Kate dazzles in baby blue gown

Kate dazzles in baby blue gown at black tie event at the Natural History Museum as she makes second public appearance of the day after battle with severe morning sickness

After weeks hiding away at home as she battled acute ante-natal sickness, the Duchess of Cambridge today dazzled in a floor-length powder blue evening gown.

Kate, who is around 13 weeks pregnant, pulled out all the stops in a gorgeous dress by Jenny Packham at a glamorous black tie event at London’s Natural History Museum.

Nature in all its beauty was on show at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards - but all eyes were on the future Queen.

The Duchess looked to be sporting the tiniest of baby bumps in her figure-hugging outfit.

Kate, 32, who is patron of the museum, joined television naturalist Sir David Attenborough to present the awards after meeting finalists and viewing an exhibition of their work.

The pregnant Duchess, a keen amateur photographer, stepped out for her second engagement on the day she appeared in public for the first time in 11 weeks after suffering an extended bout of hyperemesis gravidarum, the severe morning sickness that also blighted the early stages of her first pregnancy with Prince George.

Hours after attending a ceremonial welcome at the start of a four-day State visit to Britain by President Tony Tan of Singapore, Kate looked in good health and chatted animatedly with her hosts.

She was presenting awards to the overall winners of the adult and under-18s competitions alongside Sir David and Sir Michael Dixon, director of the Natural History Museum. It was the 50th Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, one of the world’s most prestigious photography awards.

When she arrived, Kate was presented with a posy by Sophie Milner, 13, daughter of Dr Jonathan Milner, a trustee of the museum.

Kate, who in contrast to earlier in the day was wearing her hair down, chatted to finalists.

Among them was underwater photographer Alex Mustard, 39, from Peterborough. 'How did you find yourself under water?' she asked him. 'Well, it's just really because there's so much to shoot,' he replied.

It was the sixth time in the past 10 years that he had been honoured at the awards ceremony, although he told Kate he missed last year's ceremony because he was photographing a sea slug in Indonesia.

After pointing his picture out to her in the exhibition, he said: 'It doesn't sound too glamorous but it's a very colourful picture.'

After meeting the finalists, Kate took her seat for the main ceremony, sitting between Sir David Attenborough and Sir Michael Dixon.

Earlier in the day, she was photographed attending the official welcome for Tony Tan Keng Yam, the Singapore president, in a a grey Alexander McQueen coat dress.

She rode in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace as part of the state visit.

Kate wore a grey Alexander McQueen coat dress, one of her favourite designers and the one she wore to marry William, which she accessorised with a Jane Taylor hat - another firm favourite of the royal.

The Lupin hat was made bespoke for Kate and comes in velour felt with a tear drop beret. She completed the look with £1,090 Annoushka pearl earrings, which come with elegant, 18-carat yellow gold diamond encrusted hoops.

The earrings are a firm favourite of Kate's - she has worn them on a number of official occasions over the past few years, including a visit to watch the synchronised swimming at the London 2012 Olympics and at a World War One Commemoration Ceremony in Liege, Belgium last August.

Dr Tan and his wife Mary at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London, on behalf of the Queen.

Yesterday, aides announced that the royal baby - a sibling for Prince George - is due in April and that Kate’s condition is 'steadily improving'.

William and Kate escorted the Tans, whom they met during their Diamond Jubilee tour to south east Asia in 2012, by car to Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall for the ceremonial welcome with the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

They then travelled back to the Palace in the carriage procession. Later today, Kate will attend the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2014 awards ceremony at the Natural History Museum in London.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday confirmed that they will be welcoming their second baby in April 2015.

Kate's pregnancy was announced last month but the due date had not been released until now.

In a statement, the palace said the 32-year-old Duchess, who is around fourteen weeks pregnant, continued to suffer from extreme morning sickness but her condition was 'steadily improving'.

The royal couple's second baby will be fourth in line to the throne, behind one-year-old Prince George, who was born in July last year.

Kate recently took refuge with her parents while she was 'struggling terribly' with her debilitating antenatal sickness.

The royal retreated to her family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, last week with her son, Prince George.

Sources said the Duchess 'hasn't been at all well' as she battles hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes severe vomiting in expectant mothers.

Her mother Carole Middleton has apparently helped to take charge of her recovery and has been researching alternative sickness cures, such as herbal tea, on the internet.

And despite the presence of Spanish nanny Maria Borallo, Mrs Middleton has also been taking George off her daughter's hands. She has been seen in local shops with her 15-month-old grandson, prompting one startled assistant to write on Twitter: 'Served Kate Middleton's mum and Prince George today at work. He is gorgeous!'

The Duchess says she feels far more relaxed at the Middleton family's £5million Georgian mansion, Bucklebury Manor, than at Kensington Palace.

One source told the Mail: 'Kate is feeling so lousy that she just wanted to be with her family and out of public view.

'She is extremely close to Carole, who is very much a hands-on grandmother. Between her and their nanny, Maria, Kate has all the help she needs with George while she is feeling so sick.

'And Bucklebury is somewhere she can just relax and be herself.'

The Duchess – who has now returned to London – has not been seen in public since palace officials were forced to announce her pregnancy last month, several weeks earlier than intended due to her sickness.

Kate was hospitalised with hyperemesis gravidarum and severe dehydration during her first pregnancy with George. But doctors have been better prepared this time and may, some medical experts have suggested, even have treated her with a drip at home.

A source added: 'Don't be fooled by the fact that she hasn't been admitted to hospital this time. She is just as poorly. The difference is that her doctors have been able to diagnose and treat her quicker. She really hasn't been at all well, though.'

The Duchess was forced to cancel her first solo overseas visit – a trip to Malta – last month because of the severity of her condition. Last fortnight she also reluctantly cancelled a visit to a project by The Art Room in London and several other forthcoming engagements have now been scratched out of her diary.

Caitlin Dean, of the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support, said: 'Hyperemesis gravidarum is not morning sickness. It is a chronic and debilitating condition that can cause sufferers to vomit up to 30 times a day.'

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