Duchess Kate dons Alexander McQueen for state dinner

From left, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah of Kedah the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and his wife Tuanku Haminah binti Hamidun the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, pose for a photograph during an official dinner at the Istana Negara on Sept. 13, 2012, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

/ Pool/

(CBS News) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Resplendent in a white and gold dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William' attended a dinner with Malaysia's head of state, His Majesty the Agong, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah of Kedah, Thursday at his official residence, the Instana Negara palace.

Pictures: Duke and Duchess in Malaysia
Pictures: Duke and Duchess in Singapore

At the alcohol-free dinner (Malaysia has a Muslin culture), the royal couple exchanged gifts with their hosts William was given a gold Malay sword and the duchess received black-lace peep-toe shoes and a diamante clutch bag.

Kate's floor-length ivory gown had a sweetheart neckline, fitted bodice and a sheer overlay with embroidered gold hibiscuses, the Malaysian flower, according to the HRHDuchessKate blog.

She wore gold jewelry, gold high-heeled sandals and carried a gold clutch. The prince wore a blue suit .

Earlier in the day, Kate stressed the importance of specialized medical care for seriously ill children in her first speech outside the United Kingdom.

The Duchess of Cambridge said in a two-minute speech at a Malaysian hospice that "lives can be transformed" by providing places of support for child patients and their families.

The royal couple is on a nine-day tour of the Far East and South Pacific in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. They are scheduled to visit a Malaysian tropical jungle region on Borneo island before heading to the Solomon Islands on Saturday

[WyoTate]

"Malaysia has a Muslin culture", while Duchess Kate prefers chiffon.

[kittylvr]

It's a real shame that the only thing Duchess Kate will be remembered for history is her looks and her clothes!