All eyes will be on what the Duchess of Cambridge will be wearing when she arrives in Canberra on Sunday afternoon and as she attends a range of official engagements in the national capital on Thursday and Friday.

But the ACT has its very own style icon, Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, whose fashion sense, like her politics, is a little bit left of centre. Classic with just enough funkiness to make it interesting, especially in the jewellery department.

We hear the CM has gone for two similar purple dresses by high-end Melbourne designer Anna Thomas which she will wear to greet the royals at Fairbairn on Sunday and at their tree planting at the National Arboretum on Thursday. The weather will determine which dress is worn on which outing. But Gallagher is likely to be also wearing a navy Alannah Hill coat for the arrival on Sunday.

And Our Katy is not at all flustered about meeting Their Kate.

''The chief minister is not daunted about meeting the Duchess as she will not be seeking to out-style the Duchess at any of the public events during the next week in Canberra,'' came the very, straight-down-the-line response from her office to our query about any nerves in standing alongside one of the world's most famous women.

(And maybe there will be a few more sales of Anna Thomas designs after the Chief Minister unveils her dress, just a hint of the hysterical buying that accompanies any reveal of the Duchess' outfits.)

If you can't get a selfie with Kate, you may as well get one with the tree she planted.

Yes people, it's come to this. Royal fever is upon us.

The National Arboretum Canberra will be closed during the morning on Thursday for security reasons as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plant an English oak tree near the pod playground.

It will be the 48th planting by a visiting dignitary at the arboretum, which celebrated its first birthday in February. Police will be patrolling the area.

Fifty people who won their place in the ballot staged by the ACT Government will be present for the planting. Some children are also coming to frolic in the playground for some photo opportunities.

Once all the official proceedings are over and the royals have departed, the arboretum will reopen at midday to allow the public to view the tree. A plaque will also be in place.

The arboretum's executive manager Stephen Alegria said the deciduous tree would be planted near the playground to provide shade in the summer and the sun to stream through during winter. The oak was chosen as as symbol of England, ''representing strength and endurance''.

''My understanding is both Kate and William will be part of it,'' he said, of the actual ''planting'' aka tossing some soil onto the tree.

And the spades are being polished as staff work to refine every detail.

''We're flat out making sure the arboretum can look as good as it possibly can,'' Mr Alegria said. ''We're mowing and mulching, preparing planter beds, cleaning the visitors' centre really thoroughly. We're proud of it and we want the royals to be impressed as well.''

Congratulations to David and Patricia Evans, of Chapman, who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last Saturday.

Mr Evans appears in this Saturday's news pages recalling his role with the Protective Services Coordination Centre during then baby Prince William's first visit to Australia in 1983.

He tells us he and his wife did receive the standard letter of congratulations from Queen Elizabeth II on reaching their diamond wedding anniversary. But the Queen has been more than familiar with Mr Evans over the years, and even invested him as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order, which is given to people who have served her or the monarchy in a personal way. Mr Evans received the honour in 1986 on board the royal yacht Britannia, no less, at the end of another royal tour.

Parliament House is working to accommodate members of the public to see Prince William and Kate as the royal couple arrive there for a reception on Thursday.

Visitors will be able to to catch a glimpse of Their Royal Highnesses during their arrival at Parliament House at 1pm and departure at 2.15pm on Thursday.

Viewing areas will be set up in the Marble Foyer and on the Forecourt.

Parliament House will be open to the public at 9am. Public entry to the building will not be possible between 12.30pm and 2.30pm. However, visitors wishing to leave the building during that time will be able to do so.

Parking at Parliament House will be limited. Visitors are encouraged to use public transport or park nearby within the Parliamentary Triangle.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher also says another chance to see the royal couple will be at the National Portrait Gallery on Thursday at about 2.25pm when they will arrive for a tour of the gallery. They will leave the gallery at about 3.30pm. Members of the public will be accommodated in the forecourt area outside the gallery.

And the Duke and Duchess will be attending the Anzac Day national ceremony at the Australian War Memorial on Friday, due to arrive at 10.30am.

And really keen fans are expected outside Government House on Sunday afternoon to see their motorcade whisked inside after their arrival at Fairbairn.

Canberra's Landspeed Records will be celebrating Record Store Day on Saturday at 10am.

The day is an international celebration of independently-owned music stores that still operate from bricks and mortar locations. Landspeed, in Garema Place, will have more than 2000 second-hand records for sale, including a limited edition release of a live album by Australian band Tame Impala, pressed just for the day.

Karinya House is one of those really special places in Canberra.

Pregnant women and mothers in crisis – and their families – receive supported accommodation, transitional housing and outeach services.

It's a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service and the only one of its kind in the region. It's a real source of solace at what can be a very difficult time for a mother and her baby.

So this event is more than worth supporting.

It's the annual Mother's Day Ball for Karinya House which will be held on Friday, May 2 at the Canberra Southern Cross Club in Phillip.

There will be dinner, live auctions, raffles and lucky door prizes. 666 ABC presenter Genevieve Jacobs will be MC.

To order tickets, go to Karinya House's events web page and download the registration form.