There’s a particular kind of thrill that sweeps across the internet whenever Kate Middleton reaches for a tiara. It’s the same energy that comes with spotting a rare bird in the wild — you know it doesn’t happen often, so when it does, the world pays attention. And if palace timing is anything to go by, the Princess of Wales might be preparing for another shimmering moment sooner than expected.
Kate, now 43, has already delivered two tiara appearances this year, each one a masterclass in quiet glamour. Buckingham Palace’s autumn announcement hinted that her next jewel-studded outing could land in early December. Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is scheduled for a state visit to the United Kingdom from December 3 to 5, and if royal tradition keeps to its usual rhythm, the first evening will likely conclude with a state banquet — the very setting where tiaras step back into the spotlight.
Kate Middleton arrives for the U.S. state banquet at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, 2025. Credit :
WPA Pool/Getty
These banquets aren’t simply dinners. They’re diplomatic theatre wrapped in crystal light and silverware, a chance for the royal family to reaffirm ties with global leaders. And as the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate almost always take their places at the table, offering warm hosts’ smiles and perfectly timed toasts.
Despite the myth that the British royals float around in tiaras on random Tuesday nights, these pieces are strictly reserved for high-formality occasions. Weddings. Coronations. State banquets. The sort of events where centuries of tradition thread through the dress code.
Prince William and Kate Middleton at the state banquet at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, 2025.
Bredit: WPA Pool/Getty
Kate’s favourite so far has been Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot, a piece with its own mythology and a signature shimmer that photographs beautifully from every angle. She wore it first for the French state banquet at Windsor Castle in July, then again in September to honour the state visit linked to President Donald Trump. Both appearances made the case that the Lover’s Knot is not just a tiara — it’s Kate’s quiet signature.
So, as December edges closer, royal watchers are already leaning in. A state visit means the tables will be long, the glassware will gleam and, if history holds, the Princess of Wales may once again step into the room crowned in diamonds, soft light and expectation.
