There’s a buzz in the royal world, suggesting that Kate Middleton might be gearing up for a tiara moment in the near future. Buckingham Palace recently announced that King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to welcome South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to the U.K. for a state visit in November. While specific dates and details remain undisclosed, it’s highly probable that this official trip will involve a state banquet—a prime opportunity for tiara enthusiasts.
The statement from Buckingham Palace reads, “The President of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Yoon Suk Yeol, accompanied by Mrs Kim Keon Hee, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom in November. The King and Queen will host the State Visit at Buckingham Palace.”
Historical precedents, along with hints from Buckingham Palace, suggest that the upcoming visit will indeed include a grand state banquet. As per the royal family’s website, state visits usually commence with a ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade, followed by an inspection of a Guard of Honour. Subsequently, guests embark on a carriage procession to the palace, accompanied by a military escort, culminating in an opulent dinner.
These events traditionally require a white-tie dress code, including the donning of tiaras by female members of the royal family. During the first state visit of King Charles’ reign in November 2022, welcoming South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the U.K., both Princess Kate and Queen Camilla graced the occasion with sparkling tiaras.
Kate, at 41 years old, radiated in the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara, while Queen Camilla adorned the Belgian Sapphire Tiara, which once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth. This marked their first public tiara appearances in three years, a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of state visits within that timeframe.
Princess Kate and Queen Camilla had another tiara moment in December 2022, donning their regal headpieces for the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace. Kate chose the Lotus Flower Tiara, while Camilla once again wore the Belgian Sapphire Tiara.
However, on the coronation day of May 6, Queen Camilla was crowned, and Princess Kate, in a break from tradition, opted for a silver and crystal floral headpiece by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen instead of a tiara. Her daughter, 8-year-old Princess Charlotte, also embraced a floral headpiece, a matching touch to her mother’s choice.
In June, at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan, Princess Kate sported a tiara once more during the banquet. She transitioned into her second outfit of the day, a dazzling pink gown by Jenny Packham, pairing it with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara worn with her hair down, along with the Greville Chandelier earrings. Notably, this marked Kate’s first time wearing a tiara outside the U.K.
As November approaches, it is expected that Princess Kate and Prince William will play a pivotal role in hosting the state visit of President Yoon and First Lady Kim Keon Hee. The couple has stepped into elevated royal roles as the Prince and Princess of Wales following the passing of Queen Elizabeth and King Charles’ accession last September. They previously welcomed President Ramaphosa to the U.K. for his state visit in the preceding year.
News of President Yoon’s visit follows King Charles and Queen Camilla’s recent outward state visit to France, rescheduled from March due to pension-related riots. The three-day trip, from September 20 to September 22, included a glamorous state banquet at the iconic Palace of Versailles. On this occasion, Queen Camilla chose to forgo a tiara, instead sparkling with the King George VI Victorian Suite necklace and bracelet.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming state visit, royal enthusiasts eagerly await another opportunity to see Princess Kate shine in a magnificent tiara.
