It was grand evening indeed for the Royal Family this week, as the King and Queen hosted an extravagant State Dinner at Windsor Castle, as part of the official Oman State Visit. In a rare move, Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales wore historic tiaras, given it was an exceptional formally occasion. However, there was one detail in the Princess' look which most people missed - a subtle leopard print.
On Tuesday (20 February), the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik arrived in the UK as part of a three-day State Visit. He, along with other distinguished guests from the nation, were greeted by the King and Queen, and Prince and Princess of Wales before a traditional carriage procession through Windsor. As is tradition of the first evening of a State Visit, the royals then hosted a grand dinner to formally welcome their international visitors.
The Princess of Wales once again chose to wear the diamond and pearl Lover's Knot Tiara - a favourite of hers which was loved by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Kate also nodded to another much-loved figure of the Royal Family with her jewellery choices, by selecting a pair of earrings particularly favoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II for formal occasions - the Greville Chandelier Earrings.
The statement earrings are constructed of what, at the time, is thought to have been every known cut of diamond, from 'baguette' to 'half-moon'. As well as being visually stunning, the earrings held particular sentimental value to Queen Elizabeth II, as they were a gift from her parents for her wedding day. She wore them for an official portrait for her Coronation, and often chose them for formal occasions throughout her life. Now, Kate is carrying that tradition forward.
Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Greville Chandelier Earrings and Girls of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Tiara at a State Dinner for Sweden in 1983.
Of course, such extravagant jewellery requires a formal gown to pair with it, and Kate wore a floor-length dress in butter yellow by Elie Saab which included a cape and braided detailing around the neckline. However, what's easy to miss at first glance is the subtle animal print of the fabric. If you look closely, you can see leopard-style dots covering the ensemble, which India Today even suggested could be a nod towards Oman's endangered leopard population.
Queen Camilla with Oman’s Crown Prince Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham.
Queen Camilla also wore historic jewellery on the night, giving a similar nod to the late Queen's legacy, by choosing her much-loved 'Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara'. For her own gown, Queen Camilla chose a deep, midnight blue dress with long sleeves and beaded detailing around the hem of the skirt.
During the dinner, the King delivered a speech on the 'enduring friendship' between Oman and the United Kingdom, saying it was a 'treasured moment to receive such dear and old friends on a special Visit such as this.'