The Princess of Wales commanded the room as she stepped out in the famous Lovers’ Knot tiara for President Trump’s state banquet in Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening.
Kate, 43, and her husband Prince William, 43, joined the US politician, his wife Melania and other members of the Trump family at Windsor Palace alongside King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77.
And the mother-of-three looked breathtakingly elegant in a structured Phillipa Lepley silk crepe gown underneath a hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat, which she paired with a matching clutch bag.
She also donned the late Queen Elizabeth II’s and the King’s Royal Family Order. Over her frock, she sported a blue sash, representing that she is a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
She was all smiles as she walked alongside Prince William into Windsor‘s historic St George’s Hall, where significant events are currently being held while Buckingham Palace undergoes renovation.
The mother-of-three wore her chocolate brown tresses down in a wavy style, with Princess Diana‘s Lovers’ Knot tiara placed gently on top of her head for the glitzy occasion.
Although Kate has four tiaras on at her disposal, the pearl embroidered Lovers’ Knot appears to be a firm favourite. Of the Princess of Wales’ 15 appearances in a tiara, she has opted to wear the Lovers’ Knot for 10 of them.
The future queen has worn it to several state banquets, including when President Trump and the First Day visited the country during the first time he was in office in 2019.
Kate wore her chocolate brow tresses down in a wavy blow-dry, with Princess Diana ‘s Lovers’ Knot tiara placed gently on top of her head for the glitzy occasion
The glittering heirloom was kept in a safe at Buckingham Palace after Diana’s death in 1997, before it was handed to Kate.
The pearl crown was created in 1914 by the House of Garrard for Queen Mary as she wanted a similar tiara owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse.
According to the Court Jeweller, when Mary commissioned the piece, she ‘sacrificed a tiara from her own jewellery collection, the Ladies of England Tiara, to make it.’
The Lovers’ Knot was also adored by Princess Diana, who wore it to the opening of parliament in 1981, shortly after marrying Charles. Kate’s mother-in-law was pictured in the stunning piece several times over her lifetime, frequently wearing it to evening events.
It is often rare to see royals wearing tiaras before 5pm, as the glitzy, jewelled headpieces are generally reserved for formal events, which is one of the reasons why the heirlooms are dusted off and often pictured at state banquets.
However, the one exception to the rule is at a royal wedding. As ceremonies are usually held at 11am, ladies in the royal fold are often excused from regulation and allowed to wear sparkling crowns on their big day.
Tiaras are also usually on loan to a royal for an entire lifetime. Princess Kate currently has four tiaras at her disposal: the Lovers’ Knot, the Lotus Flower, the Strathmore Rose and the Cartier Halo.
But while the Lovers’ Knot gets polished significantly more than the rest of the tiaras in the royal vault, one has not seen the light of day since the Princess of Wales’ wedding day in 2011 – the Cartier Halo.
Although the Kate has four tiaras on at her disposal, the pearl embroidered Lovers’ Knot (pictured) is a firm favourite
Kate (pictured alongside William) Looked breathtakingly elegant in a structured Phillipa Lepley silk crepe gown underneath a hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat
In 1936, George VI commissioned a French jewellery house to the tiara with diamonds and platinum he had purchased for the Queen Mother before he became King.
She was pictured in the glimmery piece shortly after she received it, before it was then passed down to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth, on her 18th birthday in 1944.
However, the late monarch has never worn the Cartier Halo tiara publicly. According Tatler, experts believe Elizabeth did not wear it out publicly as she was given it at a time where Britain was at war and therefore did not find it appropriate to wear such a piece.
On Wednesday evening, Queen Camilla opted to wear the Belgian sapphire tiara, a dazzling diamond bandeau that dates back to 1932.
She paired the standout piece with a royal blue silk marocain embroidered dress by Fiona Clare and sported the King’s Family Order.
In November 2022, just two months after Queen Elizabeth’s death, Camilla wore her late mother-in-law’s Belgian sapphire tiara during a state banquet held for South Africa’s leader, Cyril Ramaphosa.
Camilla teamed the piece with her elegant Bruce Oldfield gown and completed the look with a diamond-trimmed pendant, containing a photograph of the former monarch.
The Belgian sapphire tiara was acquired to complement a Victorian-era sapphire necklace and earrings that were gifted by Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, on her wedding day in 1947.
On Wednesday evening, Queen Camilla opted to wear the Belgian sapphire tiara, a dazzling diamond bandeau that dates back to 1932
In 1963, Queen Elizabeth purchased a nineteenth-century sapphire necklace that once belonged to Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. As per her request, it was set on a frame and turned into a tiara.
In a warm and witty speech during the banquet, the King welcomed the Trumps to Windsor Castle, highlighting the two countries’ ‘unparalleled partnership’.
The US President and First Lady Melania were joined by his daughter Tiffany Trump and her business executive husband, Michael Boulos.
Charles said: ‘This unique and important occasion reflects the enduring bond between our two great nations. Anchored by the deep friendship between our people, this relationship which, with good reason, we are our predecessors have long called ‘special’, has made us safer and stronger through the generations.
‘Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear… we have celebrated together, mourned together and stood together in the best and worst of times.’
The King did not shy away from referring the War of Independence, saying:’ My five times Great Grandfather, King George III, for his part, did not spare his worlds when he spoke of the revolutionary leaders.
‘Today, however, we celebrate a relationship between our two countries that surely neither Washington nor King George III could have possibly imagined. The ocean may still divide us, but in so many other ways we are now the closest of kin.’
He also amusingly referred to how in the 1970s President Richard Nixon, who was said to be ‘obsessed’ with the British Royal Family, tried to arrange a marriage between him and his daughter, Tricia.
‘Had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I might have been married off within the Nixon family!’ he joked.
Highlighting cultural, scientific, defence, security, intelligence, military and environmental links between the UK and US, the King concluded by toasting our ‘remarkable bond’ and ‘shared commitment to independence and liberty’.
Camilla wore her elegant Bruce Oldfield gown and completed the look with a diamond-trimmed pendant, containing a photograph of the former monarch
Pictured: Queen Camilla, King Charles, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Wednesday evening
Trump opened his speech by saying ‘this is truly one of the highest honours of my life’. He drew laughter from the hall as he joked that he hoped he would be the only US president to have two state visits.
He then praised the King for raising a ‘remarkable son’ in Prince William, and how Charles knew all of the guests’ names – even those ‘with bad names like “XYZ-Q3″‘.
In a speech that appeared to slightly go off-script, the President talked about the beauty of Britain – and of the King.
In particular he praised his work with wounded veterans which, he said, ‘was like no-one else’.
The Prince of Wales was also singled out for praise, with Trump saying he had got to know him and believed he would be ‘an unbelievable success in the future’.
And of the Princess of Wales? ‘Princess Catherine so radiant, and so healthy and so beautiful,’ he said.
Trump also praised the ‘lion-hearted people’ of the UK.
The Maga leader was seated between his ‘friend’ King Charles III and Kate, who was wearing a couture gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley.
Technocrats among the delegation of US executives included Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Open AI‘s Sam Altman was sat next to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
Trump’s team did not, apparently, make any special requests as regards to the menu – which came as surprise to some of the White House press pack – which featured Hampshire watercress panna cotta, organic Norfolk chicken ballotine and vanilla ice bombe with a Kentish raspberry sorbet interior.
King Charles and Queen Camilla personally inspected the banquet table in St George’s Hall. The royal couple surveyed the scene shown in footage posted on the official monarchy’s social media.
Pink, purple and yellow blooms could be seen adorning the extravagant floral displays.
The monarch and Camilla shook hands with Household staff who were behind the meticulous planning and staging of the grand affair.
And there were also several thoughtful touches such as a vintage port from 1945, the closest year to the president’s birth (there was no vintage when he was born in 1946), and a 1912 cognac, the year of his mother, Mary’s birth.
Music ranged from a James Bond medley to Elton John’s Tiny Dancer and classical favourites, as well as Scottish dances in honour of the President’s family origins.
The banquet, which had been laid out in the Great Hall, was nothing short of spectacular. Staff had started putting the 42.32 metre – or 51.75 yard – long table together a week ago.
It boasted 139 candles, 1,452 pieces of cutlery, all lovingly polished by hand, and seated 160 guests, each with five glasses by their setting. The last of the stunning seasonal flower displays picked from the local estate was set up just hours before they arrived.
