In a tale as old as time, the Princess of Wales made a glittering state banquet appearance. Belle from Disney's Beauty and the Beast came to mind as Catherine arrived at Tuesday's dinner for the Sultan of Oman in a showstopping yellow gown.
Catherine stepped out for the occasion in a cape design by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, which she paired with her go-to tiara: Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara.
The Princess completed her regal look with the late Queen's earrings and bracelet, along with the King Charles II Royal Family Order, GCVO Sash and Star.
© Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty ImagesCatherine participated in the royal procession, walking with the H.E. Sayyid Khalid Hilal Al Busaidi, while her husband, Prince William, processed in with Ms. Dina Mack.
Before the banquet, Kensington Palace released a gorgeous black-and-white portrait of the Prince and Princess of Wales taken at Frogmore House.
Through the years, especially since her grand return following chemotherapy, the Princess has cemented her status as the reigning star of state banquets. "She has perfected what eluded many before her: combining majesty with approachability, tradition with modernity, duty with humanity. It’s a delicate balance that has defeated countless royals throughout history - too formal and you're remote, too casual and you diminish the Crown. Kate inhabits that impossible middle ground as if born to it. She wasn't. That makes it even more remarkable," royal author Robert Jobson told HELLO! last year. "She doesn't just represent the monarchy; she embodies its evolution. She is the jewel in the Crown."
© Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty ImagesTuesday marked the second time Catherine has worn a tiara in 2026. Her first tiara appearance of the year took place in March during the Nigerian state visit. For that particular state banquet, hosted for Nigeria's president and first lady, the Princess also opted for the Lover's Knot Tiara.
To date, since joining the royal family, the Princess has only worn five different tiaras. Apart from the Lover's Knot, Catherine has sparkled in the Cartier Halo Tiara, the Lotus Flower Tiara, the Strathmore Rose Tiara and the Oriental Circlet Tiara over the years. The latter she introduced to her rotation in December 2025 for the German state visit.
Justin Daughters, managing director at Hatton Garden-based jewellers Berganza, has previously told HELLO!: "[Catherine's] approach to tiaras has been notably restrained, with just five pieces worn publicly over more than a decade. I think that actually makes each appearance more significant."
