It was a sparkling evening for tonight's decadent state banquet in honour of a state visit by The President of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol and by Mrs Kim Keon Hee.
The event is the sartorial highlight of the royal calendar this year. It was a treat to see so many shimmering delights on display as the royals arrived (Yes, dear readers, that's the Strathmore Rose tiara :)
It follows a packed day filled with pomp and circumstance. The Prince and Princess of Wales officially met the President and First Lady before participating in a carriage procession and Buckingham Palace luncheon (catch up on the days earlier activities by clicking here). Kate selected a red Catherine Walker ensemble.
Guests make their way inside.
Official arrival for the State Banquet.
— ChristinZ (@ChristinsQueens) November 21, 2023
🎥 Sky pic.twitter.com/FehZJ4fEVE
The Princess accompanied Choo Kyung-ho Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea.
The British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Colin Crooks, quite rightly described the visit as a "crowning moment". The diplomat added: "As for our future ties, I'm optimistic that, through this state visit, the ties between the U.K. and Korea, our businesses and our people will become even closer".
State Visits are formal visits to the UK by heads of state from overseas, with the aim of strengthening Britain's relationships with other countries. There are usually two incoming State Visits each year. Invitations are sent on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
During Her late Majesty's seven-decade reign, she hosted 112 heads of state. It's very much a finely tuned programme filled with meticulous planning with the centrepiece unveiled in all its glory at tonight's Buckingham Palace State Banquet. It is the second such banquet King Charles III has hosted as monarch.
Their Majesties with President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
When it comes to State Banquets, courtiers ensure the evening is a success thanks to months of preparations.
According to the Royal family's website: "Preparations for a State banquet begin well over a year in advance, but the final build of the State banquet table starts around five days ahead of the arrival of the visiting Head of State. The operational arm of Buckingham Palace, the Master of the Household’s department take the main bulk of the responsibility for ensuring the Banquet runs according to plan."
Tonight, The King and Queen will host a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace as part of the State Visit for The President of the Republic of Korea. Find out more about the history of State Banquets: https://t.co/yhCVdFCozK pic.twitter.com/O2NWG7vXKJ
— Royal Collection Trust (@RCT) November 21, 2023
Below, centre pieces representing the Hibiscus Syriacus, the national flower of the Republic of Korea, being prepared. They were presented alongside petit fours.
The Kitchens have been busy putting finishing touches to dishes that will be served at tonight’s State Banquet.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 21, 2023
These centre pieces, crafted out of sugar, represent the Hibiscus Syriacus, the national flower of the Republic of Korea, and will be presented alongside petit fours. pic.twitter.com/asEKSYDaj3
The King delivered a warm speech at the banquet.
BREAKING: The King speaks at a Buckingham Palace banquet welcoming South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee to the UK.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 21, 2023
He celebrates South Korea's "drive and energy" and it's impact on those living in the UK.https://t.co/PZryxWN32t
📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/PuBIH0WU33
The King said: "Mr President, Madame Kim Keon Hee, It gives my wife and myself great pleasure to welcome you to Buckingham Palace this evening. Yeong-gug-e osin geos-eul hwan-yeonghabnida [Welcome to Britain]. As we mark the 140th anniversary of our two nations' diplomatic relationship, your visit to the United Kingdom celebrates our remarkable partnership. It is a partnership in which close personal connections, fostered over many decades, have blossomed today into a real sense of affection, or jeong, between our societies at so many levels".
"We also wonder at the remarkable journey your nation has taken in the span of a single lifetime - my lifetime, in fact. From wartime devastation at the time of my early childhood, Koreans have created a miracle. Even at the time of my last visit in 1992, that journey was clearly just beginning. The Republic of Korea's drive and energy continued apace, and with it, the impact on British lives. From fridges and flatscreens to smartphones and semiconductors, it is clear that the model of industrial efficiency I glimpsed in Seoul thirty years ago has become the epitome of technological creativity today", the King added.
The King continued:"But it is probably artistic creativity which has brought about the most dramatic shift in Korea's place in the British cultural landscape. Three decades ago, it would have been hard to imagine that the most popular exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2023 would be Hallyu, showcasing the Korean Wave, or that Korean would become the fastest-growing modern language among those studied at British universities. Korea has matched Danny Boyle with Bong Joon-ho, James Bond with Squid Game, and the Beatles' Let It Be with BTS's Dynamite. Our cultures share a remarkable ability to captivate imaginations across the world, transforming a so-called soft power into a shared superpower. I fear, though, that I am unlikely ever to follow in King Sejong's footsteps and create a whole new alphabet".
A moment which brought many smiles came when the King welcomed BLACKPINK, "It is especially inspiring to see Korea's younger generation embrace the cause. I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé, better known collectively as BLACKPINK, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as Ambassadors for the U.K.'s Presidency of COP 26, and later as advocates for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. I can only admire how they can prioritise these vital issues, as well as being global superstars. Sadly, when I was in Seoul all those years ago, I am not sure I developed much of what might be called the Gangnam Style".
It was a night of jewel-filled surprises! Queen Camilla wore the Burmese Ruby Tiara for the first time. The marvelous piece was proudly worn by Queen Elizabeth II on a number of state occasions and the tiara begins a new chapter with Camilla now. It was teamed with the late Queen's ruby and diamond necklace and earrings and the look was completed with a red velvet Fiona Clare gown.
The Duchess of Edinburgh wore her Aquamarine tiara (could a new loan from the vault be next for Sophie?) and the white Suzannah gown she wore to the coronation. For those wondering, Edward is currently on an official visit to Australia.
The Princess Royal sported her Diamond Festoon tiara.
#PrincessAnne #TimLaurence #RoyalFamily
— HRH_The Princess Royal (@AnneTimwatcher) November 21, 2023
🥂 Anne and Tim attended today's State Banquet.
👸🏻 A white dress Princess Anne. pic.twitter.com/W4opE4nTVn
Meanwhile, the radiant Duchess of Gloucester chose an emerald tiara with a great deal of personal significance. The piece was a wedding gift for her mother-in-law, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester from her father-in-law, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester in 1935. Almost a century later, it shines at Buckingham Palace.
Tonight marks Kate's sixth State Banquet. For her debut in 2015, Kate dazzled in a true 'Princess gown' by Jenny Packham, the Queen Mother's Papyrus Tiara, Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond and Chandelier earrings, and bracelets also on loan from Her late Majesty.
For the 2017 Spanish State Banquet, Kate looked fabulous in a pink bespoke Marchesa gown, her now signature Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara, Princess Diana's pearl and diamond earrings, and the Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau necklace, which was one of Queen Elizabeth II's wedding gifts from her parents.
For the 2018 State Banquet in honour of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima's visit, we saw Kate choose a bespoke kingfisher blue Alexander McQueen mermaid-style gown with the Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara, Diana's pearl earrings and a dazzling pearl necklace from Queen Alexandra's wedding parure.
In 2019, in honour of the United States visit, Kate once again turned to Sarah Burton at McQueen, this time selecting a white ruffled gown with a V-neckline and short sleeves, along with the Cambridge Lovers Knot tiara, the Queen Mother's Sapphire and Diamond earrings, and Diana's triple-strand pearl bracelet.
Last year, for the South African state visit, the new Princess of Wales donned a fabulous structured Jenny Packham cape gown, her Lover's Knot tiara, the Queen's four-strand pearl bracelet and Princess Diana's earrings.
Tonight the Princess surprised us all by debuting the sparkling Strathmore Rose tiara, a piece that's been nestled away in the royal vaults for the bones of a century. Between Queen Camilla's tiara debut and Kate in the Strathmore Rose, we can safely assume King Charles may very well be planning to open up those jewel vaults.
The tiara belonged to Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, later the Queen Mother, who received it as a gift from her father, Lord Strathmore, for her wedding in 1923. The diamond tiara features a garland of roses mounted in silver and gold
Created by jewellers Catchpole & Williams, it was supplied with two alternative frames, one invisible which allows the piece to be worn as a bandeau, the other padded for wear on the head.
The tiara was inherited by Her Majesty the Queen in 2002. It was often suggested as a strong possibility for royal brides, including Kate. It was a shame to see such a beautiful piece steeped in royal history left in the royal vaults for decades. It's going to make a sublime addition to Kate's rotation.
Kate chose an elegant custom Jenny Packham gown in ivory with gold embellishments. It features distinctive cape detailing and was styled with long white evening gloves.
With thanks to Katie, it appears to be a bespoke version of Packham's Anemone Sequin Maxi Dress.
The Princess wore the Queen's Diamond Pendant earrings.
Kate carried her Anya Hindmarch Maud clutch in white satin.
Amidst the sparkle and regalia, the Princess wore the Queen's Royal Family Order. There has been a great deal of speculation on whether we would see King Charles III's Order tonight, it seems it could be next year before it is ready. The Order is awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom to female members of the Royal family as they typically do not wear the commemorative medals men do. The order is a personal memento rather than a State decoration. The badge of the order consists of a portrait of the Sovereign set in diamonds, which is suspended from a ribbon. The ribbon of each Royal Family Order changes with each monarch. Her Majesty presented Kate with the Order in 2017; it's made of glass.
Beautiful! Love the dress and tiara! Camilla looks lovely too. What a day! Sue from IL
ReplyDeleteOk , whew, great relief. Now this is a lovely gown on Kate! She looks wonderful. The K-pop girl band, Blackpink, looks amazing of course. Wish we had better close up photos of Korea’s First Lady’s gown. I’m intrigued. Camilla looks nice in her gown and this is a wonderful color on her. Not wild about her jewels TBH. Too many pieces and taken as a whole, the effect is lost. Kate’s jewelry was perfection. Sophie’s outfit was a miss tonight and she usually hits all the right note. Anyway, hope good things like favorable trade deals and better security pact will come out of all the money spent to razzle dazzle us and filled the tabloids’ pages.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post! Who was the young woman walking in with William?
ReplyDeleteThat is the wife of the Lord Mayor of London. Her name is Elisabeth Mainelli
DeleteShe is the wife of the Lord Mayor of London
DeleteShe ist the wife of Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of London. Her name is Elisabeth Reuss.
DeleteShe's wearing her fourth tiara! Fantastic. I think I'd have preferred it if the dress had sleeves rather than her wearing gloves. I like the idea of evening gloves but the bit of exposed skin at the top of the arm jars a little, for me. But the overall impression is lovely. It feels fresh and 'young' to have her hair pulled back in this way but not in a traditional 'up do'. I wouldn't have expected it to work but I think it does. I thought Queen Camilla (it still feels really weird to write that) looked really good this evening.
ReplyDeleteCatherine looks great in this dress. This tiara looks really good on her, although it would have looked better if she had an updo. More in proportion. Queen Camilla is looking fabulous: gorgeous dress, the colour really suits her. Those rubies look fantastic on her! She's like Silvia of Sweden: they can handle big jewellery. Love it! Damsel Dragonfly
ReplyDeleteCamilla is a Tiara Whisperer - she makes them all look good! I prefer her in the ones with coloured stones. She looked fabulous tonight, as did Catherine - though I hope she doesn't default to white under a sash every time.
DeleteI believe the ladies - the PoW, PR, DoE - wore white so as to allow HM the Queen to shine in her red and rubies. The DoG - a tad farther down the salt - chose ice blue a similarly pale hue...
DeleteThe embroidered flowers on Catherine's evening gown look like the roses in the tiara. Does anyone else see this?
ReplyDeleteYes! It’s obvious why she chose that tiara!
DeleteI agree! thhat was my thought, too. that the embroidery matches the roses in the tiara
DeleteI did!
DeleteI would like to see a photo of Catherine taken from behind her so that the back of the gown and he hairstyle could be seen.
ReplyDeleteThis dress just had to be a Packham. I find it interesting that one can recognize a designer's signature style in an instant, much as expert art historians can make an attribution from the style of an unsigned painting. Fashion design is an art, after all. I love the silhouette of this dress, with its strong shoulders, cape effect, and slim skirt. The gold embroidery that echoes the tiara doesn't excite me so much -- a touch too "matchy" in my view -- but otherwise, I think this is a beautiful dress. It's far superior to most of the dresses the Princess has worn to state dinners.
ReplyDeleteI've one or two quibbles. First, I think opera-length gloves should really be worn with sleeveless or strapless dresses, or when the sleeves are very short. (Think Regency designs.) When the sleeves are elbow-length or close to it, you're better off going with 8-button gloves. If the tops of the gloves are covered by the sleeves, the effect is a little -- strange.
I also think a full updo would have suited both the dress and the occasion better. That long style looks fine for casual wear, but it's a little too girlish for formal evening occasions.
Queen Camilla looks terrific in her red velvet and rubies. On the other hand, the Duchess of Edinburgh looks as though she's about to undergo a clothing ceremony as a Benedictine novice. And while I think the Strathmore tiara looks charming on the Princess, I believe the late Queen Mother wore it best. It looked just about perfect as a 1920s-style bandeau. I have a photo of my maternal grandmother, a classically-trained concert singer in the 1920s, wearing a tiara in much the same way in a publicity photo taken around 1925-27.
It's definitely a Packham at a glance. Looks good and a great fit. You make a very good point about the gloves. I understand better now. Hopefully she will try the tiara with different hair styles. Like tonight but brought more forward on her head or like you said her hair up. S.🙂.
DeleteI want to see someone wear the Strathmore Rose as a bandeau again - I agree it looked gorgeous on the QM this way. Charlotte's tiara debut maybe?
DeleteAlways enjoy your posts Vittoria. And had a good laugh thinking of Sophie as a Benedictine novice!
DeleteSo tonight she’s wearing a custom white cape dress with embellished shoulders a year after wearing a custom white cape dress with embellished shoulders…!? But the tiara is to die for.
ReplyDeleteDress, gloves, hair, makeup and jewellery all get a thumbs up from me. She looked beautiful tonight. Delighted to see her wearing a new to her tiara especially one not seen for nearly 100 years. I love it on her. The Strathmore works much better than the Swedish button tiara. Looking at previous events, the pearl necklace and tiara look the most suitable for a banquet. For such a high profile and that she is the second Lady of the land, she needs more jewellery. I would love to see her wearing the Grenville emerald tiara and the Godman emerald necklace. This is a nice start. My wish for the diplomatic reception in December would be the Russian sapphire tiara with Princess Diana's Saudi sapphire necklace. The Queen looked great tonight in red and those Royal rubies really suit her. They should give her a double gin before the big events. She looked very nervous and fidgeting during both speaches. She kept going at her earrings and at one point it looks like she is trying to get at the base of the tiara in her hair. She made me laugh pretending to read the speech. She really does come across as a lovely kind Lady and very funny. The Duchess of Edinburgh looked at bit sad like she has done on big occasion.. Missing the beloved late Queen I think. Princess Anne looks a little tired but I would not want to be the one telling her to slow down. Thanks Charlotte, I really enjoyed reading your update. S.🙂.
ReplyDeleteI think First Lady Kim Keon Hee looked absolutely elegant and outshone all the flashy gems.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Dazzling ! I love the dresses and jewels on the Princess and the Queen.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI loved Catherine’s and Camilla’s jewels. I thought that Sophie had a rare miss. I usually enjoy her style very much but thought that tonight’s choices were not her best looks.
I just zeroed in on the two young women in the Meghanesque white gown and the aqua gown -- they both look very pretty! The ruby tiara does indeed look very good. And I am continuing to enjoy the new tiara.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, you had a sixth sense that we’d see a “new” tiara!
ReplyDeleteWhile Catherine certainly looks lovely, I am little baffled that she chose a brand new dress that is so similar to the one she wore to the South African State Dinner. Yes, I know the sleeve elements are very different and this dress has gold and not silver embellishments, but the initial image made me think she had done a re-work of the first dress. I think she also wore white at the previous state dinner as well. I remember Catherine say that White is her favorite color, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised to see her opt for it yet again, but still, it really plays up the criticism that she’s not very focused on the toning down the wasteful clothing habit. As with her plethora of blue coats, yet another long white gown is a head scratcher to me. I think Sophie had the right idea, in rewearing her Coronation dress, much as I dislike that dress on her and think the aquamarine tiara isn’t a great match with it.
For the event, I’m going with Camilla for the Win! Duchess of Gloucester looks fantastic as well.
The dresses are very similar style but not the details. I prefer the one she wore for the last state banquet. The long cape and her pearl tiara looked very regal on her. I would hope they will be worn again. Another banquet or state visit. They haven't been to many formal events since becoming The Prince and Princess of Wales. Her late Mother in law spent a lot more on clothes. Her clothes allowance would be quite high now her Husband has the Duchy. I get your point about it being a bit wasteful to buy two expensive dresses so similar. Especially when she already has a huge collection. I was surprised we haven't seen her evening wedding dress worn again. Maybe if she bought it in black instead of white.🤔. That would of looked amazing with her new tiara. S.🙂.
DeleteI prefer this dress to the South Africa banquet which I thought was too dramatic, those selves bordered on strange. Whereas this is more balanced. I don't think she has a huge collection of white tie evening gowns, I can't think of anything she could repeat that she hasn't worn to a former state banquet and I suppose wearing the same dress for Corea that she has worn for South Africa or another state is not the best diplomacy.
DeleteI'm surprised she choose a new dress as well. I was hoping we would see a rewear - the Dark Blue Velvet McQueen gown from the Diplomatic Ball in 2019 - which would have been my choice. And I would have loved to see the The Duchess of Teck's Earrings worn with the Strathmore Rose Tiara.
DeleteMaybe we'll still that blue gown with Diana's enormous Burmese sapphire and diamond pendant, suspended on a thin diamond necklace (not the infamous 7-strand pearl with sapphire).
The Princess of Wales looks regal and stunning. Seeing that tiara out in the wild is very exciting! We've only seen it in very old black and white photos.
ReplyDeleteCatherine looks great in this dress. and the tiara was perfect I also think a full updo
ReplyDeleteQueen Camilla looks terrific in her red velvet and rubies. to end the night the Duchess of Edinburgh look good with the white gown
I’m curious about Kate, Anne and Sophie all wearing white dresses. Did anyone else think it looked a little odd? Does it have anything to do with all the white in the Korean flag?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning event. Kate looks amazing in this tiara it is one of my faves although I like the old fashioned way of wearing it low down on the head as the Queen mother did even if it is out of style now. Also love seeing Princess Anne and Sophie in a nice tiara. I have to say the Duchess of Gloucester looks exquisite probably the best dressed of the night! I love that colour blue on her and the beautiful tiara.
ReplyDeleteShe looks simply stunning.
ReplyDeleteThe Strathmore Rose tiara has long been on my wishlist for Catherine. Loved the gown! I wasn’t crazy about the gloves but loved the rest. And Queen Camilla looked lovely in red. So happy to see King Charles has opened up the Royal jewelry vault. Would be lovely to see Sophie in a new tiara as well.
ReplyDeleteI really love floral tiaras, which might indicate that my taste isn’t particularly sophisticated but I’m willing to own it. The bandeau style worked for the time when they were fashionable, but I find I prefer it on the head. Beautiful looks all around.
ReplyDeleteJuniper
I am giggling at your comment Juniper. Same goes for me. Nicely said - I am willing to own my fondness for floral tiaras too! Would love to see a repeat of the Lotus as well. (That imho was even better on Kate). Ella
DeleteNow that I’ve seen the gloves again - they are a huge miss for me. I do like the dress but the gloves have to go. I love a new tiara moment and I hope she continues to pull from the vault.
ReplyDeleteI do not like Sophie’s look at all and I hope she gets to pull from the vault soon - I’d love to see her in a new tiara.
Camila looks nice but it’s a lot of large jewelry that it detracts from the full look and no one piece stands out because there is so much going on. She can pull off the big jewels but she doesn’t need to do it all at one time.
It's great to see Kate in a different tiara.
ReplyDeleteAfter all her years in the BRF and the title of Duchess of Edinburgh, I hope we see Sophie in something new from the vault.
This is fabulous. The tiara is so lovely. A piece of art. Perfection. It suits Kate so well, it is youthful without being juvenile. I think she wears it even better than the queen mother. The dress is very elegant gorgeous fabric, the capelet gives interest to the design. The gloves are so glamorous. She looks elegant, streamlined and very pretty. I think this is her best state dinner appearance. And I prefer this tiara to the lovers knot, which is impressive but heavier. Although I must say Kate looks great in all the tiaras she has worn
ReplyDeleteNatacha, I agree with you on all points! Zora from Prague
DeleteThe Strathmore isn't a tiara Camilla would wear, she suits bigger and more dramatic styles. We know how fond KC is of Kate and how close he was to QM. It wouldn't surprise me if he has given the tiara to Kate, probably also thinking Charlotte will wear it in due course.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I was sad to see Camilla wear the 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland' tiara. I didn't think it was dramatic enough for her and was hoping to see it on Kate. Now I'm hoping to see Kate eventually wear Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara and the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara (the emeralds will be stunning on Kate). Camilla should plan on wearing the Aquamarine tiara next and leave the others ;-) I was thinking the Cartier Halo would be Charlotte's first tiara and hers to own.
DeleteIt isn't often that I am so stunned by the Queen Camilla's looks! I adore the Strathmore Rose tiara. But somehow I understand why Kate stuck with Lovers Knot for so long. It flatters her face so much. Not that Strsthmore Rose isn't pretty on Kate, but if I had to choose for Kate, I would pick Lovers Knot over Strathmore Rose (even though i prefer Strathmore Rose on its own, but Kate is just made for wearing the Lovers Knot). If that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteNice sartoroal nod to wear white from all the "supporting" ladies (=ladies except for the Queen Camilla). I especially loved Kate's hair.
South African look still wins the state visit fashion contest for me. Sometimes I feel like Kate's state visit fashion is kinda fussy and because of the gloves, it somehow is the case here as well. But still - I will always adore how respectfully and elegently Kate can dress. Sorry for my comment being kinda all over the place today.
Ella
I bet she tried it as a bandeau and maybe just felt it was too scene stealing, possibly too reminiscent of Diana. I would love to see it worn as a bandeau.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I like bits and pieces of K’s look tonight. The tiara is beautiful, I’d prefer the dress with different sleeves. K’s eye make up also seems very heavy and is wearing a lighter shade of lip color. I certainly enjoy her more modern business suits (finally) but this look seems to be trying a bit too hard. Madame Hee looks very elegant - is she wearing black? Sophie’s dress is a big miss - celticgirl.
ReplyDeleteI think I should start with the clear fashion Queen: Queen Camilla. Never thought so would like the look of the Burmese Ruby.
ReplyDeleteBrigitte is impeccable as always.
Sophie gets points for re-wearing something but that’s about it.
Anne’s outfit is most likely a re-wear as well- from some decades ago.
Kate’s outfit looks basically like Anne’s. It’s the exact same style. Which is kind of hilarious but also unfortunate. Anne’s is clearly out-dated but has the same vintage charme as lots of ugly things can have. Kate’s looks like a modern re-make but it misses the vintage elements and there has nothing going for it. A longer cape or a more interesting short one (this one hangs unfortunate and the embellishments look out-dated), less pointy shoulders and a different neckline would transfer it into a better look. And tighter gloves.
The Strathmore Rose is the only highlight about her look. Sadly it doesn’t sit well on her hairstyle. The visible base cheapens this first outing. There is a reason it gets covered in fabric despite comfort.
All in all not an event that full fills my wishes in terms of jewellery. But I was very underwhelmed by Sophie and Kate.
It’s funny how quickly certain tiaras get “forgotten”. Ever since HMTQ started to slow down in terms of tours and State Visits, and with the absence of a Princess of Wales and later with Camilla being very careful in what she wore and with her engagements getting less attention, it seems as if the vault is more open when indeed it just went back to the way it was.
C.
I agree seeing the base of the tiara is not a good look.
DeleteI can’t get over the gloves looking too big and not working with short sleeved dress in certain pictures it looks like footballers do when they wear long sleeved tops under their football shirts
Is there a reason why 3 of the ladies are wearing white gowns ?
First, I think Kate looks absolutely stunning and beyond excited to see the Strathmore tiara. I remember years ago when there was a styling, it was my pick for her. I would agree that a different hairstyle might have showcased it better where the base wasn't showing and it could e more or less intertwined with her hair, perhaps a messy, romantic updo. I don't mean messy as in sloppy - not that Kate would be - but more as in less structured and classically undone! BUT, she is lovely.
DeleteOn the other hand, this hairdo is soft and pretty, like the tiara. I'd be curious to see it with an updo.
Delete@Anonymous 23:22, regarding the hairstyle. I agree. The tiara has a hard time shining against the all the white. Which is sad, but to be expected. Old tiaras aren’t necessarily as brightly shining if they aren’t a fringe. Often diamonds were set not necessarily to glitter as much as possible but rather to fit the design. It would have benefited from a big updo as background. Especially her darker hair would have made the tiara a great focal point. It’s a beautiful piece and I really hope we will see it more often. But Kate and her stylists/hairdresser definitely need to overthink how they work with tiaras. They need to sit more horizontal instead like a big, jewel headband. They also mostly don’t work with sleeker hair. It gives a classic cheap modern royal fantasy tv movie from the 2000 vibe. They need some volume and either have to sit on top like a crown or nestled in front. A well done “messy” bun always maintains to look elegant but whimsical and holds up its structure the whole night. So nothing messy about it really.
DeleteI think her best tiara appearances in terms of jewellery and hairstyle were her wedding and the Chinese state banquet in 2015(?).
C.
I feel like Anne has become the queen of the re-wear. She can pull from decades ago and still look good in the present. It’s not an easy feat but she does it really well.
DeleteI have looked at some previous posts and the earrings used to be a lot darker metal. These are the same ones but are bright and shiny. Any thoughts about them being refinished to make them brighter and shiner?
ReplyDeleteI love this outfit ! The gloves add charm and make the gown even more graceful. On the other hand, the clutch seems a little outdated compared to the whole. The tiara is su-bli-me, I would love to see it in real life to discover all of its details !
ReplyDeleteAnna I agree, the gloves add old-world charm
DeleteIs anyone having a problem with trying to see more comments than just the initial 8? I see no “Load More” option at the end of the comments.
ReplyDeleteCatherine looks gorgeous. The dress is beautiful and looks perfect with the tiara and earrings. Love that she is wearing a tiara not seen, at least in public for almost a hundred years. I like the long gloves with her dress, if I have a quibble it would be the bag. All the ladies looked lovely and Camila looked great in her tiara and ruby set. Ali
ReplyDeleteA beautiful dress but I think the gloves are unnecessary. I too think a re wear of another gown would be more appropriate to wear 2 almost similar designs in a row not really thinking about the optics of sustainable fashion is an opportunity missed by Kate. Such a pretty tiara and lovely to see it come out of the vaults and rather than the gloves it would have been nice to have seen those diamond bracelets she has worn before. The Korean first lady looked elegant too. I love these occasions to see the amazing jewels hopefully there will be lots more occasions next year. Sue in WA
ReplyDeleteI would like to share with all of you a few lines I have just read in the royalwatcherblog:
ReplyDeleteThe Strathmore Rose Tiara was the Queen Mother’s wedding gift from her father, the Earl of Strathmore, which had not been publicly worn since 1935, and can also be worn with five sapphires in the centre of the roses.
May be we will see Catherine wearing Strathmore Rose Tiara with sapphires. I can´t wait...
I thought Catherine looked very nice and appropriate. The dress was similar to dresses that worked well in the past. It seems to me this might be her way of not diverting attention from the Queen or the occasion. The dress is “new” so it honors the occasion, but not so new that it draws all the attention. Catherine can be absolutely stunning when she wants or is allowed to and when she goes that route, it is all anyone can talk about. Though the Strathmore tiara is lovely, it feels a bit junior to me. For lack of a better descriptor, the denser tiaras (lover’s knot and even the headpiece worn at the coronation) seem to flatter Catherine’s face and look more regal on her. It would be fun to see her with some colored stones in her tiara. Frankly, I am a jewelry lover so I would like to see more jewels on the POW period.
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing all the previous state dinner dresses! Which do people like the best? Hard choice, but I think I like the white dress for the US dinner most.
ReplyDeleteAll the royal ladies looked gorgeous. Camilla and Catherine in particular fabulous and just... Mic drop! I think Catherine needs this dress in black too! Love to see the tiara out!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI’m writing from America…Why is Queen Camilla wearing her sash from the opposite shoulder from the other women? Is it because she’s Queen or left-handed, maybe?
Thanks for all the work put into this site!
D
I’m from America too so I could be wrong but I always thought how it was worn was dependent on the order.
DeleteIt looked to me like Kate, Sophie and Birgitte wore the same (Royal Victorian Order?) while Camilla and Anne wore the same (Order of the Garter?). I believe they wear the highest order of which they are a member which would account for the different directions and sashes.
Please correct me if I’m wrong.
It is the Order of the Garter, the country's highest honour. It is singular in that it is correctly worn backward as Queen Camilla the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Gloucester are doing. It has a fascinating history.
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