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The Princess Wears Phillipa Lepley for State Dinner – What Kate Wore
The Princess of Wales wowed in a couture ensemble by British designer Phillipa Lepley at tonight's state dinner honoring the United States. The banquet was in St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle. Below, a formal posed photo of the King and Queen with President and Mrs. Trump. The Prince and Princess. Tonight's dress code was white tie. More on that comes via this BBC story. The dress code for the state banquet is white tie, and the Prince of Wales, 43, did not disappoint. He was decked out in formal regalia and his orders, and wore an elegant Windsor tail coat. Meanwhile, King Charles's regalia was in keeping with the high pomp and pageantry that we would expect of a state banquet. The King, 76, completed his look with a royal blue sash - a colour that matched Camilla's embroidered dress. The host and guests as they walked into dinner. Princess Anne is seen here with the US Ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephen. Her husband, Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, is escorting a member of the US delegation whose name I have not yet discovered. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester as they headed into the banquet. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'GCWFOKjOR4tmwYhzDQnxUQ',sig:'jkGDor5TlwL_qT8wdDt7Np6EuE0_gzb8Q8fP6dM7DsY=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2235422042',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Here you see the King and President at their seats and the Princess walking to hers. She was seated between President Trump and Michael Boulos, who is married to Tiffany Trump. You can just see Apple CEO Tim Cook in the lower left of the photo. We learn more about tonight's menu from The Mirror's coverage. The sumptuous menu, written in French as is the custom, consists of Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, followed by organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes, with a thyme and savoury infused jus, and then bombe glacee cardinal, which is a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior with lightly poached victoria plums. In a tradition started by the King, a new cocktail is created specially for each state dinner and incorporates a nod to its VIP guests. Buckingham Palace said the tipple, a UK/US twist on the classic whisky sour, “blends the smoky depth of Johnnie Walker Black with the bright citrus of marmalade”. After dinner hosted by the King and Queen, guests will be served Warre’s 1945 vintage port, in recognition of Mr Trump’s role as the 45th, as well as the 47th, president of the United States and because it is the closest vintage port year to his birth year. Both King Charles and President Trump delivered remarks. The King spoke first. The bond between our two nations is indeed a remarkable one. Forged in the fire of conflict, it has been fortified through our shared endeavours and burnished by the deep affection between our people. Tested time and again, it has borne the weight of our common purpose and raised our ambition for a better world. So in renewing our bond tonight, we do so with unshakeable trust in our friendship and in our shared commitment to independence and liberty. Therefore, as we celebrate this unparalleled partnership, allow me to propose a toast - to President Trump and the First Lady, and to the health, prosperity and happiness of the people of the United States of America. More about the President's remarks from The Telegraph's article. He dropped his voice low and spoke slowly in the tone he reserves for the most important of matters as he praised his host. “For many decades, His Majesty the King has epitomised the fortitude, nobility and the spirit of the British monarchy and the British people,” he said. “The lionhearted people of this kingdom defeated Napoleon, unleashed the Industrial Revolution, destroyed slavery and defended civilisation in the darkest days of fascism and communism,” he said. “The British gave the world the Magna Carta, the modern parliament and Francis Bacon’s scientific method.” The President also spoke about the Princess of Wales. We return to the Telegraph piece. Speaking at Windsor Castle, the president said: “Melania and I are delighted to visit again with Prince William and to see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine – so radiant and so healthy – it’s so beautiful. It’s really a great honour, thank you.” He raised a “remarkable son”, Mr Trump said, addressing the Prince and Princess of Wales as “William and Kate”, with a daughter-in-law “so radiant, so healthy and so beautiful”. Another view of the President and the Princess. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'G8S_eBa5Rap1MCQBT1He-A',sig:'l-TNVjz2XdiJSeHcNpB99IcvffChmSyBVbQCuq8Kr2o=',w:'594px',h:'429px',items:'2235429013',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Here is a video posted by Kensington Palace showing both engagements from the day, the welcome ceremony and tonight's banquet. A day to remember in Windsor for the State Visit of @POTUS 🇺🇸🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/vOWGlh6sOA — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 17, 2025 For tonight's state occasion, the Queen chose an embroidered gown by Fiona Clare in royal blue silk marocain, a dense, heavy fabric with a pebbled surface often used for eveningwear. She also wore the Belgian sapphire tiara and the Diamond Festoon Necklace, diamond earrings and bracelets, and her Order of the Garter sash and star and King Charles's royal family order. First Lady Melania Trump was in an off-the-shoulder gown by Carolina Herrera. More from Vanessa Friedman's NY Times column. ...Melania Trump let her hair down and appeared at St. George’s Hall for the white-tie banquet in an off-the-shoulder yellow Carolina Herrera gown with long sleeves and a lavender silk belt. Now, for our look at what Kate wore. We begin with the couture Phillipa Lepley ensemble featuring a full-length, hand-embroidered, champagne gold Chantilly lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown. The 'Darling' coat features hand-embroidered roses with couched gold cording, accented with French knots and satin-stitched blooms. In these images, I hope you can see the rose motif and slightly puffed shoulders. It appears much like this design from the Phillipa Lepley site, though the Princess has opted for a more natural waistline with the Darling coat than the Empire-style shown in the photo. This is the second time we have seen the Princess in Phillipa Lepley. The first instance came during the 2022 Caribbean tour, when the Princess chose a Phillipa Lepley design for a reception in the Bahamas. More about the designer from this Times of London story. One of London’s most in-demand wedding dress makers, Phillipa Lepley has been selling gowns on the Fulham Road for over three decades. Lepley’s dresses are all bespoke and handmade at the brand’s atelier in Chelsea. The designer grew up in Nottinghamshire, where she was introduced to fashion through her grandmothers, one of whom was a court tailoress. The Princess accessorized with her Maud Pearls Clutch ($745) by Anya Hindmarch. The bag was first carried at a military passing-out parade in Jamaica in March 2022. She also brought back her Aquazzura Fenix pumps in gold, with a pointed toe and side cutouts. The Princess wore the Royal Family Orders of Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III, as well as her sash and star of the Royal Victorian Order. The Princess's hair was down, unlike some tiara occasions, when she wears it up. We saw the return of the late Queen's Diamond Frame Earrings and the iconic Lover's Knot tiara, now a signature piece for the Princess. Here you see the late Queen wearing the earrings for the Order of the Garter in 2013. The Court Jeweller notes, The pair features a cluster stud with a floral motif, from which a pendant of four graduating diamonds is suspended. The pendant is surrounded by a diamond frame. These images from previous engagements offer a much better view of the earrings. A glance at some of the occasions when the Princess has worn the Lover's Knot tiara. If you missed the day's first post covering the welcome ceremonies at Windsor, you can read it here. I'll leave you with one photo, this one from the Kensington Palace social media accounts. A gentle reminder that we do not discuss politics here at WKW, including any reader comments. VIDEOS: The Royal Family Channel's coverage of tonight's state dinner. This brief video from Phillipa Lepley offers a stellar look at the silver version of the Darling coat.
The Princess of Wales in a Mix of US and UK Brands for Scouts Engagement – What Kate Wore
The Princess of Wales displayed her sartorial diplomacy today, mixing British and US brands for an engagement with United States First Lady Melania Trump. The Princess and the First Lady got together at Frogmore Gardens, along with Chief Scout Dwayne Fields. More from this People article. It was the first solo outing ever for Princess Kate and Melania, who both appeared to be in their element as they connected with the children, and the Princess of Wales wove a homemade staple that she whipped up herself into the lunch for the youngsters. According to the Daily Mail, Princess Kate organized a special packed lunch for the Scouts' Squirrels, featuring sandwiches with honey she made herself from her family's hives at Anmer Hall. They met up with some Squirrel Scouts (Squirrels are ages 4 to 6) from Lewisham, South London, working on their 'Go Wild!' badges. The Princess of Wales is joint president of the UK Scouts, sharing those duties with the Duke of Kent since 2020. Mr. Fields asked the women to participate in an activity, creating pictures of animals out of leaves the scouts collected. More from this Telegraph article by Hannah Furness. While helping the four to six-year-olds collect leaves and conkers, the Princess revealed that her youngest son, aged seven, had embraced autumn already. “We keep finding conkers in cupboards, in his bed – conkers everywhere!” she said, adding that he would put them in his toy trucks and play with them. One child asked the Princess whether she wore a crown. The Princess replied that she sometimes wore a tiara, but only in the evening. Mrs. Trump with one of the scouts. And another view of the Princess with some of the squirrels. We return to The Telegraph piece. The Princess asked the children nearest to her: “What are you doing? What are you drawing? Come and show me.” “Wow,” she responded, hearing about their activities. “I like doing this with my children. I had such fun doing this when I was your age.” And from The Daily Mail's coverage. The children then asked them to join them in a parachute game, taking side of a large piece of silk and flapping it, trying to get balls down a hole in the middle. Both laughed as the children excitedly ignored the command ‘gentle shakes’ and shook it wildly. There was also a picnic for the squirrels in the gardens—more from the BBC's story. Mr. Fields said Melania and Kate were both very personable and spent a lot of time with the young people who took part in drawing and other activities. Having the princess there, our joint president, alongside the first lady of the United States, is going to be something very special for them in years to come when they understand the true magnitude of what has just happened, he added. I think it is really important to say they both strongly believe in what we do within the scouts movement and this was a great opportunity for us here, the spiritual home of the Scouts where it all began, to showcase scouting to the US. The children were given their Go Wild badges by the Princess, First Lady, and Mr. Fields. The First Lady wore a safari-style Ralph Lauren jacket, Loro Piana trousers, and Roger Vivier flats.Now, for our look at what Kate wore. We begin with the Me + Em Suede Cropped Military Jacket ($475, most recent price, out of stock). Done in olive green suede, the double-breasted jacket showcases military-inspired styling with a loose fit. Thank you to Gabi for this ID. Beneath the jacket, it looks like the Princess wore another ME + EM design, the Straight Sweater Vest ($345) in 'chestnut brown' cashmere. With thanks to Carly at Kate Middleton Style and Middleton Maven for the ID, the piece has a boxy cut with ribbing at the neckline and side slits. It looks like the Princess chose a skirt from the upscale Ralph Lauren Collection line, the US brand's Evilyn Birdseye Tweed Skirt in Dark Brown ($1890). Made in 100% birdseye wool with a nubby, textured feel, the pleated skirt hits below the knee. The A-line style is described as having ...trouser-inspired elements like an extended buttoned waist tab, front zipper, coin pocket, and belt loops. The skirt is also available at Harrods ($2100) in small sizes at Farfetch ($2637). Our thanks are again directed to Gabi for this ID. Accessories included a Polo Ralph Lauren belt, the Crocodile-Stamped Leather Belt from the Polo line, featuring a double-prong buckle with the POLO logo made from solid brass atop a calfskin belt. The Princess brought back her Bespoke Gianvito Rossi boots. The style is similar to the brand's off-the-rack Glen Boots ($1895). The boot is made in suede with a block heel that runs about 3.3 in height. It is also available at Gianvito Rossi and at Nordstrom, as well as My Theresa. (If fond of this style in black, it is 50% off at Farfetch.) The Princess's scarf is made from Sudbury Silk, one of the fabric mills she visited last week. Thanks to Kate Mansey of The Times for this ID information. The company noted online that the scarf is made of 100% silk fabric from Stephen Walters' latest collection—more from the Sudbury Mills social media post. It was woven especially for her [the Princess] and presented as a gift on her visit to us last week. At the mill shop we make the best use of surplus from Sudbury Silk Mills. As this is the new collection we do not have this particular design for sale at present. However, we have many other fabrics, scarves, and gifts for sale. We saw the return of the Teardrop Garnet Charm Hoop Earrings ($125) by Welsh jeweler Spells of Love. I'll leave you with one more photo of the Princess at today's engagement. VIDEOS: The Royal Family Channel has almost 20 minutes of coverage in this video. Forbes has 8 minutes+ of coverage from Frogmore Gardens.
The Princess in Separates for Return Visit to Southport – What Kate Wore
The Prince and Princess of Wales returned to Southport today, the community where three little girls were murdered as they took part in a community dance class last July. We learn more from The Telegraph's story by Hannah Furness. Alice da Silva Aguiar, aged nine, Bebe King, six, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe were killed as they played at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party in July last year. Eight other children and two adults – Leanne Lucas, the dance class leader, and Jonathan Hayes, a businessman who ran to help – were seriously wounded after Axel Rudakubana launched a knife attack. You may recall the royal couple visited Southport last October, the Princess's first public community engagement following surgery and chemotherapy. Below are photos of the girls as shared by a journalist at the time of the attack.The Prince and Princess visited two schools as part of their commitment to ongoing support for the community. Above, and below, you see them at Farnborough Road Infant School with Adrian Antell, Head of the Junior School, and Infant School Headteacher Jennifer Sephton (partially obscured in this next image by Mr. Antell). They were welcomed by hundreds of children at Farnborough, where seven-year-old Elsie was a student. More from Hello's coverage. Kate made a beeline for the younger pupils, crouching down to speak to them, while William chatted to the older children, reveals Royal Editor, Emily Nash. He talked about what our favourite lessons were and our favourite lunch menus, said Jessica Hazelhurst, 10. And he really wanted brownies on the menu. He loves Brownies, so we’re on the same team, added Ellis Paynter, also 10. The Telegraph notes, 'The Princess was heard telling the infant school pupils: I’m very impressed with all of you and all the hard work you’re doing. What a fantastic thing to learn to raise money to help other people. Keep up your hard work.' More from the Daily Mail's coverage. Inside, William and Kate spoke to teachers about how the school was affected by the tragedy and the support it has provided to pupils, staff and the local community. The Prince and Princess spent around 20 minutes in an 'emotional' private meeting with Jenni and David Stancombe, who then introduced them to some of the teachers and teaching assistants who had known Elsie. Along with Alice's father Sergio Aguiar, David ran the London Marathon in April in memory of their daughters and the Prince and Princess donated to their fundraising efforts. We return to the Mail's article to learn about fundraising efforts. The royal couple had also spent time chatting to Jennie, who is head of the Infants School, and Junior School headteacher Adrian Antell and heard how both had taken part in a skydive to raise funds for Elsie's story. 'You went skydivng?!' asked William, clearly impressed. 'Oh no! First time for both of you, I take it?' Asked if he had ever done one, he said: 'I've parachuted, I've not skydived. I've parachuted into the sea. 'Would you do it again?' he asked, laughing when Jennie revealed she had already done so. 'I could see your eyes there, you're looking like, 'oh I quite liked the adrenaline rush',' he told her. Below, a wave goodbye to the Farnborough students. The royals then visited Churchtown Primary School, where Bebe King and Alice da Silva Aguiar attended classes. They saw a new playground built to commemorate the memory of the girls. More from this BBC story. The library and stage in the playground are intended to celebrate Alice and Bebe's shared love of books, creativity, and performing. Mr Aguiar, who ran the London Marathon to raise funds for the playground, said it meant a lot that there would be a lasting tribute to the girls at the school where they were pupils. They are always going to be a part of this school, he said. The royals were given a special piece of jewelry during their visit. We turn to this People article for more. It was Bebe's mom, Lauren King, who gifted the couple with a special keepsake in her daughter's memory: matching friendship bracelets that spelled out Bebe's Hive, a grief support charity for children founded in the young girl's name. “It meant everything, Lauren told GB News of her moment with the royal couple. It was really special. “I think we’re really grateful anyway how Bebe’s been honored so much in this school, and seeing the prince and princess support that and be here has been just amazing,” she added. Here you see close-up photos of the bracelets. The Prince and Princess spent time with students. They also saw artwork created by students. More from The Express. ...the prince and princess joined some of Alice’s classmates in the school library to discuss the art therapy that has helped the now Year 6 pupils, aged between nine and ten, cope with such a traumatic experience. The children point out three pictures on the wall which they had worked on together as a ‘emotional journey piece’. The Independent reports, After hearing some of the children speak about how the artwork reflected their emotions, Kate said: 'It’s very unusual for young people to be able to express bad and hard and difficult emotions like you’ve done, and actually doing it through art is really clever, but really expressive.' Here is a quick video via Chris Ship of ITV. The children spoke to the Prince and Princess of Wales about the pain of grief. And how they have tried to overcome it. pic.twitter.com/as7OTJmP2v — Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) September 23, 2025 Another image of the couple with students. Prince William delivered remarks at Churchtown. From his speech. This playground is a symbol of how the community has come together to create such a positive space for the pupils of this school – a symbol of remembrance and resilience, a testament that love will always overcome tragedy. You have faced such horror – but from that you move forward with grace and fortitude – creating the most remarkable legacies for your girls. We will always be here to support you. To everyone impacted on that day you will never be forgotten. Enjoy this playground. Be brave, be joyful and be kind. Here is one more image from the new playground. Here is a video posted by Kensington Palace after the engagements. To everyone in the Southport community affected by the incident last year, you will never be forgotten – and the legacy of love and kindness built here will continue to bring people together for years to come and honour the memories of Bebe, Alice and Elsie. pic.twitter.com/CMQMGBiE0n — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) September 23, 2025 Now, we turn to our look at what Kate wore. The Princess debuted a new outerwear look from Jigsaw, the British retailer's signature Maxi City Coat ($435 on sale, originally $660). The coat is 100% wool with a recycled nylon lining. It features notched wide lapels, flap pockets, and a center back vent. The grey appears to be sold out, but it is available in brown, purple, and taupe ($485). Thank you to Ellie for this ID. The Princess repeated her soft pink Burberry blouse, first noted during the December 2022 trip to Boston. The bespoke Silk Crepe de Chine Tie-Neck Blouse features a bow at the neck and long sleeves. She carried her Smythson Mini Lytton Bag ($1195), which was initially seen in photos of her out and about in Notting Hill in January. It is made of grained calf leather and measures about 9 x 7 x 3 deep, with a removable and adjustable crossbody strap. We saw the Princess's Hugo Boss 'Staple' Heels again, a point-toe style in 'anthracite' leather with a stiletto heel. The Princess brought back her Annoushka Baroque Pearl Drops ($535), although I'm not 100% sure about the hoops she wore with the drops. The pearls are often paired with the Kiki McDonough hoops (£ 1700, approximately $2300 at today's exchange rates), shown in the photo second from the left. It could just be the lighting, but they almost look like the original Annoushka hoops (photo shown second from right) with their blackened gold surface. VIDEOS: The Royal Family Channel has coverage of the Farnborough School visit here. And coverage of the Churchtown visit is offered in this video.
The Princess in Recognizable Styles for RAF Coningsby Visit – What Kate Wore
The Princess of Wales was in familiar pieces for a visit to RAF Coningsby. The air station is located in Lincolnshire, approximately 3-1/2 hours north of Windsor. It is the training station for Typhoon pilots and home to two frontline squadrons. The Princess was appointed Royal Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Coningsby in August 2023. The Princess got a close look at the Typhoon. Here you see the Princess as she hears about this class of jets. We learn more from The Daily Mail's coverage. During her visit, Kate viewed one of these aircrafts, before visiting the Typhoon Future Synthetic Training facility - a newly opened site which provides integrated training environments for pilots. The Sun's story has more. The Princess even took the controls of a flight simulator and performed a loop the loop on her first visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire... And she shared how her youngest son Louis is keen to become a fighter pilot, but added: “I’m going to tell them (her children) it takes eight years and a lot of hard work.” Speaking afterwards Group Captain Paul O’Grady, Station Commander, said: She seems to be a natural pilot so we might have to get her qualified and get her flying a Typhoon, if she’s up for it. The Princess also spent time in a communal space called 'The Lounge,' where she met members of the base Welfare Team. More from Lincolnshire Live's coverage of the engagement. Corporal Emily Winks sat down for a cup of tea with the Princess of Wales where she spoke about her role and contribution to the station. She described Catherine as being 'passionate about the armed forces'. ASI Dan Field added: “She seemed really curious and really interested in what we had to say.” We return to the Lincolnshire Live piece. While enjoying refreshments in the communal area, Her Royal Highness was handed three cuddly plane toys for her children George, Charlotte and Louis, which she says they will 'absolutely love'. The mother-of-three then spoke with personnel about the importance of community and belonging - particularly for young recruits who have just joined the military. She said: “That sense of community, that sense of family is very important for them. More via this BBC article. Presenting her with three model Typhoons for her children, one team member said to her: Somebody told us that your children were very excited about you seeing a plane. The princess replied: They'll be very upset that I've seen a Typhoon without them. Before leaving, the Princess met well-wishers gathered at the base. We return to The Sun's story. Afterwards she met local families outside the base chatting to parents and children. Kate appeared to have such a good time she stayed 90 minutes longer than planned, and joked: I'm sorry, I totally outstayed my welcome! We return to the Lincolnshire Live coverage one more time. The Princess of Wales met dozens of people at the Lincolnshire base today and, according to our reporter, the one phrase on everyone's lips is: She was very down to earth. The senior royal impressed personnel with her kind nature and genuine interest in their lives. Gaynor Benjamin, 55, said: She was very relaxed, like someone we could talk to. She seemed interested in our lives. Rebecca Benjamin, 26, added that she was 'a lot more down to earth' than she expected. It appears that the Princess has made some new friends. Including a four-legged friend she met earlier in the visit. Now, for our look at what Kate wore for today's engagement. Many immediately recognized her Bella Freud suit, a style that we saw earlier this month for engagements showcasing British textiles. The Earl Jacket and Schoolboy Trousers (both styles are now sold out) showcase a classic Prince of Wales pattern. Both pieces are crafted of a wool and linen blend fabric. The Princess brought back an Alexander McQueen top, first noted when worn for Holocaust Memorial Day in 2021. The women's Rib-knit Long-sleeve Sweater In Grey Melange (past season, no longer available) features a round neck, keyhole back, and directional ribbing, including a center strip on the front and back. It looks like the Princess wore her Gianvito 85 Pumps in navy suede ($795), a point-toe style with a 3.3 heel. Her hair was partially pulled back. The Princess's jewelry included the sapphire and diamond cluster earrings and the RAF Air Arm Fleet pin. I show it as worn today, and also on Remembrance Sunday 2025 (bottom right). One other quick note today, this one involving a tiara appearance for the Princess. Kind of, sort of, okay - not really. It's a tiara on a cowboy hat I'm referencing. The Princess was shown in the hat as part of a social media post with good luck wishes for England's Red Roses ahead of their match against Canada in the Women's Rugby World Cup. The Red Roses were victorious in the match, beating Canada's team 33-13.