Kate Middleton wears bespoke Jenny Packham gown for her first state banquet

Home Top

Horrifying moment Florida cop shot dead beloved dog Duchess in front of her owner 'on routine house check'
'I believe we're out of time': Vice President leaves way clear for Hillary Clinton, ending weeks of speculation about 2016 bid for the White House
How to ALWAYS win an argument with your other half: The five simple rules to triumph in a row
Democrats release Benghazi testimony of Hillary's State Department chief of staff day before Clinton testifies - and claim Republicans are guilty of 'selective leaks'
EXCLUSIVE: Bristol Palin ends bitter battle over child support with ex Levi Johnston - but another fight may be brewing with father of baby girl due to be born out of wedlock in just weeks
WikiLeaks releases first batch of CIA Director's emails just days after 'stoner high school student' hacked into John Brennan's online account
Man arrested in vicious stabbing attack on 2 Detroit paramedics that left pair with 'horrific' wounds
Creepy video of a masked figure featuring cryptic threats toward Barack Obama and the White House sets social media in a spin
Twelve people in intensive care and more than 80 ill 'after eating at same California restaurant'
Shocking dash-cam footage shows moment cop shot dead wanted man, 27, in a hail of 12 bullets after his Taser failed
El Faro captain reported a 'hull breach' and said a hatch had blown open before the ship sunk off the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin
Libyan government says the FBI can interview new Lockerbie bombing suspects currently jailed in Tripoli
Star Wars: The Force Awakens ticket sales break records as scalpers try to resell opening night passes for $10,000
Passenger who 'threatened to blow up plane' on flight from JFK to Palm Beach is charged with punching flight attendant
'Are we in America yet?: Taiwan woman who gave birth on US-bound flight 'snuck on at 36 weeks to have baby on American soil' and has been deported WITHOUT the child
Pictured: Four-year-old girl shot dead during New Mexico road rage attack as police continue manhunt for gunman
Man without a family found dead on his kitchen floor for a year as 'no one was checking on him or paying attention'
JetBlue flight attendant saves baby choking on a plane after being given teething medicine
Vatican denies Pope Francis is suffering from a brain tumor after Italian newspaper claims doctors had found 'a dark small spot' on a scan
Divorce is OFF! Khloe Kardashian withdraws court papers as new photos show her smiling at LA hospital as Lamar Odom recovers after overdose
He's back! Chris Rock confirmed as Oscars 2016 host... 11 years after his first turn
Number of people smoking cannabis in the US 'more than doubles in 12 years' as study finds almost one in ten now use drug
Is a high sex drive RUINING your relationship? Relationship guru explains what to do when you have a raging libido - but your partner doesn't
Prep school graduate faces life on the sex offender list after judge upholds ruling that he used a computer to lure a 15-year-old girl in twisted student sex tradition

Elegant Kate wore full-skirted floor-length gown with tailored embellished bodice with cap sleeves and round neck
Jenny Packham designed gowns mother-of-two wore to leave hospital after having George and Charlotte
Queen wore signature white for state event, while Chinese First Lady donned midnight blue
See more of the latest news on the Duchess of Cambridge at her first state banquet

Published: 18:11 EST, 20 October 2015 | Updated: 22:39 EST, 20 October 2015

263

View
comments

The Duchess of Cambridge is nothing if not loyal to her favourite designers but when it came to choosing a stunning, appropriate and memorable gown for her first state banquet at Buckingham Palace, only one designer would do - Jenny Packham.

The floor-sweeping dress, made in a stunning red in honour of the Queen's guests Chinese president Xi Jinping and his glamorous wife Peng Liyuan - combined a fitted round bodice with a round neck and cap sleeves with a long romantic skirt and was also simple enough to offset the stunning diamonds given and lent by the Queen.

Kate, 33, wore Jenny Packham when she left hospital with both Prince Charlotte and George and turned to the designer for key pieces in her royal tour wardrobe in Australia and New Zealand, in a relationship the British dressmaker has described as 'collaborative'.

Scroll down for video

The Duchess of Cambridge stands to toast Chinese President Xi Jinping, showing off her stunning bespoke Jenny Packham gown

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

Bespoke Jenny Packham

Shop the ready-to-wear collection at Net-a-Porter

Buy now

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.

Whilst this one-of-a-kind dress is not for sale, you can click right to shop the current collection at Net-a-Porter, or for more choice scroll through our edit of alternatives in the carousel below- all budgets covered!

* PRICES MAY NOT BE AS ADVERTISED

...NOW GET A MAXI DRESS LIKE KATE'S

The BBC filmed the Duchess sweeping through the corridors of Buckingham Palace into the dinner to host the Chinese delegation

Jenny Packham confirmed to FEMAIL that they designed the bespoke dress for the occasion. Similar looks retail on their website for £2,600.

The dress features many of the details Kate likes, including a slim-fitting waist with a belt and tailored top. The vibrant shade, which is also one of her favourite, referenced the national colour of China.

It also set off Kate's jewellery from the Lotus Flower Tiara perched in her elegant up-do, to the diamond bracelets on both wrists.

Jenny Packham has earned her place as the Duchess's designer of choice and the businesswoman has provided a glimpse into what it means to be the brains behind the woman with one of the world's most closely-watched wardrobes.

Packham's policy is not to discuss clients but she admits it can be difficult not to. Asked by WWD if she works directly with the duchess, Packham said, 'Absolutely. It’s always quite a collaboration.'

She also noted that the Duchess has a great sense of style and a British one.

The Duchess of Cambridge wears the sparkling and lightweight tiara at the glittering state dinner at Buckingham Palace

Four-and-a-half years after she became an HRH, Kate made her first appearance at what is considered a staple royal duty - dining in the opulent palace ballroom with 170 guests in honour of a visiting president.

It was also the Duke of Cambridge's first state banquet in the UK.

Kate joined the Royal Procession into the Ballroom, following behind William who walked with Caroline Welby - the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Kate walked alongside Wang Huning, one of the Communist Party of China's top leaders.

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.

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.

On Kate's right sat Mr Huning.

The Queen gives a speech in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, these are customarily done before the food is served

Kate shows off her bespoke Jenny Packham and diamonds loaned by the Queen as she stands next to President Xi Jinping and

The Duchess appeared to join the First Lady in adopting a more informal appearance and eschewing traditional evening gloves.

Kate was expected to wear the Order of Elizabeth, which the Queen was believed to have awarded her, but there was no sign of the miniature portrait attached to a yellow ribbon.

The mother-of-two wore the Lotus Flower tiara once owned by the Queen Mother and a favourite of Princess Margaret for her first state banquet at Buckingham Palace,

Although only the third time she's worn a tiara, this is the second time the mother-of-two has showcased this stunning headpiece, indicating that like the Queen's late sister, this will become her tiara of choice for official dinners.

Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan wore a sophisticated midnight blue silk dress with a white belt (left); the Queen wore her signature state banquet dress of white gown with gloves and the Modern Sapphire Tiara and matching necklace

The Queen, who is drinking water, clinks glasses with the Chinese president Xi Jinping during a toast before the meal

The Duchess wore a pair of chandelier diamond earrings loaned from Her Majesty as well as two eye-popping bracelets.

One art deco-style bracelet was fashioned into a bracelet from Queen Mary's choker while another dazzling bangle was one of Prince Philip's wedding gifts to the Queen, designed by Bond Street jeweller Philip Antrobus brilliants from a tiara belonging to Princess Andrew of Greece, the Duke of Edinburgh's mother, placed in a platinum setting.

Meanwhile, Ms Peng delivered on her reputation for glamour and style, thanks to her close relationship with Chinese designer Ma Ke, in a shantung silk midnight blue dress with a high neck and white belt.

Her Majesty opted for her signature state banquet look, going for a white gown, white evening gloves, her Order of the Garter sash and - in an unusual choice - the Modern Sapphire Tiara with matching necklace.

The Duchess of Cambridge is radiant in red, as she arrives at the state banquet

Prince William was resplendent in white tie next to his wife, radiant in red, and wearing a tiara for the third time

Prince William was resplendent in white tie by Kate's side as they arrived for the glittering sit-down dinner, which was hosted by the Queen in the palace's grand ballroom.

It was held in honour of Chinese president Xi Jinping and welcomed 170 guests including Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

According to protocol, female members of the royal family must dress in evening gowns for state banquets and wear tiaras - often loaned to them by the Queen.

They must also wear the Elizabeth II Family Order - a jewel encased image of the Queen on a chartreuse yellow ribbon which royal women wear pinned to their left shoulder. The Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex have all been given the personal order.

Meanwhile it is also the Duke of Cambridge's first Palace banquet - despite William turning 33 this year. The Duke's father Charles was 20 at his first state banquet in the London residence, but William has been wary of signing up too early to the more restrictive life of a full-time royal.

The Cambridges' decision to attend demonstrates the diplomatic importance of the Chinese state visit.

They did attend a state dinner in Singapore during their Jubilee tour in 2012, but it was a tiara-free affair.

Kate's widely anticipated inaugural banquet in the UK comes six months after the birth of her second child Princess Charlotte.

Kate is seen in the back of a chauffeur-driven Bentley arriving at Buckingham Palace for the state dinner with Chinese leader Xi Jinping

Kate was pictured in the Papyrus Tiara - also known as the Lotus Flower Tiara - which belonged to Princess Margaret at the Queen's annual diplomatic reception at the Palace in 2013

Guests including the Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and other politicians and dignitaries dined around a grand horseshoe shaped table, extravagantly decorated with large floral displays and priceless dinner sets, beneath the palace ballroom's six impressive chandeliers.

The dress code, which was outlined on the invitations, states 'Evening Dress (White Tie), Decorations, Full Ceremonial Evening Dress for Serving Officers, or National Dress'.

It is intended as guidance, so guests are aware of what others will be wearing, and on occasion, some have worn black-tie instead.

Guests are traditionally received before the banquet by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, shaking their hands and exchanging a few words of greeting.

Following the visiting leader's speech, the National Anthem is played by the orchestra and guests stand, but do not sing.