The King and Queen of the Netherlands are currently on a state visit to the United Kingdom, where the royals are spending time with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince William, Duchess Kate, and other members of the British royal family. Tonight, Queen Elizabeth is hosting a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in honor of Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima's visit. As is expected with an elaborate affair that brings royals from not one but two European countries together, the tiaras were out in full force. See every stunning tiara look from the Dutch state banquet here:<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow and never miss the top Royal stories again. Her Majesty shone in a long-sleeved white gown as she hosted the dutch royals at the Palace last night. Kate, 36, Duchess of Cambridge joined by Prince William, 36, stole the show and dazzled in a diamond tiara that belonged to Princess Diana. Meanwhile the Duchess of Cornwall, looked elegant in an embroidered ivory coat dress, wore the Queen Mother's Greville tiara. As per protocol, the royal women all wore ballgowns and tiaras for the banquet.<doc-sep>Queen Maxima in pictures: Dutch Queen wows at Buckingham Palace state dinner When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace last night hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. The 47-year-old looked stunning at the evening reception in full regalia alongside the Queen, 92, Duchess of Cornwall, 71, and Duchess of Cambridge, 36. The stylish royal chose a strapless midnight blue ombre dress with a diamond bow-shaped brooch at her waist. A sheer cape that fell to the floor added a modern touch to her beautiful outfit for the opulent event.<doc-sep>It’s tiara time! Kate Middleton sparkled in jewels as she headed to a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening. Kate and Prince William left Kensington Palace for the dazzling occasion, which was just a short drive away. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Kate, who wore a blue Alexander McQueen gown, was pictured being driven into the palace wearing the Lover’s Knot tiara. Sometimes referred to as the Cambridge Lover’s Knot, it is one of the best-known tiaras in the British royal family’s collection, mostly thanks to it being a favorite of the late Princess Diana. Her classic updo showed off her pearl drop earrings, which also belonged to Diana. A little more than century old, the Lover’s Knot tiara has gotten a lot of use by Kate, who has worn it on several royal occasions. The royal mom of three also wore another glittering piece from the monarch’s collection: Queen Alexandra’s wedding necklace, which was a favorite of the Queen Mother’s. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales – son of Queen Victoria – gave the pearl and diamond stunner to his bride, Princess Alexandra of Denmark, as a gift for their wedding in 1863. ROYAL Netherlands 212336 Kate Middleton | Credit: John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Kate was also wearing the royal family order just below her left shoulder — a personal gift from the Queen to female members of the royal family. She first wore it at the diplomatic reception before Christmas, but it likely wasn’t seen as just car shots were taken publicly. The order takes the form of a picture of the Queen — and in Kate’s case it is on glass. Previously, they have been made with ivory, but in keeping with William and Kate’s shared hope to halt the use of wild animal parts, Kate’s was made with glass. The royals hosted King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at the end of the first day of their official state visit. Kate was seated between one of the Dutch King’s aides, Rear-Admiral Ludger Brummelaar and Lord Fowler, the Speaker Of the House of Lords. Six seats to the right of the Queen sat Prince William — whose neighbors at the table were Prime Minister Theresa May and the head of the Dutch royal household Jan Versteeg. Prince Charles sat next to his mother and Queen Maxima. In a speech, King Willem-Alexander called Queen Elizabeth the “most fearless Bond girl” who has “great panache.” The Dutch king’s comment was a light-hearted reference to the landmark moment when Elizabeth (and her corgis!) joined Daniel Craig to film a fun opener for the London Olympics in 2012. ROYAL Netherlands 212896 Credit: John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty “The world looks to you as a trusted beacon in the midst of upheaval,” he said. “Your ability to keep in touch with the times is striking. You even have an adventurous streak, as you showed six years ago at the opening of the Olympic Games. In front of millions of viewers you played the role of the most fearless Bond Girl ever – with great panache!” “Our countries are North Sea neighbors. The sea has made us natural allies; both outward-looking, both curious as to what lies beyond the horizon.” William and Kate, who attended her first state banquet alongside the Queen in 2015 when Chinese President Xi Jinping came to London, are becoming regular fixtures on the list of royals welcoming heads of state. The Dutch royals were welcomed to London by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall before Queen Elizabeth, 92, joined them at the ceremonial meeting on Horse Guard’s Parade. The dinner at the palace was for around 170 guests.The extensive planning for a state banquet starts about six months before the big event, with invitations sent out two months ahead. A special “silver pantry” provides the silver-gilt plates used for the first two courses, fish and meat. (Pudding and seasonal fruit are served on porcelain.) The design on the cutlery that comes with it, collected by George IV “doesn’t always match,” said Anna Reynolds, the curator of the 2015 Buckingham Palace exhibit that focused on state banquets and other royal events. Each person gets 18 inches of space, with the napkin folded in the shape of a Dutch bonnet.<doc-sep>
Kate Middleton did not wear a sash at a state dinner Tuesday night. Various other members of the royal family did wear a sash. But she did wear a yellow badge indicating a new honor. On Tuesday night, Kate Middleton joined Prince William, the Queen, and various other royals at a state banquet to welcome the King and Queen of the Netherlands. But Kate didn’t sport one thing that the rest of her family wore: a sash. Camilla Parker Bowles wore a blue sash, as did Queen Elizabeth II. PETER NICHOLLS Getty Images Last year, at the Spanish State Banquet at Buckingham Palace, Kate also did not wear a sash. Max Mumby/Indigo Getty Images And she didn't wear a sash in 2015, at a state banquet with China’s president, Xi Jinping. WPA Pool Getty Images But Tuesday night's state dinner did see Kate with a new honor: a yellow badge, with a brooch featuring a portrait of the Queen. The sashes and badges are known as “orders,” and they are given from the Queen to relatives in the royal family as a reward for their service, People reports. The blue sash represents the Royal Victorian Order of Queen Elizabeth II, which Kate does not have. However, tonight she did wear a yellow badge on her dress, indicating Kate has been given the Royal Family Order. It appears to be new, since she did not wear the badge at previous engagements. Majesty Magazine reports that this is actually the second time the Duchess of Cambridge has worn the family order and "unlike other examples of the family order, the Duchess of Cambridge’s is made of glass rather than ivory." Unlike other examples of the family order, the Duchess of Cambridge’s is made of glass rather than ivory. — Majesty/Joe Little (@MajestyMagazine) October 23, 2018 The press has speculated for years about when Kate would receive the family order, but it’s not necessarily a surprise Kate doesn’t have the Royal Victorian Order yet. She is relatively new to the royal family, and she is not as close of a relative to the Queen as her mother-in-law, Camilla, for example. Plus, she has not completed as many royal engagements as other women in the royal family just yet. That’s likely because she has had three children and doesn’t have as much time as others in the family. But here's betting she'll get her blue sash in due time.