Gloucester Duchess Dazzles in Honeysuckle Tiara at U.S. Official Dinner
Royal State Banquet at Windsor Castle: A Gala of History and Elegance
Windsor Castle, the historic residence of the British monarchy, played host to a grand event this July, as the Royal Family gathered for a State Banquet in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife. This was the second State Banquet held at Windsor Castle in the last few months, following the dinner for U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in 2019.
The evening was a feast for both food and the eye, with a procession of fancy gowns and historic diadems. The Duchess of Gloucester, a member of the Order of the Garter as of 2024, was honoured with the Royal Family Order ahead of the event. She wore the Honeysuckle Tiara, commissioned by Queen Mary, circa 1910, and the Royal Family Order of King Charles III pinned to her cornflower blue gown.
The central stone of the Honeysuckle Tiara can be swapped out and has held a large sapphire or diamond, including the Cullinan V diamond at some point. Princess Anne wore the Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara, while Queen Camilla donned the Belgian Sapphire Tiara. The Princess of Wales adorned herself with the Lover's Knot Tiara.
Before lunch, the group viewed a special exhibition of rare artifacts, watercolors, and the first transatlantic cable between Queen Victoria and President Buchanan in the Green Drawing Room. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, along with the Trumps, the King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, enjoyed an intimate lunch earlier in the day.
It is worth noting that prior to President Macron's visit, the last time a State Banquet was hosted at Windsor Castle was when Queen Elizabeth hosted Irish President Michael D. Higgins in 2014. President Trump did visit Windsor Castle for tea with Queen Elizabeth in 2018, but his first State Banquet in 2019 was at Buckingham Palace.
Rachel King, a news writer at Town & Country, was present at the event. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others.
As the evening drew to a close, the grandeur of Windsor Castle and the elegance of the Royal Family left an indelible impression on all who attended. The State Banquet was a testament to the rich history and enduring tradition of the British monarchy.
