Looking every bit the Princess that she is, Duchess Catherine attended the Queen’s State banquet at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening, opting for her favourite tiara as a dazzling finishing touch.
The Duchess made heads turn as she arrived wearing a breathtaking white, floor-length gown with cap-sleeves by one of her favourite designers Alexander McQueen, finishing her look with the iconic Lovers Knot tiara, made famous by her late mother-in-law Princess Diana, and sapphire and diamond earrings which once belonged to the Queen Mother.
Kate looked radiant as she entered Buckingham Palace for the State Banquet. (Image: Getty)
The elegant event also marked the first time Kate wore her blue, red and white sash of the Victorian order of which she is a Dame Grand Cross (GVCO), a title the Queen had bestowed on her as a gift for her eighth wedding anniversary with Prince William in April.
The GVCO is the highest rank of the Order, equivalent to a Knight.
The royal mother-of-three attended the banquet alongside her husband Prince William and other senior members of the senior royal including Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not in attendance as Meghan is currently on maternity leave, however Prince Harry did attend an exhibition viewing with the Trumps earlier in the day.
Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, with Prince Harry viewing an exhibition at the Picture Gallery. (Image: Getty)
Before the banquet, royal fans were given a sneak peek of how the Buckingham Palace Ballroom had been transformed for the special event, with the Palace sharing images of the preparations on Instagram.
“A sneak peek of the State Banquet table in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom,” the Instagram caption begins.
“The final finishing touches will be added shortly before The Queen welcomes the President of the United States @realdonaldtrump, the First Lady @flotus, members of the Royal Family and around 170 guests to celebrate the #USStateVisit.
“Swipe to see #behindthescenes photos of the Palace Attendants and Royal Florists transforming the Ballroom and setting the table earlier today.”
The horseshoe-shaped table, laid for around 170 guests, was decorated with lush purple and pink floral arrangements in gold vases, and while there’s no denying the room looked absolutely gorgeous, many royal fans were less than enthusiastic about who the banquet was being thrown for.
“I can’t believe something this beautiful and dignified is being wasted on that man,” one follower commented on the post.
“The Royal Family sure do etiquette well,” another wrote.
“I simply couldn’t put on a poker face and meet these people.”
The comments echo a similar sentiment by a large number of the public in the UK, who have taken to the streets to protest the US President’s State visit.
Previous plans for a State visit had been postponed with speculation that this was due to worries about the protests he might face, however he did make a working visit in July last year.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump with The Queen, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla at the State Banquet on Monday evening. (Image: Getty)
President Trump has travelled to the UK with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, and his whole family for the three-day visit.
Trump’s first day also included attending a private luncheon with the Queen, a special exhibition viewing in the Picture Gallery along with a private tea hosted at Clarence House by Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, and a wreath laying at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior with Prince Andrew.
