Kate Middleton walked into St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle on the evening of Tuesday, October 20, 2026, wearing a tiara that once belonged to Princess Diana. The occasion was a state banquet for Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The Princess of Wales, 44, paired the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara with a butter-yellow Elie Saab gown. It was her second tiara moment of 2026 and the 15th time she has worn this specific piece.
The Tiara and Why It Matters
The Lover’s Knot Tiara was made by Garrard & Co. for Queen Mary in 1913. It features 19 diamond arches and 28 drop-shaped pearls set in silver and gold. The design was modelled on a tiara owned by Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Queen Mary left the tiara to Queen Elizabeth II after her death in 1953. In 1981, the Queen loaned it to Princess Diana for her marriage to then-Prince Charles. Diana wore it often, including on a trip to Hong Kong in 1989. Reports say the piece was so heavy that Diana complained of headaches after wearing it. The tiara returned to the Queen after Diana’s divorce in 1996.
Kate first wore the Lover’s Knot in 2015. Since then, it has become her most-worn tiara, beating every other piece in the royal collection. Jewellery experts estimate its value at between £1 million and £3 million. Some outlets reported a much higher insurance figure of $135 million for the event.
“It has truly become her signature piece of royal jewellery, and it speaks to her constancy as a part of the modern monarchy.” — Amanda Matta, royal commentator
The Yellow Gown and the Cape Problem
Kate’s dress was a new Elie Saab creation from the brand’s spring/summer 2025 collection. It featured a braided neckline, a keyhole cutout, pleated fabric, a fitted waist and a floor-length skirt. A sheer cape draped from her shoulders. Page Six listed the gown at $6,500.
The cape caused a small problem at dinner. Photos showed the fabric caught under the leg of her chair as she sat down. Social media picked up on it quickly.
“Somebody, please save Princess Catherine from her chair-on-dress predicament.” — Fan post on X, via Marie Claire
“If she gets up. Chaos will follow.” — Another X user, via Marie Claire
The moment passed without any real trouble.
The Other Jewels in the Look
Kate completed the outfit with pieces tied to Queen Elizabeth II. She wore the Greville Chandelier Earrings and Queen Mary’s diamond choker bracelet. She also wore King Charles’s Royal Family Order badge and the sash and star of the Royal Victorian Order.
Earlier that same day, Kate welcomed the Sultan to Windsor Castle in a long green Alexander McQueen coat. Green is one of Oman’s national colours. She pinned Princess Diana’s Queen Alexandra Three Feathers Brooch to the coat. Diana received the brooch when she married Charles in 1981.
Queen Camilla and the Rest of the Royal Family
Queen Camilla wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, one of the late Queen’s favourites. She first wore it in 2023. Princess Anne chose the Meander Tiara. The Duchess of Gloucester wore the Honeysuckle Tiara.
Prince William wore a traditional black Windsor tailcoat with a white bow tie. The banquet was held in St George’s Hall because Buckingham Palace is undergoing renovations.
The Oman State Visit Background
This was the first state visit by a Sultan of Oman to the UK in more than four decades. The visit was requested by the British government. It runs for three days. The first day included a ceremonial procession through Windsor to the castle.
Buckingham Palace said the dinner seated 160 guests at a table 50 metres long. The menu included croute of Scottish langoustine, pot-roasted Windsor pheasant and baked Alaska. Traditional Arabic coffee with cardamom and rose water was served alongside Earl Grey and mint tea.
“Oman is one of Britain’s oldest allies and, after all these years, I pray, one of your closest friends.” — King Charles III, in his banquet speech
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What Social Media Said About the Tiara
Royal watchers on X focused mostly on the tiara. One post called it “my absolute favorite on the Princess.” Another simply wrote, “My favorite tiara.” A third said, “Just when you think she’s reached her fashion peak, she climbs even higher.”
Kate has worn five different tiaras since marrying William in 2011. She did not wear any tiara in 2024 while undergoing cancer treatment. She announced in January 2025 that her cancer was in remission. She has since returned to public duties, including state events and diplomatic receptions.
For more royal style moments and state event coverage you can trust, keep reading VvipTimes.
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