Princess Kate steals the show at State Banquet alongside Prince William and King Charles – best photos
The German state visit to the UK concluded with a spectacular State Banquet, led by senior royals including the Prince and Princess of Wales.
It was one of the busiest days on the royal calendar as King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender.
Earlier in the day, Princess Kate dazzled in a Burberry dress, a royal blue coat by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, and jewellery once worn by Princess Diana. By evening, she reappeared in full gala style for the banquet.
Among the 152 guests were well-known British and German personalities such as supermodel Claudia Schiffer and Sir Matthew Vaughn, Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse, composer Hans Zimmer, illustrator Axel Scheffler, and former footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger. Inside St George’s Hall, a towering 25-metre Nordmann Fir adorned with 15,000 lights took centre stage beneath the vaulted ceiling lined with centuries of Garter knights’ coats of arms.
Scroll down for the standout moments…
The Royal Procession and Official Photos
King Charles, in white tie, led the procession with President Steinmeier, followed by Queen Camilla and the First Lady. Camilla wore a green lace gown by Fiona Clare, complemented by the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, diamond earrings, an emerald necklace, and the Order of Germany sash.
The Princess of Wales was the star of the evening, wearing a shimmering Jenny Packham gown and Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara—her first time wearing the historic piece. She paired it with earrings from the late Queen, as well as the Royal Family Order and GCVO Sash and Star.
The dinner, hosted in St George’s Hall, honoured President Steinmeier and the First Lady, who had earlier attended events around London and Windsor with the royal family.
Other Senior Royals in Attendance
Also seated at the 46-metre mahogany table were Princess Anne and Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Norfolk, the Duke of Wellington, and various political dignitaries from both nations. Princess Anne looked elegant in white, while the Duchess of Gloucester wore a striking red ensemble.
Royal staff had spent five days preparing the table with the Grand Service—a silver-gilt collection dating back to 1811—along with seasonal flowers gathered from Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and The Savill Garden.
A Dinner Fit for Royalty
Guests enjoyed dishes such as hot smoked trout and langoustine tartlets, Windsor partridge wrapped in puff pastry, and baked Alaska with blackberry and raspberry ice cream. Wines included a 1995 Château La Fleur-Pétrus, chosen to mark the year the German President and First Lady married. A cherry brandy and chocolate cocktail, inspired by Black Forest Gateau, rounded out the evening.
King Charles’ Speech
In his address, King Charles said: “It seems only yesterday that we paid our State Visit to Germany in 2023, the first one since my Accession… That makes the pleasure all the greater that we can welcome you here at Windsor as our guests, a mark of a very special friendship that binds our two nations.”
He highlighted the new Kensington Treaty, signed at the V&A Museum, referencing the historic bond represented by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert: “My great, great, great grandfather brought so much to this country… not least as the moving force behind the 1851 Great Exhibition.”
President Steinmeier, reflecting on his youth, said he grew up listening to British Forces radio and being fascinated by British culture. He added: “Never could I have imagined that later… I would be a guest of the British King at Windsor Castle.”
