Kate Middleton wears Princess Diana’s Lover’s Knot tiara at Windsor state banquet for President Trump

Princess of Wales Kate Middleton wore Princess Diana’s Lover's Knot tiara to the state banquet at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, 2025, as she and Prince William welcomed President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Middleton paired the tiara, a symbol of royal heritage, with a full-length golden gown, a gold lace evening coat, and a blue sash, creating one of the most eye-catching appearances of the royal visit. William wore the Windsor Uniform, a dark navy blazer with a red collar, white shirt, black trousers and a blue sash, as the couple greeted the Trumps on the castle grounds earlier in the day.

Earlier in the day, the couple greeted President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump outside Windsor Castle. Middleton appeared in a maroon dress with a matching hat and purse as she greeted the president alongside her husband. The two couples then moved into the grounds for a welcome ceremony before a horse-drawn carriage transported the group back to Windsor for the state banquet.

At one moment outside Victoria House, video circulated of Queen Camilla and Melania Trump chatting while Camilla appeared to guide Middleton away from Melania, a fleeting moment that drew attention on social media and in coverage of the visit. Shortly after, the Queen’s gesture suggested Middleton return to the conversation with Camilla and Melania as the four leaders prepared for the evening’s events.

There were protocol discussions surrounding how Trump was greeted. The royal family’s official site later explained that there are no obligatory codes of behavior when meeting a member of the Royal Family, noting that men may perform a neck bow and women may curtsy, while others may opt for a handshake. The clarification came after Trump was photographed without a curtsy upon meeting King Charles and Queen Camilla during the visit’s earlier moments.

Following the welcome ceremonies, the Trumps joined the royal family for a state banquet at Windsor Castle. Trump sat between Middleton and King Charles as he delivered remarks to the assembled guests, praising Middleton in his comments and continuing a long tradition of hosting foreign leaders with ceremonial pomp and pageantry.

The event reached a high point for Middleton’s public profile, as her appearance in the tiara highlighted a moment of continuity within the monarchy and its public-facing diplomacy. The Lover's Knot tiara, associated with Diana and long tied to royal weddings and formal state occasions, has become a focal point of attention whenever Middleton wears it, underscoring the enduring significance of royal artifacts in modern diplomacy.

The Trumps’ visit to Windsor follows a broader calendar of state engagements that place the royal family at the center of ceremonial diplomacy with foreign leaders. The banquet concluded with the royal procession back to Windsor Castle in the traditional horse-drawn carriage, a tableau that has become emblematic of Britain’s ceremonial tradition.

On the health front, Middleton has continued to share her story of battling cancer, announcing a diagnosis in March 2024 and saying she is in remission. She referenced her “roller coaster” cancer journey in July, outlining the emotional and physical challenges she has faced while remaining active in royal duties. William remained at the table with Queen Camilla and Melania during the dinner, continuing the close coordination that characterizes state visits of this scale.

Images from the day captured the pageantry and the fashion moment surrounding Middleton’s tiara moment and the royal family’s interactions with the Trump delegation.

As the visit unfolded, observers noted the blend of tradition and contemporary public life that such state occasions symbolize, with Middleton’s attire and choice of tiara serving as a quiet nod to historical continuity amid the modern diplomacy of a U.S. presidential visit. The event’s combinations of ceremony, media attention and personal narratives—such as Middleton’s cancer journey—highlight the complex public roles undertaken by the royal family in a modern constitutional monarchy.