In the realm of royal duties, the State Banquet stands as the apex of ceremonial formality—an evening where diplomacy, history, and dazzling pageantry intersect. For the Princess of Wales, 2025 was an extraordinary year, marking an unusual frequency of these high-profile events. The royal calendar saw her attend three separate State Banquets, a triple commitment that allowed her to showcase the full, stunning evolution of her regal style.
From a striking crimson statement to a celebratory vision in gold, Princess Catherine delivered elegance with precision at every turn. Yet, it was her appearance on the 3rd of December 2025, at Windsor Castle, to honour Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender, that will be etched into royal history: the night she debuted her largest and most historically significant tiara to date, Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet.
The Grand Finale: Debuting the Oriental Circlet
The State Banquet for the German delegation served as the crowning glory of her ceremonial year. Arriving alongside her husband, Prince William, Catherine looked truly gorgeous, embodying effortless regality. The choice of the Oriental Circlet Tiara was a masterful move, both historically resonant and visually breathtaking.
This tiara, a breathtaking piece featuring 17 majestic Burmese rubies set within a diamond framework of stylized arches, carries the weight of history. It was commissioned in 1853 by Prince Albert for his wife, Queen Victoria, making its selection a profound and beautiful nod to the German heritage of the visiting dignitary. The rubies—which replaced opals in Queen Alexandra’s time—provided a magnificent splash of colour, perfectly contrasting the diamonds and echoing the rich, deep tones of the evening’s décor.
Securing a tiara of this colossal size is a feat of engineering, especially with Catherine choosing to wear her hair in soft, flowing waves rather than a tight updo. Closer inspection of the photographs reveals the discreet artistry of her hairdressing: the back section of her hair was skillfully tied and twisted to create a hidden, secure anchor, a foundational “shelf” that ensured the weighty circlet remained perfectly positioned throughout the evening, reinforcing her command over the most demanding elements of royal protocol.
Her gown for the German visit was a study in complementing the tiara’s power, often reported to be a sweeping, tailored piece in a stately jewel tone that allowed the diamonds and rubies to fully articulate their historical splendour.
The Year of Three Banquets: A Style Retrospective
The frequency of State Banquets in 2025—three separate events—is highly unusual and placed immense focus on the Princess of Wales, confirming her indispensable role in high-level diplomacy. This sequence of banquets allowed the public to observe, in swift succession, the refined, evolving style of a future Queen Consort.
The American Gold: September 2025
The State Banquet welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in September 2025 saw Catherine choose a look of timeless, celebratory grandeur. She swapped her bold colours for a glorious gold number by Phillipa Lepley with a delicate lace overlay.
This choice was widely celebrated for its elegance and classic sensibility, offering a beautiful contrast to the deep emeralds often worn for diplomatic occasions. Crucially, she paired the gold with a familiar, beloved piece: the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, an heirloom created for Queen Mary in 1914. This tiara choice, worn frequently, offered a comforting sense of continuity and familiarity to the British public during a visit that often generated significant international attention.
The French Crimson: July 2025
Earlier in the year, the State Banquet hosted in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron—the first State Visit by a French President in 17 years—demanded a statement. Catherine delivered with powerful effect, wearing a striking crimson gown by Sarah Burton for Givenchy.
The gown, featuring elegant, caped shoulders, was an immediate masterpiece. The strong, deep colour was bold, sophisticated, and perfectly suited for the formality of the event. It was styled, once again, with the magnificent Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara (sometimes referred to interchangeably with the Cambridge Lover’s Knot, due to their shared name and similar appearance), commissioned in 1913. This consistent use of the Lover’s Knot throughout the year demonstrated the Princess’s commitment to establishing her own signature style using established royal pieces, a powerful practice that builds an indelible image of reliability and grace.
The Catherine Formula: Regal, Refined, and Approachable
Luxury stylist Oriona Robb aptly sums up the Princess of Wales’s strategy for these high-stakes events, highlighting the meticulous thought behind every detail of her ceremonial dress.
“At state banquets, Kate always gravitates toward silhouettes that feel regal without ever being overdone,” Oriona notes. “Think structured bodices, sweeping skirts, and refined necklines that sit just on the elegant side of classic. She understands the visual language of royal eveningwear: symmetry, poise, and a sense of continuity with the monarchy’s long history of formal dressing.”
Catherine’s style is never simply about the dress; it is a careful calculation to balance the solemnity of the occasion with her own modern appeal.
“What makes Kate’s state-banquet style so consistently successful is her ability to balance tradition with a modern sensibility,” Oriona adds. “She’ll choose rich fabrics, meticulous tailoring, and jewel-tone palettes that read appropriately ceremonial, but she keeps the styling clean. Using minimal jewellery, polished hair, and a focus on one standout piece of jewellery. It’s a formula that photographs beautifully, respects protocol, and reinforces her image as a future Queen who understands how to look both iconic and approachable.”
The Princess’s gowns—whether the crimson cape, the golden lace, or the dress complementing the Oriental Circlet—all share this consistency: they are tailored to perfection, designed to manage the demands of the long evening, and perfectly frame the precious jewels and tiara that communicate her status.