Gala dinners at Windsor often produce images meant to last, and this time the focus was on Princess Kate.
The visit of the German president and his wife brought together the British royal family for an intense agenda, culminating in the year’s final state banquet.
The atmosphere was already special, with the castle decorated for the Christmas season and a spruce tree over seven meters tall illuminating the main hall, a detail that reinforced the solemnity of the meeting.
The entrance of the Prince and Princess of Wales was the most talked-about moment of the evening. Kate surprised everyone by debuting the oriental tiara with rubies, a piece created in 1853 by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria and crafted by the historic Garrard house.
The design combines gold, opals later replaced with Indian rubies, and thousands of diamonds that evoke Mongolian arches and lotus flowers. The choice was not accidental and was interpreted as a nod to the German origin of the invited leader.
The princess completed her look with diamond chandelier earrings that once belonged to Elizabeth II, and also wore the Royal Family Order and the GCVO sash and star.
The dress complemented the jewelry’s brilliance without overshadowing it. Kate chose a Jenny design in a pale blue hue with soft emerald green accents, a mermaid silhouette, a strapless neckline, and a subtle drape that revealed her back.
The surface, covered with small sequins, created a light effect that was accentuated when the shoulders moved. It all came together in a symbolic evening, also marked by Queen Camilla’s use of historical pieces and the special nature of the visit—the first by a German president to the United Kingdom in 27 years.