Princess Kate wows in tiara not seen for almost a century as she appears for glitzy State Banquet with William
Princess Kate wows in tiara not seen for almost a century as she appears for glitzy state banquet with William
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Princess Kate turned heads as she arrived for a glitzy State Banquet with Prince William tonight, wearing a stunning tiara not seen in almost a century.
Kate was seen wearing the Strathmore Rose tiara as she pulled up to the venue, a headpiece not worn in public since it graced the head of the Queen Mother.
The banquet is set to honour South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol on the first of his three days in the UK.
Military pomp and pageantry were on display as the foreign head of state and his wife Kim Keon Hee were warmly greeted by Charles and Camilla in Whitehall earlier today.
WATCH HERE: Royals and delegates process into State Banquet
Identifying the tiara on social media, The Court Jeweller Dr Lauren Kiehna said one of the last times the headpiece was seen in public was when the then Duke and Duchess of York sat for a series of formal portraits following their wedding in 1923.
Kate wore a white dress embroidered in gold by Jenny Packham and completed with earrings belonging to Queen Elizabeth.
Queen Camilla also stunned in a tiara of her own - hers being Queen Elizabeth’s ruby and diamond Burmese tiara.
Camilla’s tiara was made using gems originating from the Nizam of Hyderabad tiara made in the 1970s and given to the Queen for her wedding gift.
The brilliant rubies matched the Queen's red velvet dress.
Camilla at the state banquet
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Charles, Camilla, President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee ahead of the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace
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To open the State Banquet, King Charles earned himself a round of applause after starting his speech with a little Korean.
Charles’s speech had several references to K-pop and Korean culture including nods to BTS and BLACKPINK whose members also attended the event.
In one reference to Korean culture, King Chares said: “Sadly when I was in Seoul all those years ago, I am not sure I developed much of what might be called Gangnam Style.”
In his return speech which addressed the King, the South Korean president said he was “deeply touched” by the “kind preparations and the warmth of your hospitality”.
He then added that “under Your Majesty’s reign, the UK - with its renewed vigour - is flourishing in great strides”.
Prince William and Princess Kate
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Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty at the State Banquet
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Alongside the ceremonial welcome, the UK and South Korea are set to launch talks on a new trade deal and sign a diplomatic accord as part of Mr Yoon’s state visit.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch will begin negotiations with her Korean counterpart Bang Moon Kyu at the UK-Korea Business Forum at Mansion House on Wednesday.
They will also announce £21billion of investments committed by Korean businesses in green energy and infrastructure projects across the UK.