The Duchess of Cambridge joins the Queen on two engagements next month aside from a string of royal duties, she is going to fulfill without Prince William.

Catherine will join the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall on a visit to luxury London store Fortnum & Mason.

The Duchess carried out her first solo engagement when she visited a preview of the Lucian Freud exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

Her husband William, 29, is currently on a six week posting in the Falklands Islands as part of his training as an RAF search and rescue co-pilot.

On March 8, Kate will join the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on a trip to Leicester that will launch the royal jubilee tour.

The queen and her husband will continue their tour of the country with a visit to the Midlands.

The queen, 85, and Philip, 90, are planning an extensive tour of the United Kingdom during the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, including visits to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Philip is expected to keep that schedule despite his heart scare, which required a stent over Christmas to keep his coronary arteries open.

The royal couple will not be traveling overseas as they did in earlier jubilees, but will send their children and grandchildren on official visits to many Commonwealth countries.

The festivities reach a climax in early June with a flotilla on the River Thames, a gala concert in front of Buckingham Palace and a carriage procession through the streets of London following a service of thanksgiving.

Many of the special Diamond Jubilee events, like the river pageant, are being paid for by charitable foundations set up to raise money for occasion. The cost of the Jubilee concert is being paid for by the BBC, which will also have licensing rights.

Officials said Monday that featured musicians including former Beatle Paul McCartney and singer Elton John, are performing for free.

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