It is a rare occasion to see any member of the royal family in a crown but it was tiaras all round on Tuesday night.
Both the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall could be seen wearing the ceremonial piece as they made their way to the Queen’s Diplomatic Reception this evening.
Kate, 35, and Camilla, 70, were seen wearing their glittering head pieces as they made the short trip from Kensington Palace to Buckingham Palace for the annual celebratory dinner.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting their third child in April 2018, were all smiles as they rode in the back of a Bentley to the prestigious event.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are expecting their third child, were decked out in all their finery for the Queen’s Diplomatic Reception on Tuesday
Kate wore the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara which she is accustom to wear on ceremonial occasions such as tonight’s reception
The pregnant mother-of-two appeared to be wearing a white silk gown which featured inticate embellishment around the neckline off-set by an elegant diamond necklace.
As she is custom to do when she wears a tiara, Kate swept her brunette locks up into a low chignon revealing a pair of pearl drop earrings.
The tiara we see Kate in this evening is the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara a piece beloved by William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales and one that the Duchess seems to favour.
William, 35, looked his dapper best in white tie, saved only for the most special of occasions as he chatted with his wife in the passenger seat.
Camilla stunned in a white lace gown which was paired a four-string pearl necklace fixed with a diamond clasp.
The Duchess of Cornwall was joined by Prince Charles, who too was dressed in all of his finery including several ceremonial medals for the reception.
Camilla stunned in a white lace gown which was paired a four-string pearl necklace fixed with a diamond clasp
The Duchess of Cornwall was joined by Prince Charles, who too was dressed in all of his finery including several ceremonial medals for the reception
Camilla is also thought to be wearing The Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II, an honour bestowed on female members of the British Royal Family by the monarch and worn on formal occasions.
It depicts the Queen as a young woman in evening dress wearing the ribbon and star of the Order of the Garter.
The miniature, painted on ivory, is bordered by diamonds and surmounted by a Tudor Crown in diamonds and red enamel. Its reverse, in silver-gilt, is patterned with rays and depicts the royal cypher and St. Edward’s Crown in gold and enamel.
According to tradition, the Order is worn pinned to the dress of the recipient on the left shoulder with a watered silk ribbon in chartreuse yellow, formed into a bow.
The pregnant mother-of-two appeared to be wearing a white silk gown which featured inticate embellishment around the neckline off-set by an elegant diamond necklace
The women currently entitled to wear the order aside from the Queen are: Camilla, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Princess Anne, the Queen’s cousin, Princess Alexandra, and the Duchess of Gloucester, married to her first cousin.
The white tie Diplomatic Reception is the main social event of the year in London for the diplomatic community and reflects the Queen’s importance in terms of the UK’s international relations.
It is also the largest reception held at Buckingham Palace, requiring hours of intricate planning by the Master of the Household and the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as the commandeering of almost every member of waiting staff.
More than 1,000 people from around 130 countries, including members of the British government, past Prime Ministers and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York attend the gathering.
Most notable, however, are the many hundreds of ambassadors and embassy staff officially accredited to the Court of St James, often in brilliantly coloured and eye-catching national dress.
St James’s Palace is still the official residence of the sovereign and the most senior royal palace in the United Kingdom and all ambassadors and high commissioners to the United Kingdom are still accredited to its Court.
The Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, who acts as the link between the British monarch and foreign diplomatic missions, is permanently based there.
In 2015 175 foreign missions were accredited to the Court of St James’s – 47 High Commissions from Commonwealth countries and 128 embassies from non-Commonwealth countries.