The Princess of Wales delivered another masterclass in diplomatic dressing in a green coat dress to welcome the Sultan of Oman to England at the start of his three-day state visit.
Kate, 44, joined the King, Queen, and the Prince of Wales to greet the Omani ruler amid a spectacular display of military pomp and pageantry at Windsor Castle today.
For the occasion, Prince William's wife repurposed a gorgeous emerald Alexander McQueen coat and a matching Juliette Botterill fascinator in an apparent nod to Oman's flag.
Although Kate is practised in the art of sartorial diplomacy, her outfit also included a sentimental piece of jewellery as the future Queen paid tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
Glistening on the lapel of her coat was the 160-year-old diamond and emerald brooch that once belonged to the 'People's Princess' and was gifted to Kate by King Charles in 2022.
Her accessories also included a black quilted Chanel bag, Gianvito Rossi pumps and a pair of gold earrings.
The brooch was first given as a wedding gift to Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863 by the Ladies of Bristol when she married Bertie, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), and the couple became King and Queen.
Following Alexandra's death, the jewel was reportedly handed down to her daughter-in-law, Queen Mary and then onto the Queen Mother, who subsequently passed it on to Diana on her marriage to Charles in 1981.
The Princess of Wales delivered another masterclass in diplomatic dressing in a green coat dress to welcome the Sultan of Oman to England at the start of his three-day state visit
For the occasion, Prince William's wife repurposed a gorgeous emerald Alexander McQueen coat and a matching Juliette Botterill fascinator in a subtle nod to Oman's flag
The heirloom piece comprises a cabochon teardrop emerald pendant dangling from an oval of diamonds with the three-feathered insignia of the Prince of Wales inside.
Below the diamond-studded coronet is a banner bearing the words Ich Dien (I serve).
It was fashioned into a necklace by the late Princess of Wales, who wore it to a glittering gala evening in 1986 with a pair of matching emerald earrings.
Diana was on a state visit to Austria with Charles when she wore the dazzling jewel to the Burgtheater in Vienna.
It will have been handed back to the Queen upon Diana's death in 1997 as the brooch is considered the property of the monarch.
King Charles gifted it to Kate in 2022 as a way of honouring the women who have held the Princess of Wales title before her - including Diana.
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined the King and Queen in welcoming the Omani ruler for a three-day official visit at the request of the British government focusing on trade, diplomacy, military and cultural ties.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik was earlier greeted by Prince William on behalf of the monarch at one of his private UK residences, before travelling to Windsor together.
Meanwhile, the King and Queen, accompanied by Kate, arrived separately from Windsor Castle to formally welcome the Sultan at the Royal Dais on Datchet Road.
Glistening on the lapel of her coat was the 150-year-old diamond and emerald brooch that once belonged to the 'People's Princess' and was gifted to Kate by King Charles in 2022.
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In a change to the traditional arrangements, the Princess of Wales did not accompany William to greet the Sultan, but instead waited alongside the King and Queen.
The planned adjustment was made because the Sultan is not being accompanied by his wife during his stay.
The King was dressed in top hat and tails, while Camilla wore a red wool crepe dress and coat by Fiona Clare, hat by Philip Treacy and a ruby and diamond flower brooch – with the colour seemingly a nod to the Omani flag, as was Kate's dark green coat dress.
The King took off his top hat to greet the Sultan, giving him a wide smile as he shook his hand following the Omani ruler's arrival.
Kate smiled and gave a deep curtsey as she also shook Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said's hand in the royal line-up.
A royal salute was fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from the East Lawn of nearby Home Park to mark the occasion.
The Sultan later joined the King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, in a carriage procession through Windsor town to Windsor Castle.
Kate finished the look with a black lace blouse, Juliette Botterill fascinator and emerald earrings
The King and the Sultan travelled in the Irish State Coach, with the Queen and H.H. Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, behind in the Scottish State Coach.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were together in the Australian State Coach along with H.H. Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and H.H. Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib Al Said, Secretary General of the Diwan of the Royal Court.
Following a private lunch in the State Dining Room, joined by Members of the Royal Family, Their Majesties will invite the Sultan to view a special exhibition of items relating to Oman from the Royal Collection, in the Green Drawing Room.
In the evening, His Majesty, accompanied by the Queen and Members of the Royal Family, will host a glittering State Banquet at Windsor Castle for the Sultan - the highlight of which will undoubtedly be the ladies' gowns and tiaras.
The King and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will deliver speeches at the beginning of the banquet.
The present Sultan acceded to the throne in 2020 following the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, becoming the fifteenth ruler of the Al Bu Said dynasty which has ruled Oman since the mid-eighteenth century.
He has also been dubbed 'one of the most discreet billionaires alive'.
The sultan is married with four children, although his wife is not accompanying him on this State Visit.
The ruling Omani family has enjoyed good relations with the British royal family and the Sultan has met the King and Queen on several occasions previously. Oman is considered one of Britain's oldest friends in Arabia.
One of the Sultan's main challenges is seen to be the need to oversee Oman's transition from over-reliance on oil revenues to a diversified economy.