For the final state banquet of the year, Kate Middleton surprised royal watchers with the choice of Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara.
The tiara features rubies and diamonds, and it was frequently worn by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother during her lifetime. For the evening, Kate paired the dramatic tiara with a sparkling blue sequin dress designed by Jenny Packham and a sash that featured her royal orders, including the relatively new Royal Family Order of King Charles III. Kate also wore earrings that belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth.
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Queen Elizabeth wore the tiara just once, in 2006, and this is Kate’s first time wearing it—and the first time the tiara has been seen in nearly two decades. Ahead of the banquet, Kensington Palace released a portrait of the royal couple on social media:
According to Garrard, the tiara “is also one of the oldest pieces created by Garrard for the Royal Family. Crafted for Queen Victoria in 1853 under the direction of her beloved husband and consort, Prince Albert, the Oriental Circlet was originally set with a collection of opals, one of Albert’s favourite gemstones, and 2,600 diamonds. Later, believing that opals were unlucky, Queen Alexandra replaced them with rubies. However, the magnificent, Indian-inspired design of lotus flowers and Mughal arches remainslargely the same today as when it was first created.”
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William and Kate arriving for the banquet.
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Windsor Castle is decorated for Christmas.
It’s a busy week for Kate: On Friday, the Princess will host her fifth annual “Together at Christmas” Christmas carol at Westminster Abbey. Per Kensington Palace, “This year, the Service will bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms—whether it’s love within families, through friendships, across communities, or even through powerful moments of connection with strangers. In a world that can often feel fragmented and disconnected, love is the force that reconnects us all—spanning generations, communities, cultures, and faiths.”
The Palace added, “As we approach the Christmas season, we are reminded of the power of togetherness. The evening will highlight the transformative power of investing in one another with compassion, presence, and joy.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.