Princess Kate looks stunning as she steps out wearing a tiara for the first time as Princess of Wales

Kate Middleton has been seen wearing her first tiara as the Princess of Wales.

It’s been nearly three years since the royal was seen donning a tiara but it was well worth the wait. Sporting a stunning crown of diamonds for Tuesday’s state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Middleton attended the event which welcomed the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to the UK - the first state visit of King Charles III’s reign.

Matching the evening with elegance, Princess Kate dazzled in an embellished white gown by Jenny Packham, paired with the real show-stopper: Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara.

Boasting pearls that dangle from intricately detailed diamond knots, the tiara was also a firm favourite of Middleton’s mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

According to theCourt Jeweller, the exquisite sparkler is more than 100 years old. The tiara was originally commissioned by Queen Mary around 1913 or 1914 from the jeweller Garrard and was designed as a replica of a tiara owned by Princess Augusta of Hesse, the Duchess of Cambridge - Mary’s grandmother.

Kate completed the look with a set of earrings that had previously belonged to Princess Diana and a bracelet from Queen Elizabeth’s jewellery box. The Royal Family order and the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order star and sash were the finishing touches to her tasteful ensemble.

Matching the Princess’s regal flair, Prince William adorned his suit with the Garter Star, the Thistle Star and three miniature medals from Queen Elizabeth’s Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee.

This state visit hosted by the British royal family marks the first since then-US President Donald Trump visited the United Kingdom in 2019 and the first since the Covid-19 pandemic.

This article was first published by the NZ Herald and is republished here with permission.