Overview
- King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a white‑tie State Banquet at Windsor Castle on December 3 for President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender, capping the first German presidential state visit in 27 years.
- The Princess of Wales wore a Berlin‑blue Jenny Packham gown with the Royal Victorian Order sash, the Royal Family Order of King Charles III and diamond earrings once belonging to Queen Elizabeth II.
- Catherine publicly wore Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet tiara for the first time, a Garrard creation commissioned in 1853 that now features rubies and some 2,600 diamonds after opals were replaced by Queen Alexandra.
- Prince William and Princess Catherine greeted the German couple at Heathrow, joined the carriage procession and formal welcome at Windsor, and Catherine’s double curtsy to the King and Queen was captured during the ceremony.
- Kensington Palace released an official portrait by Alex Bramall, and a Royal Family Instagram Reel from the banquet drew about 2.2 million views as the visit ended with a farewell at Windsor on December 4.