Kate Middleton brings together jewelry from three generations at Windsor
The Princess of Wales has brought back some of the most iconic pieces from the British royal collection for a state banquet in honor of the Sultan of Oman—an occasion for which she also debuted a yellow Elie Saab gown.
The jewelry held by great royal houses is far more than just a collection of extraordinarily valuable pieces. Woven into these diamonds, pearls, and centuries-old designs are the stories of women, generations, and historical events that form part of the collective memory of European monarchies—a legacy that transcends time and finds the perfect setting to come alive once more during grand official ceremonies. Few royals understand how to interpret this language, so rich in symbolism, as well as Kate Middleton, who has brought together some of the British Royal Family’s most iconic jewels at Windsor.
On Tuesday, the Princess of Wales attended a state banquet hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla in honor of the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tarik Al Said, who is currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom. The evening took place in St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, where approximately 160 guests gathered for one of the most solemn diplomatic engagements on the British royal calendar.
For the occasion, Kate Middleton chose a yellow gown by Elie Saab, though the true stars of her ensemble were the jewels. A tiara—which became one of Diana, Princess of Wales’s signature style statements—paired with diamond earrings that belonged to Elizabeth II and a bracelet with over a century of history, created a look that bridges several generations of royal women.
The tiara favored by Diana, Princess of Wales, makes a return at Windsor
The most recognizable piece in her ensemble was the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara—one of the most famous jewels in the British royal collection and one particularly closely associated with Diana, Princess of Wales. Its history dates back to 1913, when Queen Mary commissioned the prestigious jewelry house Garrard to create a tiara inspired by one that had belonged to her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel.
The result was a piece of extraordinary delicacy, crafted with diamonds and teardrop-shaped hanging pearls; its structure combines diamond arches with decorative motifs that lend both movement and radiance.
Following Queen Mary’s death, the tiara passed to Elizabeth II, who later lent it to Diana, Princess of Wales. During her marriage to the then-Prince Charles, Diana made it one of her most recognizable pieces of jewelry, wearing it to significant state dinners and official engagements.
Decades later, Kate Middleton has found this piece to be a key accessory for the most formal occasions. The Princess of Wales has worn it at Windsor, styled with her brown hair in soft waves, allowing the pearls and diamonds to frame her face. It is a choice that keeps the memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, alive and demonstrates how historic jewelry can take on new meaning with each generation.
Elizabeth II’s earrings and Queen Mary’s bracelet
Beyond the tiara, Kate Middleton has completed her look with two other highly significant pieces from the British royal collection. The Princess of Wales chose diamond earrings that once belonged to Elizabeth II; they feature an Art Deco-inspired, chandelier-style design. Each earring centers on a pear-shaped stone surrounded by smaller diamonds, from which two strands of round and baguette-cut diamonds descend.
Their elongated structure adds movement and radiance, creating a particularly harmonious pairing with the pearls of the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara. On her wrist, Kate wore a diamond bracelet that once belonged to Queen Mary, with a history dating back to the 1920s. Originally designed as a choker, it remained out of the public eye for years until the Queen Mother wore it again in 1975, having had it transformed into a bracelet.
Following the Queen Mother’s passing in 2002, the piece passed to Elizabeth II, who lent it to Kate Middleton in 2015, back when she was still the Duchess of Cambridge. The combination of these three pieces turns her ensemble into a journey through the history of the British Royal Family—from Queen Mary to Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales—with Kate Middleton serving as the heir to a tradition that remains a vital part of the monarchy’s major events.
The yellow Elie Saab gown that completes her formal ensemble
To complement this display of historic jewels, Kate Middleton chose a formal gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab—a fashion house renowned for its romantic creations and exquisite craftsmanship.
The design, worn for the first time on this occasion, features a soft yellow hue and a fluid silhouette that lends an air of lightness to the look. The bodice incorporates delicate gathers and a neckline with a vertical slit, while a defined waist gives way to a long, airy skirt.
One of the most striking details is found in the sleeves, designed as long capes that fall from the shoulders and move in harmony with the skirt, creating an almost ethereal aesthetic reminiscent of a fairytale gown. The Princess of Wales completed the ensemble with a small, shimmering clutch, the sash and star of the Royal Victorian Order, and the badge of the Royal Family Order of King Charles III.
The dinner served as a centerpiece of the Sultan of Oman’s state visit to the United Kingdom—the first such visit by an Omani sovereign since 1982. At this diplomatic event, hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Kate Middleton once again demonstrated how the Crown jewels serve as a means of telling the history of the British monarchy.
