Bring out the tiaras—Kate Middleton joined her husband Prince William and other members of the royal family to host U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for a state banquet on September 17 at Windsor Castle, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ second state banquet in just two months.
For the state banquet, the Princess of Wales wore her favorite tiara, the Queen Mary Lovers’ Knot, with a sheer gold dress covered in embroidery
Following the couple’s appearance at the French state banquet honoring France’s President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron on July 8—to which Kate wore her favorite tiara, the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot—the Prince and Princess of Wales were once again center stage at the U.S. state banquet on Wednesday evening. William and Kate—showing their elevated diplomatic roles—were the ones chosen to greet the Trumps earlier in the day, before meeting up with King Charles and Queen Camilla for a carriage procession through Windsor before arriving at Windsor Castle for a lunch and a tour of items related to the U.S.
Tomorrow, the Princess of Wales will be joined by the First Lady for a joint appearance at Frogmore Gardens in Windsor, where they will explore two of Kate’s passions—nature and the Scouts. Kate—once a Brownie herself—has served as joint president of the Scout Association since 2020.
The state banquet on Wednesday evening hosted 160 guests, according to The Times, including celebrities and, of course, members of the royal family. Both King Charles and President Trump were due to give speeches, and the Trumps will stay overnight in the castle, which the outlet reported was also a privilege afforded to U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1982, the first U.S. president to stay at Windsor Castle.
Specifically, having Kate’s involvement in the state visit “will be the icing on the cake” for Trump, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told The Mirror. “To be seen with her will be gold dust in his eyes.” Bond added that Kate would no doubt handle her interactions with the president “in the most diplomatic, subtle, and regal way.”
Earlier on Wednesday, as Kate greeted the Trumps upon their arrival at Windsor, the president remarked to the Princess of Wales, “You’re so beautiful.” For that occasion, Kate wore a maroon Emilia Wickstead coatdress, a matching Jane Taylor hat, dark brown suede pumps from Gianvito Rossi, and a brooch dating back to 1863 that paid tribute to both William and the late Princess Diana.
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