Windsor Castle twinkled with much more than holiday decor on Wednesday evening. The halls glittered with priceless jewels on as the German royal family hosted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender for a State Banquet during their visit to the UK. It was a momentous occasion as this trip marks the first state visit for a sitting German president in 27 years. Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, was in attendance, representing the royal family. For the occasion, the Duchess appeared to once again wear Queen Mary’s Honeysuckle Tiara.
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The Duchess of Gloucester arrives with Princess Anne. Her husband, Prince Richard, appears to be walking behind them.
Birgitte has worn this sparkler a few times this year already, most recently at the U.S state banquet in September. The piece was originally commissioned by Queen Mary circa 1910. One of the most interesting facets to this headpiece is that the central stone can be swapped out, which the Duchess did take advantage of at a London event in July, at which she installed a large pink kunzite gemstone. Otherwise, the tiara can hold a large sapphire or diamond; it reportedly even held the Cullinan V diamond at one time or another.
Also pinned to her red gown was the Royal Family Order of King Charles III. Royal Orders are traditionally given to senior women of the royal family in recognition of their service to the monarch. Birgitte, who is also a member of the Order of the Garter as of 2024, was honored with this new Royal Order ahead of the French State Banquet in July.
State banquets often bring out a parade of beautiful gowns and sparkling tiaras from the royals. Also in attendance at Windsor this evening included Queen Camilla in the Girls of Great Britain and Northern Ireland tiara, the Princess of Wales and the Orient Circlet tiara, Princess Anne in the Aquamarine Pineflower tiara, and the Duchess of Edinburgh in her favorite Aquamarine tiara.
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.
