How Kate Middleton became the Queen's ally and proved she doesn't need William by her side

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The Duchess, 33, dazzled in the Queen Mother's tiara
Oozed confidence as she sat next to the Chinese president and the Queen
The Queen and Kate have become very close in recent months
More of the latest news on the Duchess of Cambridge's first state banquet

Published: 05:38 EST, 21 October 2015 | Updated: 13:02 EST, 21 October 2015

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She was thrust into the royal limelight as the shy student on Prince William's arm, but the Duchess of Cambridge has handled it all with aplomb.

Indeed, her appearance at Tuesday night's state banquet, held in honour of Chinese president Xi Jinping, was case in point.

The Duchess, 33, dazzled in the Queen Mother's tiara as she took pride of place on the top table next to the Chinese president and the Queen, confidently holding conversation with the duo, smiling and laughing throughout the evening.

She was seated in the most prominent position for a female member of the royal family after the Queen - on the President's right while the monarch, as is custom, sat on Mr Xi's left - and Kate certainly looked thrilled to be there.

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The Duchess of Cambridge, 33, dazzled in the Queen Mother's tiara as she took pride of place on the top table next to the Chinese president and the Queen on Tuesday night and looked delighted to be there - a sign of how independent and confident she has become

As the wife of the second in line to throne, Kate takes William's status when she accompanies him, so outranks blood princesses such as the Princess Royal, who was also present.

She spoke confidently to guests and was the perfect ally to the Queen, with whom she has become very close.

The interaction between the duo was a sign of their strong bond and Kate oozed self-assurance - a key attribute for any royal.

Now a fully-fledged senior royal and the mother of the heir, the Duchess of Cambridge is a very different prospect from middle-class Kate Middleton, the girl who married into the Royal Family four years ago.

No longer a private citizen, her life is now one of endless engagements, royal tours and a constant battle for normality in the face of a constitutional role.

Assured, confident and always impeccably dressed, the once Kate Middleton is now arguably grander than the royals themselves - and the Queen is certainly taking her extremely seriously.

Kate shared a drink with Chinese President Xi Jinping and oozed confidence - a far cry from the former Kate Middleton who came onto the scene four years ago

No longer a private citizen, Kate's life is now one of endless engagements, royal tours and a constant battle for normality in the face of a constitutional role - but she's handled it just fine

Dazzle in a scarlet embellished Jenny Packham gown like the Duchess of Cambridge

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Whilst the biggest sartorial choice of our day might be what to put on in the morning, the Duchess of Cambridge faced a much more serious style decision today- what to wear for her first state dinner held at Buckingham Palace!

The event, held in honor of the Chinese president’s visit to the UK, also marked only the third time Kate has worn a tiara for an official engagement, causing much speculation about which of the royal jewels she would choose- decisions decisions!

Taking this diamond dilemma in her stride, Kate opted for the Papyrus tiara which set off her scarlet hued embellished gown perfectly.

Ever the sartorial diplomat, the Duchess of Cambridge flew the flag for the British fashion industry wearing a bespoke gown by Jenny Packham in red, which just so happens to be China’s national color- genius!

One of the Duchess of Cambridge’s go-to designers for official occasions, Kate also wore a dress by Jenny Packham earlier this year when she was pictured leaving hospital following the birth of Princess Charlotte.

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It's all a far cry from her earliest days in public life when she frequently showed visible signs of nerves, not least during a meeting with President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle at Buckingham Palace shortly after her wedding.

But last night, all eyes were on Kate, 33, who wore the delicate Papyrus tiara, also known as the Lotus Flower, which was once owned by the Queen Mother and a favourite of Princess Margaret for the first state banquet at Buckingham Palace, as she toasted and dined beside Mr Xi.

The priceless headpiece and matching diamond-drop earrings accessorised a brocade high-necked bespoke Jenny Packham dress in a fitting shade of red, the colour of China's flag.

Kate and the Queen have become fiercely close - and the monarch is clearly delighted to be a grandparent to Kate and William's two children

The Duchess of Cambridge laughs as Queen Elizabeth gestures while they watch part of a children's sports event during a visit to Vernon Park in Nottingham, proving how comfortable they are in each other's company

Now a fully-fledged senior royal and the mother of the heir, right, the Duchess of Cambridge is a very different prospect from middle-class Kate Middleton, the girl who married into the Royal Family four years ago, left, at her graduation in 2005

She joined the Royal Procession into the ballroom alongside Wang Huning - one of the Communist Party of China's top leaders, following behind Prince William who walked with Caroline Welby - the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Indeed, in September, it was the Queen who managed to coax the Duchess of Cambridge out of her rural ‘isolation’ in Norfolk.

The monarch invited Kate and Prince William to her Scottish home, Balmoral, to help her celebrate becoming the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.

Kate’s visit to Balmoral was the first big social occasion she had attended after missing the wedding of William’s friends, estate agent Bear Maclean and socialite Daisy Dickson, in Devon, in the summer.

She has since gone on to represent the British Monarchy at several events, including a visit to the Anna Freud Centre for Children in Islington last month, and the rugby world cup with her husband, proving she can confidently represent the royals with or without her husband.

The Duchess of Cambridge regulalrly attends public engagement solo, here she visits the Anna Freud Centre for Children in Islington last month

Kate, pictured with the Duke of Cambridge during an event hosted by Mind at London's Harrow College to mark World Mental Health Day, has proven she can represent the royal family with or without her husband