Tonight, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended one of the most glittering events of the royal Calendar – the annual Diplomatic Reception. The reception is hosted by Queen Elizabeth II every year in December at the Buckingham Palace in London. The white-tie Reception is the main social event of the year in London for the diplomatic community reflecting the Queen’s importance in terms of the UK’s international relations.
Some 1000 Diplomatic Corps, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, based in London who supports the work of the Royal Family in representing the UK at home and abroad attend the reception. This work includes the hosting of State Visits and The Queen’s regular audiences with Ambassadors and High Commissioners. The preparation behind the reception requires hours of intricate planning by the Master of the Household and the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as the commandeering of almost every member of waiting- staff.
The reception was held at one of the largest multi-purpose room of Buckingham Palace – the ballroom. Since its opening in 1856 for the celebration of the Crimean war, the room is used for hosting state banquets and state events. Before 2018, the most we get from this reception was the car shots of the Duchess of Cambridge leaving Kensington Palace. But in 2018 in the wake of the power transition, Palace brought a major change allowed one pool photographer inside the reception giving us a glimpse of what is going inside.
Joining the Queen were the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. The reception is a white-tie event that means tailcoats for gentlemen, gown and tiaras for ladies with RFOs. Queen Elizabeth II wore a white gown by her head designer Angela Kelly paired with white gloves, an emerald necklace and the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara and pearl drop earrings. The Duchess of Cornwall wore a cream embroidered gown by Bruce Oldfield and the Greville Tiara
Catherine talking to the guests. This is the 6th time The Duchess attended the reception. Her first was in the year 2013.
For the evening, The Duchess of Cambridge was wearing a new navy velvet gown by her go-to designer Alexander McQueen.
The gown featured vee-neckline, structured shoulders with full sleeves and a fitted floor-length silhouette. The design of Catherine’s gown was pretty similar to the label’s Bejewelled Long Sleeve Illusion Gown.
Catherine topped her gown with her go-to Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara. Since debuting the tiara at December 2015’s Diplomatic Reception, Catherine has worn it many times 2015 Diplomatic Reception, 2016 Diplomatic Reception, 2017 Spain State Banquet, 2017 Diplomatic Reception, 2018 Netherlands State Banquet and 2018 Diplomatic Reception, most recently at US State Banquet in June 2019.
The Duchess paired the stunning tiara with Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace that she debuted during a visit to National Portrait Gallery in 2014. A diamond necklace made by Cartier in the 1930sm it was a wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth on her wedding from the last Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Osman Ali Khan, in 1947.
The new element of today’s sparkling look was a pair of earrings. @saadsalman719 on Twitter suggested that Catherine’s earrings could be Queen’s Diamond Chandelier Drop Demi-Parure earrings, which was most recently loaned to the Countess of Wessex for the American State Banquet.
Catherine finished her look with GCVO regalia. She wore Dame Grand Cross of the (GCVO) Royal Victorian Order and the blue, red and white sash that was gifted by the Queen to Catherine in April this year at her 8th Wedding Anniversary marking her appointment as the member of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Duchess of Cambridge was also wearing her Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. Personally given by HM to female members of the Royal Family the RFO features a miniature portrait of the Queen painted on glass, surrounded by diamonds topped by a red enamelled crown. Usually, the RFO is made of Ivory, but as a node to the Duke of Cambridge’s conservative work, Catherine’s RFO is made of glass.
Catherine was also wearing a new ring that is still unidentified.
A look back at the Duchess of Cambridge’s last year appearance at the Diplomatic Reception.
Duchess of Cambridge in Pale Princess Gown and Lover’s Knot Tiara for Diplomatic Reception
As per Court Circular, yesterday the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as the Joint Patrons of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a Trustees’ Meeting.
Hello Magzine reported that while The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were attending the reception, three Cambridge kids had their favourite babysitter with them- GrandMa Carole. The Duchess’s mother Carole Middleton was seen leaving the Kensington Palace.
