Kate Middleton pays homage to Princess Diana in her first state banquet as Princess of Wales

So sweet.

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Kate Middleton wears the Lover's Knot Tiara
(Image credit: Getty)

Last night, King Charles II and Camilla, the Queen Consort, hosted their first state banquet at Buckingham Palace to welcome the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa. 

Of course, the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate were in attendance and were dressed suitably glamorously for the occasion. Prince William donned a suit and white bow tie, while Kate opted for a white embellished gown by Jenny Packham. 

Complete with cape-effect sleeves and beaded shoulder embellishments, the dress looked every bit fit for a princess. Middleton finished the outfit with a few very sentimental jewels, including a pearl bracelet which once belonged to Queen Elizabeth and the Lover's Knot Tiara. 

Kate Middleton wears the Lover's Knot Tiara

(Image credit: Getty)

As far as tiaras go, the Lover's Knot Tiara is one of the most renowned. Originally commissioned for Queen Mary in 1913, the item features ornate diamond detailing alongside 19 hanging pearl embellishments. According to the diamond experts at Seven Stone, today, the tiara is estimated to be worth £1,000,000.

While it was created for Queen Mary, the tiara later belonged to Queen Elizabeth II who loaned it to Princess Diana on several occasions. The tiara became one of Princess Diana's favourite pieces. She was seen wearing the elegant item many times, including to several state banquets, just as Kate did last night. 

Princess Diana wears the Lover's Knot Tiara

(Image credit: Getty)

After Princess Diana's passing, the tiara was not seen for several years, until the Princess of Wales wore the item for the first time in 2015. 

Since then, Middleton has worn the tiara on a few occasions, including a State Banquet in 2018 to welcome The King And Queen Of The Netherlands and a Diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace in 2016.

Zoe Anastasiou
Zoe Anastasiou
Fashion Editor

Zoe Anastasiou is a Fashion Editor with over eight years of experience working across digital publications in New York, London and Australia. She has contributed to publications including Harper’s BAZAAR and ELLE Australia, and was the Fashion and Social Media Editor at Who What Wear UK before joining Marie Claire.