PRINCESS Kate was absent from last night’s glitzy State Banquet at Buckingham Palace – but Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, gave her a moving nod.
Sophie, 59, looked regal in a £4,890 floor-length green Suzannah London gown and wore the lotus flower tiara for the occasion.
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The brilliant diamond tiara was worn by the Princess of Wales in the past, at his first state banquet to welcome the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in 2015.
Kate, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, was also the last to wear it to the 2022 Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace.
As with many of the royal tiaras, this one was originally a pearl and diamond necklace that the Queen The mother had the Lotus Flower tiara made in 1923 by the British jeweler Garrard.
Princess Margaret inherited the tiara from her mother in 1959, shortly before getting married Antony Armstrong-Jones and used it regularly with a beehive in the 1960s.
She also lent it to her daughter-in-law, Serena Stanhope, for her wedding to Margaret’s son, Viscount Linle, in 1993.
It was the first time that Sophie, once hailed as the royal family’s “secret weapon”, wore the Lotus Flower tiara.
For her wedding in 1999 with Prince Edward, she dazzled with the Anthemion tiara.
The royal state visit was postponed from 2020 due to the pandemicbut it went ahead with the expected pomp and pageantry.
Yesterday, William hosted Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, at their hotel before accompanying them to the Horse Guards Parade.
The prince assumed leadership of the royal family while his wife, Princess Kate, underwent cancer treatment.
Kate, 42, made her public return at Trooping the Color earlier this month but is yet to resume full-time royal duties.
She delighted fans by appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the King, Queen, Prince William and their three children.
However, royal sources have insisted that despite her appearance, she will not yet return to a full schedule of public engagements while her preventative cancer treatment continues.
But she is expected to participate in more events this summer when she feels able and with the support and guidance of her doctors.
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We previously shared how Princess Kate is said to have a “tower of strength” in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who has supported the princess through her cancer diagnosis.
Royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Fabulous: “Interestingly, while Meghan rejected Sophie’s offer to guide her through life as a royal, Kate graciously accepted the Queen’s suggestion – she saw her as a ‘solid and trustworthy member of the firm – and The women have become close as Kate adapts to her new role as Princess of Wales.
“She has found Sophie to be a true confidant and sounding board and they have developed a mutual respect and unbreakable bond.”
After Prince Philip’s death, the late Queen even referred to the dependable Kate and Sophie as her “strength and permanence.”
One thing that unites the two women is their “sense of humor” and they have “a lot in common”, says Claudia.
She added: “If they are the Troping the Color ceremony or Royal Ascot, they are often pictured in each other’s company in fits of laughter.
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Last night, King Charles and Camilla greeted the Emperor and Empress of Japan at a State Banquet, while the Queen wore a new badge for the first time.
The new King’s Family Order was first used by the Queen at the Japanese state banquet.
Family Orders badges are worn on formal evening occasions by female members of the Order. real family and granted personally by the sovereign, and are a sign of the user’s importance within the royal house.
Timeline of Kate’s battle and recovery
JANUARY 16: Kate is admitted to the London Clinic for abdominal surgery
JANUARY 17: Kensington Palace announces that the princess has undergone surgery
JANUARY 18: William spends time at Kate’s bedside
JANUARY 23RD: The princess’s stay in the hospital lasts for more than a week
JANUARY 29: Kate leaves the hospital
February 27th: Prince William leaves duty at the last minute due to ‘personal matter’, sparking a wave of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate’s health
March 4: Princess pictured in car with her mother Carole at Windsor Estate
March 10: Royal posts a beautiful photo of her and the kids on Mother’s Day – then fans started spotting flaws and major agencies published a ‘death warning’ on the photo
March 11: Kate admits she edited the photo and is photographed in the car with William
March 16th: Royal fans spot the princess at a farm shop near Windsor
March 17: Viewers see Kate watching her children play sports
March 18th: The Sun exclusively published the video of Kate and Wills two days earlier
March 22: Kate bravely reveals in emotional video that she received a shocking cancer diagnosis
April 29: Kate and William celebrate their 13th anniversary by releasing never-before-seen photos from their wedding
June 8th: Kate does not take part in the Colonel’s Review, but the letter she wrote to the Irish Guards reveals that she said: “I hope to be able to represent you all once again very soon.”
June 14: Kensington Palace announces that the princess will attend the King’s Birthday Parade
Camilla stepped out wearing her husband’s miniature portrait encased in diamonds, topped with a small gold and enamel Tudor crown.
It was suspended from a light blue silk bow on her left shoulder for the glittering event in Buckingham Palace’s ballroom.
It comes almost two years after Charles, the longest-serving heir to the throne, ascended to the role of monarch following the death of his mother.
Also present was the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak44, Liberal Democrat leader, sir Ed Davey58, and Labor Sir Keir Starmer61.
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