One Direction 'FOUR' 2014: Kate Middleton & Prince William are 1D Fans?

Sixteen weeks pregnant and the Duchess of Cambridge looked as radiant as ever and in good spirits as she arrived at the Royal Variety Performance with Prince William.

Wearing a floor-length Dian Von Furstenberg lace gown and a simple up-do, the Duchess is starting to show the tiniest hint of her baby bump. The royal couple was greeted at the London Palladium by the members of One Direction, who were more than just a little anxious about meeting the couple.

The pair chatted with the band about their plans on tour, with the prince telling them that he had been "keeping a close eye" on the group. (Could the royal couple be fans of the boy band?)

Liam Payne told Us Weekly, "It's the most nervous I think I've ever been in my life."

He wasn't the only one. Louis Tomlinson was pretty sure he made a serious faux pas in addressing the Duchess, saying, "I didn't say ma'am. I said - Hi. How are you? I'm Louis."

Harry styles, on the other hand, played it a bit more coolly. Upon meeting the Duchess, he told the magazine, "I said congratulations on the bump," and made sure to add that she "didn't look bumpy."

The boys of One Direction, along with Bette Midler, Ed Sheeran, and Ellie Goulding, are in attendance to support the Entertainment Artists' Benevolent Fund, which the Queen is a patron of.

Other performers include McBusted (which is made up of band members from bands McFly and Busted) and Simply Red, whose frontman is among Prince William's late mother, Diana's favorites.

According to the Daily Mail, it is traditionally the Queen who is in attendance during the show, and was expected to make an appearance this year. However, her absence is not necessarily a bad thing. The Duke and Duchess being seated in the royal box is said to be a demonstration on how the younger members of the family are stepping in and helping the Queen in her duties.

A representative from the Buckingham Palace said in regards to the Royal family's attendance, "As with any other invitation, attendance by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be assessed on a case-by-case basis."

For instance, Prince Charles and Princess Camilla were in attendance for the performance last year, while the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh represented the family in the Diamond Jubilee year in 2012.

The show will be screened on iTV in December.