Kate Middleton dazzled in a stunning dress, complete with tiara and earrings - that have emotional ties to the late Queen - during the King's first Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.
The Princess of Wales and Prince William put on a brave face as they arrived at the venue, with the annual event coming just two days before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's "explosive" new Netflix documentary is set to air.
Kate looked stunning in a red embellished Jenny Packham gown, accessorising it with the Lotus Flower tiara that she wore at a diplomatic reception at the Palace in 2013, and again in 2015 for the China state banquet.
A blue Royal Victorian Order sash and the late Queen’s Family Order, which sits on a yellow ribbon, is pinned to Kate's scarlet dress.
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PA)And in a touching nod to the late monarch, her drop diamond earrings belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.
The royal pair are joining King Charles III and the Queen Consort for the first Diplomatic Corps reception in three years, as hundreds of foreign ambassadors gather for the affair in the state rooms of the Palace.
Tonight's reception celebrates one of the largest Diplomatic Corps in the world, and will see Their Majesties meet representatives of countries accredited to the Court of St. James.
The Lotus Flower Tiara was picked out for Kate this year, and was originally commissioned by the Queen Mother in 1923.
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PA)Back then, the Queen Mother asked the royal jeweller to create the diadem specifically for her, and was originally designed to sit low on the head.
She also specifically requested for the tiara to be created using diamonds and pearls from a necklace given to her by her husband, King George VI, six months earlier.
After Edward VIII's abdication from the throne, Princess Elizabeth sported the tiara in a series of portraits that were commissioned ahead of her father King George VI's coronation.
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PA)Image:
PA)After the death of King George VI, the Queen's younger sister, Princess Margaret, was spotted wearing the Lotus Flower, which is also referred to as the Papyrus tiara.
Meanwhile, Prince William donned a white-tie style tuxedo, as he was pictured in the car alongside his wife, as they made their way to the London reception.
Camilla once again wore the late Queen’s diamond and Belgian sapphire tiara and necklace, which she chose for the South African state banquet last month, and an Anna Valentine gown.
Meanwhile across the Atlantic, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are due to make a red carpet appearance at the Ripple of Hope Awards in New York.
Meghan was spotted beaming today as she and Harry stepped into a waiting SUV before making their way into the Big Apple, with the 41-year-old sporting an all-black outfit and large sunglasses while her 38-year-old husband wore a buttoned-down white shirt and black trousers.
Tickets for the exclusive event are reportedly selling for up to $1million (£847,000).
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Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)The royal couple are preparing to accept the Ripple Of Hope Award for their racial justice and mental health work from Robert F Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) organisation, where previous winners include Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Their tell-all show is just hours from being aired by the streaming giant Netflix on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the royal family is bracing itself for more bombshell revelations, with Harry speaking of a “hierarchy in the family”, a “dirty game”, and warning “We know the full truth”.
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Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock)The last Diplomatic Corps reception, which is usually an annual affair, was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in December 2019.
It is usually held every December, but there were no receptions in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The reception traditionally includes a buffet supper and dancing.
The glamorous reception comes just two weeks after Kate made her tiara debut as the Princess of Wales, where she wore the Lover's Knot tiara.
Last month, the King and Queen Consort hosted a state visit for the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, at Buckingham Palace.
