The Princess of Wales showcased a dazzling appearance at a grand state banquet held at Windsor Castle this evening. Princess Kate, along with King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William, attended the prestigious white tie dinner, which served as the highlight of the German state visit.
German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender were honored with lavish royal hospitality at the historic St George’s Hall as the first day of their three-day trip concluded. Ahead of the banquet, William and Kate shared a glimpse of their attire on social media.
In anticipation of the event, the Prince and Princess of Wales expressed their excitement on Instagram, stating, “Looking forward to a special banquet tonight in Windsor.” A festive snapshot captured Kate and William exuding royal elegance in front of a Christmas tree.
This marked Kate’s third attendance at a state banquet this year. She initially joined the royal family in July for the French state banquet honoring French president Emmanual Macron. For this occasion, she wore the Lover’s Knot tiara and a red gown with caped back detailing by Sarah Burton for Givenchy, complemented by a lily of the valley embroidered evening clutch.
In another state banquet honoring US president Donald Trump in September, Kate donned a Philippa Lepley full-length hand-embroidered gold lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown embellished with hand-embroidered roses and gold cording accents.
The Prince and Princess of Wales warmly welcomed the German president and his wife to the UK for a historic state visit. They greeted Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Budenbender at Heathrow Airport on behalf of the King earlier in the day, performing their customary greeting duties.
A carpet lining party, comprised of The King’s Colour Squadron, Royal Air Force, was present to welcome the president’s Bundesrepublik Deutschland plane, featuring a stripe in the colors of the German flag.
Upon returning to Windsor, William and Kate enjoyed a carriage ride through the streets to the castle. Mr. Steinmeier received a ceremonial welcome in the castle quadrangle, attended by King Charles, Queen Camilla, William, and Kate.
This state visit marked the first time a German president has been hosted on a state visit in 27 years and only the fifth state visit from Germany since 1958. Additionally, it was the third inward state visit for King Charles this year. President Steinmeier has made several visits to Britain, including attending Their Majesties’ Coronation in May 2023.