Princess Kate turned heads at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, wearing a butter-yellow Elie Saab gown and Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara for a state banquet hosted by King Charles in honor of the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik. The outfit drew immediate attention online, but a small wardrobe moment during the King’s speech gave royal watchers something else to talk about.
The Gown, the Cape, and the Hidden Detail
Kate, 44, chose a floor-length yellow dress from Elie Saab’s spring 2025 ready-to-wear collection. The gown featured a braided neckline, a keyhole cutout, a cinched waist, and a dramatic built-in cape that flowed from her shoulders. A long train and sheer tulle veil completed the back of the look.
The dress was not worn exactly as it appeared on the runway. The Daily Mail reported that Kate had the design altered to make it more modest for a royal banquet. The original catwalk version had a sheer skirt over a shorter dress and a plunging neckline. Kate’s version had an opaque skirt and a raised neckline.
Marie Claire noted another surprising detail: the pastel gown carries a subtle animal print design when viewed up close, an unusual choice for a state banquet.
The Tiara That Belonged to Diana
Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara sat atop Kate’s hair. The diamond-and-pearl piece was commissioned by Queen Mary in 1913 and made by Garrard. It later became one of Princess Diana’s signature jewels.
Kate first wore the tiara in 2015 and has returned to it for several state occasions since. WWD reported that this was her most frequently worn tiara, having appeared on her head more than a dozen times over the past decade.
Jewelry expert Nilesh Rakholia told WWD:
“Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara is probably the piece most people will recognise, particularly because of its connection to Princess Diana. Seeing Catherine wearing the same piece as Princess of Wales feels particularly meaningful.”
The Jewels From Queen Elizabeth and King Charles
Kate’s jewelry pulled from multiple royal collections. She wore diamond earrings and a bracelet that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II, along with the Royal Victorian Order sash and star.
King Charles’s Royal Family Order, a badge featuring the monarch’s portrait, was pinned to her dress.
Royal fashion watchers also spotted a Bentley & Skinner brooch securing her sash. Social media account @Remisagoodboy posted on X that the brooch is “reported, but not confirmed to have been a 40th Birthday present from King Charles III.”
The Dress That Got Stuck Under a Chair
During King Charles’s speech, viewers watching the live stream noticed that part of Kate’s cape had become trapped under the leg of her chair. People reported that Kate did not appear to notice the trapped fabric during the speeches and later stood up without any issue.
Royal fans on X reacted to the moment. One user posted, “Somebody, please save Princess Catherine from her chair-on-dress predicament.” Another wrote, “If she gets up. Chaos will follow.”
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A Night of Royal Diplomacy
The banquet was held in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle for 160 guests. The state visit marked the first by a Sultan of Oman to the United Kingdom in more than four decades.
King Charles spoke partly in Arabic as he welcomed the Sultan. His speech praised Oman’s “noble efforts in trying to keep open one of the world’s most important shipping routes,” referring to the Strait of Hormuz. The King also mentioned that Prince William had worked on an expedition project with the Sultan’s son.
Queen Camilla wore a purple chiffon dress by Fiona Clare. Prince William wore white tie with the Windsor tail coat and his Order of the Garter sash. Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also present.
The dinner menu included Scottish langoustine and Cornish crab, pot roasted Windsor pheasant, and individual baked Alaskas with Balmoral plum and Windsor Estate honey ice cream.
For more royal fashion moments and state event coverage, keep reading VvipTimes.
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