretary, Patrick Harrison.

Sir David Manning, who is an adviser and aide to William and Kate, will be part of the team and a secretary will take up the final place.

But the Duchess will not have a lady-in-waiting, an official female companion, so the private secretaries are likely to take on some of the duties of this role such as collecting gifts or flowers.

Catherine will also be assisted by staff from the official buildings where she is staying.

Mr Lowther-Pinkerton said: 'The entourage is designed, whoever it is, according to requirements of the tour and we've just followed that principle really.

'In that, actually having done a pretty careful analysis, we've kept it as tight as we possibly can.

'But we've been minded of the fact (this is) the Duchess's first tour and she needs to be properly supported so she doesn't have to worry about stuff other than core matters.'

During the visit to North America, William will give a number of speeches and addresses but his wife will not be speaking publicly.

Mr Lowther-Pinkerton stressed the trip would be a double act, with the Duke and Duchess taking part in engagements together.

He said the Duchess had made 'incredible leaps and bounds' but 'there is a time and a place to introduce yourself to the world of speaking'.

Canadian officials are already gearing up for the visit.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said: 'Canadians hold the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in very high esteem and look forward to welcoming them as they embark on their first official Royal Tour as newlyweds.'

He told The Calgary Herald: 'The couple’s decision to visit Canada first is a testament to our country’s close relationship with the Crown and the Royal Family, and an opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in our traditions, history, and institutions.'

CATHERINE AND WILLIAM'S TRAVEL ITINERARY

June 30-July 2: The National Capital Region (Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec)

• The Duke and Duchess will take part in Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa on July 1
  

July 2: Montreal

• The pair will be in town for the final Saturday of the Montreal Jazz Festival

July 3: Quebec City

• William and Catherine will spend the day in Quebec City, before moving on to Charlottetown

July 3-4: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

• The Duchess is apparently a fan of Anne of Green Gables, a book set in Prince Edward Island and written by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery, which might explain this stop off

July 4: Summerside, Prince Edward Island

July 4-6: Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

July 6-8: Calgary, Alberta

• William and Catherine will be in town for one of Calgary's biggest annual events, The Calgary Stampede on July 8, but it is unlikely that they will attend the rodeo
  

July 8: Los Angeles, United States

• During their three-day visit to California, the royal couple will stay at the British consul-general's residence in the historic Hancock Park district of Los Angeles
• On Friday night the couple will be the guests of honor at a Consular-General Reception held by the United Kingdom Trade and Investment.

July 9: Los Angeles, United States

• In the afternoon, Prince William is expected to play at the Santa Barbara Polo Club in a charity match - the Foundation Polo Cup - to benefit the American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry with the Duchess presenting the winners' trophy
  
• That evening, Catherine and William will attend a reception and dinner at the 1926 Belasco Theatre in downtown LA put on by the BAFTAs

July 10: Los Angeles, United States

• On Sunday, the couple will visit the Inner-City Arts School, an organisation helping children from a deprived neighbourhood in downtown L.A.
• They will then go to Culver City's Sony Studios, where they'll visit the Service Nation: Mission Serve job fair.
• Catherine and William will fly back to the UK from LAX

Full itineraries are still being developed with municipal, provincial, territorial and federal governments in both countries as well as with and private organizations. They will be released at a later date.

[Source : dailymail]