Kate Middleton dazzles in historic royal jewels at state dinner hours after Meghan Markle shunned tiara tradition

The young royals are having a glamorous week. 

Mere hours after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended their first state dinner as a married couple in Fiji, the Queen hosted a lavish banquet at Buckingham Palace to mark the two-day visit of Dutch royals Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander.

Both duchesses opted for sweeping evening gowns in varying blue shades—Meghan’s by London-based brand Safiya, and Kate’s custom made by Alexander McQueen—but that is where the similarities in their elegant outfits ended. 

Many were surprised by Meghan’s sartorial state dinner debut, as it was thought that the grand occasion would see the pregnant duchess don her first tiara since becoming a member of the Royal Family. 

Although it is custom for royals to wear tiaras when attending the goverment-funded dinners, it is up to personal preference. Meghan chose to shun the tiara tradition, instead opting for a statement pair of earrings, thought to have been borrowed from Her Majesty. 

Kate, however, did not shy away from adorning her designer dress with numerous jewels from the royal collection – mostly notably, the Lover’s Knot tiara.

The exquisite 38-prop pearl headpiece was inherited by the Queen in 1953, before being passed on to Princess Diana after she married Prince Charles. It is now thought to be in Kate’s possession, as she has worn it several times since becoming a member of the royal family.

Not only did the tiara pay tribute to Kate’s late mother-in-law, but the 36-year-old also wore a pair of Collingwood Pearl Earrings, which had been a wedding gift to Princess Diana and were much loved by the style icon. 

The dazzling gems did not stop there.

Kate also wore a statement pearl and diamond necklace, an item of jewellery that again was steeped in royal history. It had once been Queen Alexandra’s wedding necklace, which was then gifted to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who wore it constantly.

Although not sparkly, Kate’s most talked about accessory on the night was the Royal Family Order that was pinned to her left shoulder.

The historical brooch featured a miniature portrait of the Queen, which Her Majesty personally bestows upon female members of the British royal family for formal occasions. Something which she previously did for Diana, who wore the pin during a royal tour of Australia in 1983.

This is the first time Kate has been photographed wearing the item.