At Windsor Castle on Wednesday night, the Princess of Wales wore a full-length, hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown by Phillipa Lepley for the state banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla in honor of U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. Prince William accompanied her as the couple greeted guests, with Kate's jewelry including the Lover’s Knot tiara, a favorite of Princess Diana, and the late Queen’s earrings. The coat features hand-embroidered roses with couched gold cording, accented with French knots and satin-stitched blooms.
Earlier in the day, Kate and William joined the Trumps on a walkabout through the Windsor Castle gardens, a greeting that underscored the ceremonial pomp of the visit. For the walkabout, the princess wore a pleated maroon Emilia Wickstead coat dress paired with a coordinating Jane Taylor hat and a structured Chanel handbag in the same shade. It marked another high-profile appearance for the princess, who has been stepping back into public life as she recovers from cancer last year and is in remission, including two notable appearances at Wimbledon in July. Earlier this month, she also drew attention for her lighter-blond hairstyle at the Natural History Museum’s renovated gardens in London.
The evening’s fashion spotlight complemented the pomp of a formal state dinner that sits at the center of what is traditionally one of the United Kingdom’s most watched royal engagements. As the Trumps—President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump—attended with a full royal welcome, Kate’s ensemble was widely noted for its luminescent gold and the delicate craftsmanship of Chantilly lace, a nod to the enduring appeal of royal ceremonial wear. The choice of the Lover’s Knot tiara and the Queen’s earrings anchored the look in a lineage of royal jewelry that crosses generations, pairing modern style with a deep store of royal symbolism.
Images from the evening captured the shimmer of the lace and the subtle motion of the coat as Kate moved through the palace halls, with photographers lingering on the intricate floral embroidery and the gleam of the tiara set against the gold. The royal couple’s coordinated presence, alongside the Trumps, underscored the ceremonial warmth of the visit even as the geopolitical backdrop to the U.S.-U.K. relationship remains a central frame for such gatherings.
The evening’s style moment added to a year of high-profile royal appearances as Kate builds her schedule post-cancer treatment. Her public calendar has included Wimbledon appearances in July and a recent stroll through royal spaces that showcases her evolving role within the monarchy while balancing personal milestones with public duty.
