Kate Middleton’s stylist clearly went to great lengths to ensure the Princess of Wales commanded attention at last night’s state banquet — but one detail of her lavish look has reportedly annoyed some observers.
For anyone who missed it, Kate accompanied her husband, Prince William, to Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening (3 December), where King Charles III and Queen Camilla welcomed the German president and his wife for an official state event.
Earlier that day, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender arrived at Heathrow Airport, where they were greeted by William and Kate. The royal party later enjoyed a ceremonial carriage procession through the streets of Windsor alongside Charles and Camilla, complete with a 41-gun salute.
For the daytime engagements, the 43-year-old princess opted for an elegant navy Burberry dress, paired with a coordinating coat designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Kate continued the blue theme for the evening’s formal banquet, held to mark the historic visit — the first by a German head of state in more than 27 years.
Official photos from the event show the princess entering St George’s Hall, which had been adorned for the festive season with an impressive 16-foot Christmas tree sourced from Windsor Great Park.
She wore a cornflower-blue Jenny Packham gown, complemented by an eye-catching piece of royal jewelry: Queen Victoria’s famed Oriental Circlet tiara.
However, the way Kate wore the tiara sparked debate online, with some viewers suggesting it appeared slightly off-center.
“Kate’s tiara is crooked,” one Reddit user complained.
Another chimed in, saying: “Her hairstyle isn’t working for the tiara, and the crooked placement is bothering me. It’s such a gorgeous piece.”
A third commenter observed: “From the back, it looks centered, but from the front or at an angle, it definitely appears uneven. I wonder what caused that.”
“I love the tiara,” another added, “but it doesn’t seem quite straight. Strange.”
The historic headpiece was designed more than a century ago by Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s German-born husband. Crafted by Garrard in London, it features lotus flowers framed by eleven Mughal arches and is set with more than 2,000 diamonds.
After Prince Albert’s de:ath, Queen Victoria reportedly refused to wear the tiara herself, declaring it a Crown heirloom to be worn by future queens in their own right.
Before Kate, the tiara was regularly worn by Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, the Queen Mother, during the early years of King George VI’s reign. Following his death in 1952, she continued to wear it during her widowhood.
Queen Elizabeth II herself wore the tiara only once — during a visit to Malta in 2005.
