It was a night of pageantry and diplomacy yesterday at Windsor Castle, as King Charles III welcomed President Trump for a state banquet in St. George’s Hall. The evening was a celebration of Anglo-American ties as well as a display of royal symbolism, embodied most strikingly by Catherine, Princess of Wales, who wore the storied Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara.
Commissioned for Queen Mary in 1913 and created by the House of Garrard, the tiara became closely associated with Princess Diana, who wore it often despite its reported heaviness and discomfort (perhaps a reminder of the literal and figurative burdens of royal duty). Featuring stones originally owned by Queen Mary’s family, the tiara’s diamond arches and 19 pearl drops make it one of the most recognizable pieces in the royal collection.
Paired with a simply gorgeous gold couture gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley, Catherine’s ensemble projected a careful balance of respect for tradition and contemporary princess confidence. By wearing the tiara—which she did for the first time in 2015 and most recently this past July—Catherine visually links three generations of royal women (Queen Mary, Diana, and herself), highlighting both the monarchy’s endurance and its evolving public role.
The banquet itself was nothing short of grand. Some 160 guests, including prominent business figures such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and OpenAI’s Sam Altman, were entertained at a 155-foot-long table, meticulously set with more than 1,400 pieces of cutlery and illuminated by the glow of 139 candles.
As King Charles and Trump raised their glasses to the “special relationship” between Britain and the United States, the Princess of Wales and her tiara stood out as a symbol of continuity, tradition, and respect.
Top: The Princess of Wales arriving at Wednesday’s state banquet at Windsor Castle (photo: Press Association via AP Images)
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