Queen Camilla Brings Out the Tiara After Skipping It at Last Banquet with French President Macron

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4 hours ago

Queen Camilla is wearing a tiara at Windsor Castle for a glamorous evening.
King Charles and Queen Camilla looked regal as they hosted French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, in Windsor for a state banquet on the first evening of their state visit to the U.K.
The Queen, 77, wore an ivory silk and crepe embroidered evening gown by Fiona Clare with sapphire and diamond tiara, necklace, earrings and bracelet that are all part of Queen Elizabeth II's sapphire suite. She also sported her Legion d'Honeur French sash, Garter Star and King Charles' family order.
Queen Camilla skipped a tiara when she and King Charles, 76, attended a similar state banquet during their visit to France in September 2023. For the evening at the Palace of Versailles in Paris, the Queen wore a bespoke navy dress by Dior with a matching full-length cape. Despite missing a royal headpiece, she brought some bling by wearing the necklace and bracelet from the King George VI Sapphire Suite.
While Queen Elizabeth wore tiaras during visits to France during her reign, the dress code for black tie banquets in the country is a bit more casual than others in recent decades. However, state visits are one of the rare occasions when the British royal family tends to get out their royal headpieces from the vault.
The French state banquet came with a unique setting: Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace in London is the traditional setting for these types of events, but it is currently undergoing refurbishments. The Macrons are also staying at Windsor Castle during their trip.
King Charles and President Macron led the royal procession at the event, followed by Queen Camilla and Brigitte walking together. The Prince of Wales and Professor Edith Heard were next in the procession, while the Princess of Wales was next in the lineup alongside Christophe Leribault.
Other royal family members in attendance at the state banquet included Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
King Charles is expected to give a speech during the banquet, where he is expected to talk about how 'our two countries face a multitude of complex threats, emanating from multiple directions.'
'As friends and as allies, we face them together,' his speech includes. 'These challenges know no borders: no fortress can protect us against them this time. Our two nations share not only values, but also the tireless determination to act on them in the world.'
Paying tribute to President Macron's and King Charles' birth years, guests were served Taylor's 1977 Vintage Port and a 1948 Grande Champagne Cognac by Frapin & Co. A cocktail blending British gin and French pastis was also created for the occasion.
Flowers from the gardens at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle were hand-picked and used in the centerpieces. Any flowers that can't be reused will be donated to the charity Floral Angels, of which Queen Camilla is a patron, to be delivered to hospices, elderly care homes, shelters and other locations in the community.
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Earlier on Tuesday, Princess Kate and Prince William welcomed the French President and his wife at RAF Northolt in Greater London upon their arrival in the U.K. before they traveled to Windsor for a welcome from King Charles and Queen Camilla. The group then headed to Windsor Castle in a horse-drawn carriage procession, where they had lunch and a special exhibition of items from the Royal Collection.
The Macrons will be in the U.K. for their state visit until Thursday.
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