Dazzling display of what the royals can offer
IT was the most glittering of endings to a glorious day of pomp and ceremony.
At Buckingham Palace last night, the doors to the ballroom swung open for a dazzling state banquet to welcome South African president Cyril Ramaphosa for the inaugural state visit of King Charles III’s reign.
And it meant some of the finest jewels in the Royal Family were on breathtaking display.
Her Majesty the Queen Consort wore a royal blue lace evening dress by Bruce Oldfield with the late Queen Elizabeth’s stunning sapphire and diamond tiara, accompanied by its matching necklace and bracelet.
Camilla also sported her Order of the Garter sash, with Queen Victoria’s garter star and Queen Elizabeth II’s family order.
The Princess of Wales dazzled in Queen Mary’s lover’s knot tiara, borrowed from the King, with Princess Diana’s diamond and pearl earrings and a heavily bejewelled Jenny Packham dress.
The tiara was also a favourite of the late Princess of Wales. Kate wore it for the first time in 2015 to a diplomatic reception, while Diana shone in it on a 1983 trip to New Zealand. The princess also sported the Royal Family Order and the Grand Cross of the Victorian Order Star and Sash and a bracelet belonging to the late Queen.
The Prince of Wales wore his Garter and Thistle Stars, along with three miniature medals from the Gold, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees.
The banquet was the piece de resistance of the day’s royal ceremonial events, which had started with President Ramaphosa warmly greeting the King and Queen Consort on Horse Guards Parade.
‘Some of the finest jewels were on display’
As the first state visit since Donald Trump’s in 2019, there was an air of excitement as the palace prepared to host such a sumptuous occasion.
President Ramaphosa, whose visit was planned before Queen Elizabeth II’s death, was greeted by more than 1,000 soldiers, 230 horses, seven military bands and two state coaches.
The president was escorted by the Prince and Princess of Wales – playing their most prominent role so far in a state event – who earlier in the day met him at his London hotel, as Buckingham Palace is still undergoing a massive refurbishment programme and cannot host visitors overnight.
Kate was dressed in a plum- coloured Emilia Wickstead dress, Sean Barrett hat and the Prince of Wales feathers pendant, as worn by Princess Diana on a 1986 trip to Vienna. Then later on, from the outfits – white tie for male VIPs and tiaras and evening gowns for the ladies – to the £155 bottles of wine poured for the King’s guests, it was a showcase for the best the monarchy has to offer.
While the Queen often favoured Balmoral venison or lamb from one of the other royal estates, the King plumped for grilled brill and Windsor pheasant. The final ‘build’ of the table started around five days ago, and the layout was inspected by the King and Queen Consort before dinner.
The King’s speech raised Britain’s colonial past, noting: ‘While there are elements of that history which provoke profound sorrow, it is essential that we seek to understand them. As I said to Commonwealth leaders earlier this year, we must acknowledge the wrongs which have shaped our past if we are to unlock the power of our common future.’