The Royal Family extended a warm welcome to French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron yesterday. Representing The King, the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the French President and First Lady ahead of the official welcome ceremony at Windsor.
In the evening, the occasion was marked in grand royal fashion with a glittering State Banquet held in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, hosted by The King and Queen alongside members of the Royal Family. And as tradition dictates, a State Banquet means an unforgettable display of regal jewels.
Returning to the spotlight for her first state banquet in nearly two years, the Princess of Wales stunned in a deep red silk crêpon evening gown by Givenchy. She completed the look with the iconic Lover’s Knot Tiara – a treasured piece once beloved by Princess Diana and now a firm favourite of Kate’s, frequently worn at high-profile royal occasions.
Queen Camilla, equally radiant, wore an ivory silk and crepe embroidered gown by Fiona Clare, paired with the breathtaking sapphire and diamond pieces from Queen Elizabeth II’s collection, including the Belgian Sapphire Tiara – the tiara she wore at King Charles’ first State Banquet as King, and her first as Queen Consort.
Fine jewellery and diamond specialists at UK retailer Steven Stone have analysed the spectacular pieces worn by both royal women – uncovering the fascinating stories behind each jewel and estimating their remarkable value.
Lover’s Knot Tiara
Estimated Value: £1 million
Originally designed for Queen Mary in 1913, this stunning diamond and pearl tiara was passed down to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
The late monarch is said to have offered it to Princess Diana for her royal wedding day in 1981. However, Diana graciously declined, choosing instead to wear her father’s Spencer Family Tiara. Despite this, the Lover’s Knot Tiara eventually became one of Diana’s favourite pieces in her collection.
Kate Middleton has worn the tiara on multiple occasions since her marriage in 2011, including at the 2015 Diplomatic Reception, the 2017 Spanish State Banquet, and the 2019 Diplomatic Reception. It was also the first tiara she wore as the Princess of Wales.
Belgian Sapphire Tiara
Estimated value: £5,000,000
The Belgian Sapphire tiara was refashioned from a 19th century necklace once owned by Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born Princess Louise of Belgium).
The headpiece, which is sometimes called the “Victorian Sapphire Tiara,” was worn by Queen Elizabeth II for her Canadian portrait in 2020.
Queen Camilla has worn the tiara on several significant occasions, including state banquets and diplomatic receptions, often pairing it with matching sapphire jewels from the King George VI Suite. She most notably wore it at King Charles’ first State Banquet as King.
Sapphire & Diamond Necklace
Estimated value: £4,000,000
Queen Camilla’s necklace is part of the George VI Sapphires, which are undoubtedly among Queen Elizabeth II’s most meaningful jewels. The demi-parure, which consists of a Victorian-era necklace and earrings, was a wedding gift from her father in 1947. A few years later, the Queen refashioned the necklace, shortening it and removing the largest sapphire stone to turn into a pendant. Sometime during the ’60s, she also commissioned a matching bracelet to accompany the set.
The incredible sapphire and diamond cluster line necklace originally featured 18 sapphires, sat on a gradient, ranging from 8 to 30cts, before it was redesigned in 1952. These huge sapphires are surrounded by a halo of diamonds, and linked together by additional single stone diamonds, which are between 0.8ct and 1.5ct.
When Queen Elizabeth altered the necklace, she removed four of the sapphire clusters from the back and remodelled and reset one of larger stones from the front, to create a beautiful pendant for the necklace.
Sapphire Earrings
Estimated Value: £300,000
Surprisingly, Queen Camilla chose not to wear the earrings from the renowned King George VI Suite on this occasion. Instead, she opted for another stunning pair of sapphire beauties that perfectly complimented her ensemble.
The exquisite earrings feature a captivating round-cut sapphire, each encircled by a halo of brilliant diamonds. They’re elegantly suspended from a matching diamond-encircled sapphire above, connected by a delicate, almost scale-like design that adds a unique texture and artistry to the overall look.
“Kate Middleton paid a heartfelt tribute to both Queen Elizabeth II and her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, by choosing to wear Queen Mary’s iconic Lover’s Knot tiara – a stunning historic piece dating back to 1913. This tiara was the very first Kate wore as Princess of Wales, making the moment deeply meaningful. Renowned for its exquisite craftsmanship, the tiara is famously heavy enough to have caused discomfort to Princess Diana, underscoring the exceptional quality of the diamonds and pearls it holds. Valued at around £1,000,000 – or potentially more, considering the legacies of the remarkable women who have worn it – this piece is a true royal treasure.
Queen Camilla similarly embraced tradition and history by donning Queen Elizabeth II’s Belgian Sapphire tiara, the very first tiara she wore as Queen Consort. This majestic tiara, valued at an estimated £5,000,000, was elegantly refashioned from a 19th-century necklace originally owned by Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Complimenting the Queen’s tiara was a breathtaking sapphire and diamond cluster line necklace. Gifted to Queen Elizabeth II by her father on her wedding day in 1947, it remains one of the late monarch’s most cherished jewels, with an estimated value of around £4 million. Although the earrings Queen Camilla wore don’t appear to be part of the same suite – the King George VI Victorian Suite – they are no less magnificent, likely valued at approximately £300,000.
It’s truly heartwarming to see both royal ladies honour their roles by wearing the very first tiaras they chose in their current positions – a beautiful symbol of continuity, respect, and royal heritage.”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
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