Dame Kiri strikes a different note

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the soprano, struck a note of discord when she donned a beige trouser suit to collect an honorary Cambridge University degree from the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday.

Women graduates normally wear a black skirt and black shoes at Cambridge graduation ceremonies. But the 53-year-old New Zealander bucked the trend by choosing the trousers and matching shoes to collect her Doctor of Music degree. A university spokeswoman, however, said the rules were more relaxed when honorary degrees were presented. Dame Kiri was awarded her degree for services to music.