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Duchess of Cambridge gives 'favourite recipe' in last duties before maternity leave

Press Association The Duchess of CambridgePress Association

The Duchess of Cambridge cooked up a storm in her final royal visit before starting maternity leave.

Catherine and Prince William helped prepare the finishing touches for this year's Commonwealth Big Lunch, which included dishes from India and Jamaica.

The duchess is due to give birth to her third child in April.

Her last appearance comes as pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 600 wedding invitations were released by Kensington Palace.

Press Association The duke and duchess prepare food for the Commonwealth Big LunchPress Association
The duke and duchess prepared dishes from Mauritius, Malaysia, India and Jamaica with volunteers at St Luke's Community Centre in London

The Commonwealth Big Lunch aims to bring together as many people as possible for a sit-down meal.

The community lunch originates from the Eden Project charity in 2009, with more than nine million people taking part last year across 53 commonwealth countries.

Chef Matt Jones, 45, from Seattle, who has been at the event for several years, said it was "fantastic".

"As we got them to decorate our dishes Kate said she cooked with her kids but that it sometimes got a bit messy," he said.

He added that he was "very intrigued" about one of the royal couple's favourite recipes for buttered chicken, which they shared.

Getty Images The Duke and Duchess at a wheelchair basketball sessionGetty Images
The couple met wheelchair basketball players who hope to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Earlier, the duke and duchess watched a wheelchair basketball session at the Olympic Park in Stratford before meeting players who hope to compete in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

They also tested their knowledge of the Commonwealth during a quiz with athletes and coaches.

Reuters ReutersReuters
The duchess was greeted by schoolchildren as she arrived at the Copper Box in the Olympic Park in London

The royal engagements are the last in a busy string of duties that the duchess has undertaken over the past few weeks.

On Wednesday, the duchess set up a major project that explores the ways in which children can be supported to prepare them for the challenges of adult life.

Getty Images Meghan Markle and the Duchess of CambridgeGetty Images
Highlights in the Duchess's busy schedule over the past few weeks have included her first official royal engagement with Meghan Markle

She also recently attended her first official event with soon-to-be royal Meghan Markle, when the two took part in a Royal Foundation question and answer session with Princes William and Harry.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are getting married at St George's Chapel in Windsor on 19 May.

Press Association Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding invitationsPress Association
The invitations were printed by a Barnard and Westwood employee who recently completed her apprenticeship, on a machine from the 1930s

Bookbinder Barnard and Westwood produced the invitations, which were issued in Prince Charles's name.

Around 200 additional guests are being invited to the evening reception at Frogmore House.

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Each invitation is made of thick white card and printed via a process called die stamping, with gold and black American ink. The cards are gilded along the edge, and have been burnished.

Kensington Palace posted a video of the production process on Twitter:

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Barnard and Westwood has held a Royal Warrant for Printing & Bookbinding by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen since 1985.

According to the palace, the bookbinder's managing director, Austen Kopley, said he was "thrilled and honoured to be making them".