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Kate Middleton stuns in a glittering tiara moment at Windsor Castle.
The Princess of Wales made heads turn as she arrived alongside her husband Prince William.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump kicked off their state visit to the U.K. on Wednesday, when the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted them. The senior royals put on a united front this evening for a state banquet at Windsor Castle to welcome the couple.
KATE MIDDLETON TO PLAY ‘PIVOTAL ROLE’ AT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S HISTORIC STATE VISIT: EXPERT
Kate Middleton arrives for the state banquet with Prince William Sept. 17, 2025, in Windsor, England. (Phile Noble/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
The Lover’s Knot is Kate Middleton’s favorite tiara to wear. (Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
For the evening, Kate wore her favorite showpiece, The Lover’s Knot tiara. It was commissioned for Queen Mary in 1913 from Britain’s House of Garrard, Vogue.com reported. It features diamonds and 19 hanging drop-shaped pearls, all set in silver and gold.
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a photo of their state banquet look on their Instagram account. The caption read, “Ready for The State Banquet.” (Instagram.com/princeandprincessofwales)
The tiara was handed down to Queen Elizabeth, who eventually handed it down to her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. It quickly became a known favorite for the late Princess of Wales. It has become Kate’s formal headwear of choice.
Princess Diana is seen here wearing the Lover’s Knot tiara in 1983. (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of “My Mother and I,” told Fox News Digital the royals love to showcase their jewels during state banquets.
“… They drip in jewels,” said Seward. “They absolutely drip with jewels. It’s the one time they could really show off their jewelry.”
Britain’s Queen Camilla, King Charles III, President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive to attend a state banquet at Windsor Castle. (Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
President Trump’s state banquet was attended by 160 people. (Phil Noble – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate also sported a couture gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley featuring a full-length, hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat.
The true centerpiece of the state visit was the banquet in St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. The Waterloo Table — about half the length of a football field — can seat up to 160 guests. The Associated Press reported it takes five full days to set the table, which holds more than 4,000 pieces, including 200-year-old silver.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arriving for the state banquet on Sept. 17, 2025. (Phile Noble/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Men are expected to wear white ties and tailcoats, while women don designer gowns and jewels.
A place setting for King Charles III and President Donald Trump at the banquet table in St. George’s Hall ahead of the state banquet at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, 2025, in Windsor, England. (Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
A view of the banquet table in St. George’s Hall on Sept. 17, 2025. (Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Chef Darren McGrady, a royal chef for 15 years who cooked for five U.S. presidents, told Fox News Digital that the menu gives a heartfelt nod to Queen Elizabeth II. One of the desserts that will be savored included a bombe glacée cardinal — a vanilla ice cream featuring Kentish raspberry sorbet and lightly poached Victoria plums.
President Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet in Buckingham Palace June 3, 2019, in London, England. (Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“Bombes were served at maybe 70% of all state banquets,” he said. “It’s an ice cream where we use an old Victorian copper mold. The queen loved to have ice cream at state banquets, so we often served it. She also loved a bombe glacée royal, which is mint ice cream with chocolate. The queen loved chocolate.”
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In a speech, President Donald Trump said that the second state visit is “one of the highest honors of my life.” (YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The king’s mother isn’t the only matriarch being honored during the state dinner. The royal menu also showed that, after dinner, guests would be served a Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne from the president’s mother’s birth year.
King Charles is seen here delivering a speech where he spoke of the special relationship between the U.S. and U.K. (ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“For my part, I have always admired the ingenuity of the American people; and the principles of freedom which your great democracy has represented since its inception,” said King Charles in a speech. “Throughout my life, from my very first visit to the United States in 1970 and over 20 visits since that time, I have cherished the close ties between the British and American peoples.” (Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
In addition, a 1945 vintage port, closest to the year of the president’s birth year, will be served. It’s noted that ports are not made every year. Guests will also enjoy American red wine and English sparkling wine.
Paula Reynolds and Prince William, Prince of Wales, attend the state banquet at Windsor Castle. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
The king gave a speech in which he spoke of the special relationship between the U.S. and the U.K.
“The bond between our two nations is indeed a remarkable one,” said the monarch. “Forged in the fire of conflict, it has been fortified through our shared endeavors and burnished by the deep affection between our people. Tested time and again, it has borne the weight of our common purpose and raised our ambition for a better world.”
President Trump was seated next to the Princess of Wales. “Our people have fought and died together for the values we hold dear,” said King Charles in his speech. “We have innovated, traded and created together, fueling our economies and cultures through myriad forms of exchange. We have celebrated together, mourned together and stood together in the best and worst of times.” (Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine – so radiant and so healthy – it’s so beautiful,” said President Trump at Windsor Castle. “t’s really a great honor, thank you.” (YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“So, in renewing our bond tonight, we do so with unshakable trust in our friendship and in our shared commitment to independence and liberty,” the 76-year-old shared. “Therefore, as we celebrate this unparalleled partnership, allow me to propose a toast to President Trump and the first lady, and to the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of the United States of America.”
Queen Camilla and King Charles III pose for a photo at the state banquet at Windsor Castle. (Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images)
In 2019, The New York Times reported one of Trump’s earliest memories, which he often shares, was seeing his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, enthralled by Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953.
Before the feast, Trump said his second state visit was “one of the highest honors of my life.”
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal,” said President Trump during his speech. (YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s a singular privilege to be the first American president welcomed here and, if you think about it, it’s a lot of presidents and this was the second state visit, and that’s the first, and maybe that’s going to be the last time,” said Trump.
“But this is truly one of the highest honors of my life, such respect for you and such respect for your country.”
President Donald Trump toasts alongside Catherine, Princess of Wales during the state banquet at Windsor Castle. (YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital the menus are written in French, a tradition dating back to the 11th century.
Britain’s Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester (left) and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, seen arriving in the state banquet. (Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“This practice symbolizes sophistication,” she shared.
Dishes such as organic Norfolk chicken ballotine and quail egg salad highlight locally grown ingredients from the royal family’s estate. A cocktail created for the occasion — the Transatlantic Whisky Sour — blends Johnnie Walker Black with citrus marmalade and is topped with a toasted marshmallow on a star-shaped biscuit.
A portrait of the Trumps alongside King Charles III and Queen Camilla. (Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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No U.S. president, or any other world leader, has ever had the honor of a second U.K. state visit, The Associated Press reported. The festivities involved 120 horses and 1,300 troops — including the largest guard of honor in living memory.
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