The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in style for the white tie dinner at Windsor Castle
The Princess of Wales arrived for the state banquet alongside her husband, Prince William. Her Royal Highness' Elie Saab gown was finished with the Lover's Knot Tiara and the Queen Mary Choker Bracelet
AARON CHOWN/Getty ImagesThe Princess of Wales brought a splash of colour to proceedings in a butter yellow Elie Saab gown as she arrived alongside Prince William for the state banquet at Windsor Castle.
Catherine, 44, finished her resplendent outfit with the Lover's Knot Tiara, which she has now worn to seven of the 11 state banquets that she has attended. Usually this heirloom piece steals the spotlight but tonight it competed for attention with the treasure that adorned Her Royal Highness' wrist: the Queen Mary Choker Bracelet, an extraordinary piece reserved for only the most glittering of royal occasions.
The Princess of Wales most recently wore the bracelet to the Royal Variety Performance in 2025
Karwai TangAs the name suggests, the piece was originally designed for Mary of Teck, wife of King George V. Composed of diamond bars in an art deco design, the piece was created in the 1920s, around the time when it was notably worn by Queen Mary in a portrait. Although it was worn as a choker on that occasion, it is not known whether it was originally designed as a bracelet or a choker – although it has certainly become more popular as a bracelet in recent years.
The Princess of Wales wore the heirloom to the Chinese State Banquet in 2015
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The Princess of Wales also wore the bracelet to a charity gala at Houghton Hall in 2016
Stephen Pond/Getty ImagesAfter the death of Queen Mary in 1953, the choker was not seen again for more than 20 years, when it reappeared on the wrist of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in portraits marking her 75th birthday, notes the Royal Watcher. After her death in 2002, the bracelet was inherited by Queen Elizabeth II.
However, it is in the last decade that it has found a new royal fan: the Princess of Wales, who first wore the piece as a bracelet for the Chinese state banquet in 2015. The then Duchess of Cambridge dazzled in the piece, wearing it with the Lotus Flower Tiara and an elegant red gown. It has been worn on a handful of formal occasions in the years since, including a charity gala in 2016, on a state visit to Paris in 2017 and the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace in 2018. Most recently, it adorned Her Royal Highness' wrist at the Royal Variety Performance in November 2025.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arriving to the state banquet on Tuesday night
AARON CHOWN/Getty ImagesThe Prince and Princess of Wales supported King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they hosted the white tie dinner in honour of the Sultan of Oman.
