It’s Jenny Packham and the Lover’s Knot Tiara for the 2023 Diplomatic Reception – What Kate Wore

The Princess of Wales introduced again a Jenny Packham robe for tonight’s glittering diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace.

A refresher on the occasion through a 2016 Daily Mail piece.

Additionally it is the most important reception held at Buckingham Palace, requiring hours of intricate planning by the Grasp of the Family and the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, in addition to the commandeering of virtually each member of ready employees.

Greater than 1,000 individuals from round 130 nations, together with members of the British authorities, previous Prime Ministers and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York attend the gathering.

I don’t know if the King has stored the visitor checklist the identical, however the occasion is a spotlight of the social season for a lot of. In a information launch, Buckingham Palace notes, “The Reception, which often takes place yearly, sees The Sovereign invite the Diplomatic Corps to an occasion within the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace. The Reception celebrates the presence in London of one of many largest Diplomatic Corps on this planet and can see Their Majesties, The King and Queen, meet representatives of nations accredited to the Courtroom of St. James.” 

The event offered the prospect for a photograph portrait of the King, Queen, Prince, and Princess. It was shot earlier than the reception by Chris Jackson within the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace.
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That is the second time the King has hosted the reception.

Beneath, a photograph from final 12 months’s reception.

The Prince and Princess of Wales.

A solo shot of the Princess.

Prince William greeting visitors. 
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Now, let’s check out what the Queen wore this night, starting along with her embroidered night robe by Fiona Clare, a go-to designer for her. (With apologies, we have now only a few pictures from tonight’s occasion.) You see her Order of the Garter sash and star, and a pair of earrings from her personal assortment.

She additionally wore the Women of Nice Britain and Eire tiara, described by the Order of Splendor as “…a diamond design of festoons and scrolls set on a bandeau base of spherical and lozenge-shaped diamonds.” That is simply the second time she has worn the piece—extra from The Court Jeweller’s coverage of tonight’s festivities. 

The diamond tiara, with its elegant fleur-de-lis and festoon designs, was given to Queen Mary as a marriage current in 1893. The present got here from a committee of younger ladies, the Women of Nice Britain and Eire. (Therefore the same old identify for the jewel.) Initially the tiara had a row of pear-shaped pearl toppers, however Mary later had these eliminated and repurposed.

Queen Mary gave the tiara to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, as a marriage current in 1947. She wore the tiara for the following seven a long time.

Right here you see the Queen carrying it for the primary time at an October banquet. 
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And the late Queen carrying it at a 2018 state banquet.  

Queen Camilla wore a bracelet belonging to the late Queen and a hanging piece known as a “stomacher” that belonged to the Queen Mom.

The Royal Watcher reports, “Stomachers are large items of jewellery to be worn on the entrance of the bodice, although by 1920 they had been largely out of style.” We return to The Court Jeweller for more on this piece.

Probably the most thrilling side of Camilla’s jewellery this time round, nevertheless, is the corsage decoration that she pinned to the entrance of her night gown. The diamond stomacher seems to me like a late nineteenth-century piece, with its fascinating diamond tassel design parts. In their briefing to royal reporters, Buckingham Palace famous that the diamond stomacher belonged to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mom.

This piece isn’t one which I can ever recall seeing the late Queen Mom put on, even in portraits from the times when she was Duchess of York. I don’t imagine it matches any of the items described within the official lists of her marriage ceremony presents from 1923. Might it presumably be part of the Greville Bequest? (It seems so acquainted, however I can’t place it!)

The eagle-eyed Isaguor thought tonight’s robe seemed acquainted, and royal reporter Patricia Treble agreed. 

I feel @isaguor is true — Queen Camilla’s outfit at tonight’s diplomatic reception (left) and Annabel Eliot, standing beside her sister, in an official coronation photograph (left)

That may take royal recycling to a brand new degree https://t.co/2PgCTJFfif pic.twitter.com/adRuXAiyPp

— Patricia Treble (@PatriciaTreble) December 6, 2023

 Now for our evaluation of what Kate wore this night.

If tonight’s outfit seems acquainted, that’s as a result of it’s, together with the equipment. The identical ensemble was worn this June for the reception celebrating the marriage of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan. Beneath, a take a look at the Jenny Packham “Georgia” robe, a method from the A/W 2019 runway assortment. The model options rose pink sequinned tuille with a row of crystal elaborations accenting the waist and neckline.

The Princess additionally owns the robe in a wealthy inexperienced colour. Most not too long ago, it was seen on the Royal Variety Performance in 2021; it was first worn throughout the 2019 Pakistan tour.

Right here, you see the Princess carrying the robe on each events.

Many instantly acknowledged tonight’s tiara, the Lover’s Knot.

Just a little extra background on the piece through the Court Jeweller:

…the piece is certainly essentially the most well-known lover’s knot tiara at this time, it was initially a replica of one other almost-identical sparkler that when belonged to the Cambridge household. The lover’s knot motif was very fashionable within the nineteenth century; the knots are the pretzel-like parts on the high of the tiara — the half from which the pendant pearls are suspended.

Beneath, a chronological take a look at the tiaras worn for all eight receptions the Princess has attended.

The Princess wore Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Greville diamond chandelier earrings.

The earrings had been a marriage current for the then-Princess Elizabeth in 1947 and mentioned to be a favourite of the late Queen. On this photograph, you see her carrying them in Canada throughout a July 2010 tour.

The Princess wore the sash, badge, and Maltese Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, anchored to her shoulder by her Bentley and Skinner deco-style diamond brooch, and the Royal Household Order of Queen Elizabeth II.

Here’s a higher view of the insignia, proven when worn at a 2022 state dinner.

Extra on the Royal Household Order from a earlier put up. “The Order is a present that was personally bestowed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to feminine members of the Royal Household. It options a picture of the Queen in formal apparel and carrying a tiara. The oval is surrounded by diamonds and topped by a pink enameled crown.” Trying carefully at tonight’s carrying, you will note that the yellow ribbon holding the Order has been folded below, almost certainly in anticipation of a brand new King Charles III royal household order.

Rebecca English of the Daily Mail reports {that a} portrait of King Charles has been chosen for the brand new Order, however the piece hasn’t but been created.  

We noticed the return of the salmon/peach Prada clutch, a chunk dating back to at least 2011. The satin hard-sided bag has rounded edges, a goldtone clasp, and the Prada brand.

Tonight’s footwear appear like the Gianvito Rossi ‘Rania’ style ($2695). The pointed-toe pumps are handmade of clear organza silk with suede trim, and embellished with 4500 crystals. (Just a few repliKates I discovered can be seen here.)

Here’s a take a look at the ensembles seen at earlier diplomatic receptions. From left to proper, you see the pink Jenny Packham’ Elodie’ robe worn last year with the Lotus Flower Tiara and the Queen’s Diamond Body earrings. In 2019, we noticed the Lover’s Knot tiara and Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, in addition to a diamond ring and earrings worn with a dramatic black velvet Alexander McQueen robe. For the 2018 reception, a delicate, sequinned Jenny Packham design was accessorized with the Lover’s Knot tiara and the Collingwood earrings. On the 2016 reception, a Jenny Packham robe was repeated and paired with the Lover’s Knot tiara, the Queen’s Wedding ceremony Reward bracelet, and Diamond Body earrings.

We wouldn’t have nice pictures of two different kinds worn by the Princess, together with the white gown from 2017 paired with the Lover’s Knot tiara, the Queen’s shimmering collet/rivière necklace, and the Collingwood earrings.

And the lacy blue Alexander McQueen robe believed to have been worn in 2013 and once more for the 2015 reception. These pictures are from an ITV documentary shot on the 2015 occasion. 

I’ll go away you with yet one more view of the Princess.

I’ll see you Friday for the Christmas Carol Live performance at Westminster Abbey.