The Royal Family extended a warm welcome to French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron earlier this week. Representing The King, the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the French President and First Lady ahead of the official welcome ceremony at Windsor.
In the evening, the occasion was marked in grand royal fashion with a glittering State Banquet held in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, hosted by The King and Queen alongside members of the Royal Family. And as tradition dictates, a State Banquet means an unforgettable display of regal jewels.
Returning to the spotlight for her first state banquet in nearly two years, the Princess of Wales stunned in a deep red silk crêpon evening gown by Givenchy. She completed the look with the iconic Lover’s Knot Tiara – a treasured piece once beloved by Princess Diana and now a firm favourite of Kate’s, frequently worn at high-profile royal occasions.
Queen Camilla, equally radiant, wore an ivory silk and crepe embroidered gown by Fiona Clare, paired with the breathtaking sapphire and diamond pieces from Queen Elizabeth II’s collection, including the Belgian Sapphire Tiara – the tiara she wore at King Charles’ first State Banquet as King, and her first as Queen Consort.
Fine jewellery and diamond specialists at UK retailer Steven Stone have analysed the spectacular pieces worn by both royal women – uncovering the fascinating stories behind each jewel and estimating their remarkable value.
“Kate Middleton paid a heartfelt tribute to both Queen Elizabeth II and her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, by choosing to wear Queen Mary’s iconic Lover’s Knot tiara – a stunning historic piece dating back to 1913. This tiara was the very first Kate wore as Princess of Wales, making the moment deeply meaningful. Renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship, the tiara is famously heavy enough to have caused discomfort to Princess Diana, underscoring the exceptional quality of the diamonds and pearls it holds. Valued at around £1,000,000 – or potentially more, considering the legacies of the remarkable women who have worn it – this piece is a true royal treasure.
Queen Camilla similarly embraced tradition and history by donning Queen Elizabeth II’s Belgian Sapphire tiara, the very first tiara she wore as Queen Consort. This majestic tiara, valued at an estimated £5,000,000, was elegantly refashioned from a 19th-century necklace originally owned by Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Complimenting the Queen’s tiara was a breathtaking sapphire and diamond cluster line necklace. Gifted to Queen Elizabeth II by her father on her wedding day in 1947, it remains one of the late monarch’s most cherished jewels, with an estimated value of around £4 million. Although the earrings Queen Camilla wore don’t appear to be part of the same suite – the King George VI Victorian Suite – they are no less magnificent, likely valued at approximately £300,000.
It’s truly heartwarming to see both royal ladies honour their roles by wearing the very first tiaras they chose in their current positions – a beautiful symbol of continuity, respect, and royal heritage.”
Amy is an NCTJ-qualified journalist. She works full-time as an editorial assistant on PTA+ Magazine writing about fundraising and education. She also freelances for her local magazine in Sussex as the community journalist. Amy enjoys freelancing about lifestyle topics such as careers, health, travel and relationships.
