Royal family recap: Princess Anne attends banquet as Prince Harry makes unannounced TV appearance

Good morning, you've joined us on a busy day for the royal family as the German state visit kicks off. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales will be welcoming German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, as they arrive at Heathrow airport this morning.

The parties will then travel to Windsor Castle where the King and Queen will be waiting. 

Together with their visitors, the royals will then ride in a carriage procession to Windsor Castle, where a ceremonial welcome will take place along with a Guard of Honour in the castle Quadrangle.

The Duchess of Sussex's With Love Meghan: Holiday Celebration has dropped on Netflix today.

Meghan shares her tips and tricks for cooking, crafting and hosting over the festive season, as well as insights into her family life as she makes an advent calendar and Christmas crackers for Archie and Lilibet.

Prince Harry also pops up at the end of the show and has some complimentary words for his mother-in-law, Doria Ragland, while also teasing his wife!

See our standout moments from the show here. 

The Princess of Wales has wowed us with a number of state banquet gowns and tiara looks over the years.

Ahead of tonight's state banquet, our Lifestyle Writer Katie Daly, has taken a look back at some of her most dazzling ensembles. 

This is expected to be Kate's third state banquet appearance of the year, after charming at the French and the US state visits in July and September respectively.

The Princess of Wales has spoken about the importance of connection during the Christmas period as she observed that it's a time that reminds us "how deeply our lives are woven together" adding that despite life feeling "fragmented or uncertain" at times, the festive season "invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another".

Kate has written a special letter that will be given to guests attending her annual Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on Friday 5 December as well as the 15 community services across the UK.

Full story here.

The red carpet has been rolled out at Heathrow airport for the President and First Lady as they prepare to disembark from their plane.

The Prince and Princess of Wales should arrive shortly to greet them.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have just greeted the President and First Lady at Heathrow airport. 

A carpet lining party, formed of The King’s Colour Squadron, Royal Air Force, was in position for the arrival of the president’s Bundesrepublik Deutschland plane which featured a stripe made of the colours of the German flag.

William, in a smart suit, greeted the King's guests alongside Kate, who was wearing a Burberry dress with a blue coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, with a matching hat, her hair down and straight, and earrings which belonged to William's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, and a Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch.

William proceeded to introduce them to the waiting dignities and could be seen to be holding and reading a piece of white card, as he announced the names of those in the lining party.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier smiled as he chatted to the prince as William guided the guests along the red carpet.

A closer look at the Princess of Wales's outfit today. 

The McQueen coat and Juliette Millinery fascinator are repeats from her Christmas Day ensemble in 2023. 

Kate also carried a pair of suede gloves and a clutch bag in one hand.

Laura Sutcliffe, our Fashion & Beauty News Editor, breaks down the royal's outfit here.

The King and Queen have arrived at the Royal Dais in the centre of Windsor, close to Windsor Castle, as they prepare to greet the President of Germany.

Their Majesties were met with a royal salute from the waiting Sovereign’s Escort and the national anthem, played by a military band.

The King opted for a classic dark overcoat amid the chilly December air, while the Queen was dressed in a sapphire blue silk dress, with a sapphire blue cashmere top stitch coat by Anna Valentine and a matching feathered hat by Philip Treacy. Camilla, wearing black boots and gloves in the chilly air, was also wearing a sapphire and diamond brooch which once belonged to Queen Victoria.

The visiting German leader and his wife were met by the King and Queen on the red-carpeted Royal Dais, with Charles greeting the president with a warm handshake.

Mr Steinmeier told the King: "It's so wonderful to see you again" before giving a hearty chuckle.

Charles and Camilla's first outgoing state visit of their reign was to Germany in March 2023.

After exchanging pleasantries, the royals and the Presidential couple stood shoulder to shoulder on the Dais for the German national anthem followed by God Save The King.

There was a sweet moment as the Queen greeted the Prince and Princess of Wales with a kiss on their cheeks.

Kate also smiled and did a double curtsey, one for the King and then, in case Camilla had not seen her, another for the Queen.

The King and the President travelled in the enclosed Irish State Coach, which sheltered them from the elements, compared with the open-top carriage used for French President Emmanuel Macron in the summer, on their way through the town to the castle for the full-scale ceremonial welcome in the quadrangle.

Camilla and Ms Budenbender followed in the Australian State Coach, with William and Kate in the Scottish State Coach with German state secretary Dorte Dinger, and MEP for Germany David McAllister, who is vice president of the European People's Party.

After the carriage procession, the King and the President inspected a Guard of Honour formed by the Grenadier Guards – one of the oldest regiments in the British Army.

The regiment fought alongside Field Marshal Blucher and his German, then Prussian, forces at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and the Grenadiers still wear the bearskin caps they took from the French as battle honours.

Behind them was a military band who played first the German national anthem followed by the British as the carriages approached the royal dais.

The royal family greeted Germany's president with an impressive display of pomp and pageantry at Windsor Castle.

Crowds lined the streets of the Berkshire town as the King led a carriage procession in the Irish State Coach, accompanied by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Camilla and First Lady Elke Büdenbender following in the Australian State Coach.

With William and Kate behind them in the Scottish State Coach, accompanied by German state secretary Dr. Dörte Dinger and David McAllister MEP, Vice President of the European People's Party, the procession pulled into the castle's Quadrangle for a ceremonial welcome, with a Guard Honour giving a royal salute and a regimental band playing the German and British national anthems. Other politicians and dignitaries travelled behind in the Ascot Landau.

Kate, in a Burberry dress and royal blue coat by her wedding dress designer, Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, a Prince of Wales feather brooch and earrings belonging to Diana, Princess of Wales, stood next to Prince William as the King and the President inspected the guard, distinguished by the white plume in their bearskin caps, as the band played ‘Marsch des Yorck’schen Korps’ by Beethoven.

Meanwhile, Camilla, in a sapphire blue silk dress and matching cashmere coat by Anna Valentine, with a Philip Treacy feather hat and Queen Victoria's sapphire and diamond brooch, looked deep in conversation with the First Lady.

At one point, the Queen broke away to greet Kate with a kiss, and the Princess dipped into a customary curtsy.

Following the Inspection, The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, The Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Grenadier Guards' Guard of Honour marched past The King and the President as the Band played 'First and Finest' and 'The British Grenadiers'.

Afterwards, the royals and their guests headed inside the castle for lunch.

The first German state visit in 27 years, the three-day visit is designed to strengthen Britain's relationship with Germany.

The King, who has German ancestors, visited Germany in 2023 on his first foreign trip after his accession to the throne. 

Hi. I'm Rachel and I'll be on the blog this afternoon - bringing you the latest from the German state visit as well as everything else royal related! 

His Majesty and Queen Camilla have just shown the German president and his wife a collection of special items relating to Germany in the Green Drawing Room.

They took the chance to view Queen Victoria's diary where there was an entry in which recalled a romantic holiday with her German-born husband Prince Albert. In 1845, they went to see his birthplace Schloss Rosenau, the Rosenau Palace, in Coburg. She penned: "If I was not what I am – this would have been my real home. Always like to live here with my dearest Albert. I shall always consider it my 2d (second) home, & as my 2d country."

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were also spotted at the Castle, supporting the King and Queen during this very important state visit. They both took the time to admire the items on display. 

The German president and his wife have exchanged gifts with King Charles and Queen Camilla on day one of their state visit. 

Included in the exchange was a traditional handmade horn-handled walking stick, made by a craftsman based on the Isle of Mull, from King Charles to The Federal President. Queen Camilla gifted a First Edition of Virginia Woolf's imaginative biography of the Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning's dog Flush to Ms Büdenbender.

From the president, the King received a nutcracker (among other gifts). Since 1958, these wooden nutcracker figures have been handcrafted by artists in the Erzgebirge region. A copy of J.B. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio was presented by Ms Büdenbender to Queen Camilla.  

The Prince of Wales was spotted making a subtle gesture to his wife Kate to gently hurry her along as the pair viewed artefacts from the Royal Collection during the German state visit - watch the moment here.

To mark launch day of her Holiday Celebration episode of With Love, Meghan, the Duchess shared a snippet of the show. In the short clip, she made two major admissions - that she's no good at tennis or painting! We somehow doubt that's true...

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II hosted 112 state visits, with usually one or two occurring each year. In 1988, however, she welcomed three different countries - King Olav V of Norway in April; President Keenan Evren of Turkey in July and President Abdou Diouf and Madame Diouf of The Republic of Senegal in November. This year, King Charles has matched his late mother and is on to his third state visit with the Germans arriving today. 

Throwing it back to this day in 2016 when Prince Harry was visiting Guyana. He was presented with a headress by dancers in Surama Village in the Guyana Hinterland - don't you think he pulls it off well?

After Prince William was spotted ushering his wife along inside the castle, new photographs have emerged with the Prince placing his hand on once Kate's back once more, at an earlier point of the day. It seems to be William's signature move, and occasionally Kate reciprocates. Some would say a small, but significant display of affection between the royal couple. 

As Danielle mentioned previously on the blog, the Duchess of Sussex's Christmas special is out on Netflix now. 

Are you planning on watching it? Let us know in the poll in this HELLO! Royal Club post.

In the post, our US Royal Correspondent Alex Hurtado shares her take on the one-off festive episode.

As we eagerly await the photos and news from tonight's state banquet, I hand the baton over to Rebecca Lewis to keep you in the loop. 

As we eagerly await the first images of the State Banquet, I love this sneak peek into the preparations that happened at Windsor Castle—St George’s Hall looks absolutely stunning! 

The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived and the only word we can think of is "wow".

Princess Kate is positively glowing in a Jenny Packham gown, which she has paired with Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara.

It is the first time Kate has ever worn the tiara, which the late Queen Elizabeth II only wore once, in 2005 or 2006.

This tiara has a lot of history. 

Prince Albert reportedly designed the headpiece which has lotus flowers set amongst 17 mughal arches which are set in 2,600 diamonds from Garrards, the London-based luxury jeweler which was founded in 1735.

The tiara originally contained opals, but in 1902 Victoria's daughter-in-law, Queen Alexandra, replaced them with rubies, and reduced the 17 arches to 11.

Throghout the 20th century it remained the property of Queen Elizabeth's mother, despite it being an heirloom of the crown, and the Queen Mother regularly wore it for State Visits, royal tours, galas, and official portraits.

Queen Elizabeth only wore the tiara once after her mother passed, in 2005, and it has remained hidden away for almost 20 years until today.