The world loves the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge because they are both incredibly grounded and sensible. But every now and then, we want to see Kate Middleton dressed to the nines in a tiara and full princess regalia— and she didn't disappoint when she attended her first state banquet to welcome the president of China and his wife.
Kate, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Philip hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan at Buckingham Palace Tuesday, and the duchess totally looked the part. Kate was absolutely stunning in a red Jenny Packham gown with a diamond Lotus Flower tiara — is there anything better than a royal who owns it?
This gorgeous Lotus Flower tiara is made of pearls and diamonds and once belonged to Queen Elizabeth's mother in the 1920s. In her time as William's wife, Kate has worn two tiaras — this beauty is lightweight and youthful (and is also the same tiara she wore when she and Will tied the knot), perfect for a young mom with two little ones at home. Interestingly, a royal insider says she wore the same tiara because her role was not to be in the spotlight that night — a brand new jeweled headpiece would be the talk of the town, which would also be a little tacky.
As for Kate's decision to wear red — a hue that looks amazing with her skin tone — royal stylists reportedly chose the color to remind everyone of the Chinese flag. It also symbolizes good fortune.
The state banquet was no joke, as you can imagine. Other royals like Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Prince Edward, Earl of Essex, joined 130 guests in the palace ballroom as they feasted on filet of West Coast Turbot with lobster mousse, roasted loin of Balmoral venison in madeira and truffle sauce, wine, and champagne.
More from The Stir: Kate Middleton Is Every Bit the Princess in Stunning Jeweled Tiara (PHOTO)
The Queen, who has hosted an impressive 110 state banquets during her 63-year reign, gave an opening speech in which she boasted about Prince William's efforts to fight illegal wildlife trading around the world, including China:
I was delighted that my grandson Prince William was able to witness these changes during his first visit to China earlier this year . . . He saw at first-hand the strong connections which bind our two countries together, be they in culture, education, or business.
Bravo to Kate, who once again proved she is the picture of elegance at high-profile royal events.
Images via Splash News