President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, are making a three-day State Visit to the United Kingdom. On the evening of July 8, King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a State Banquet at Windsor Castle in honor of the French President and First Lady. The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the State Banquet at Windsor Castle, held to honor France’s President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron.
For the State Banquet, Queen Camilla wore an ivory silk and crepe embroidered evening gown by Fiona Clare, paired with a sapphire and diamond tiara, necklace, earrings, and bracelet—part of Queen Elizabeth II’s sapphire suite. The George VI Victorian suite of sapphire jewels was a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II from her father in 1947.
The Princess of Wales wore a dark red gown by Givenchy, designed by Sarah Burton. She paired it with an evening clutch embroidered with a lily of the valley motif and the Lover’s Knot Tiara. Created by the House of Garrard in 1913, the diadem features diamonds and 19 hanging pearls set in silver and gold. The tiara was also a favorite of the late Princess Diana.
The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the State Banquet at Windsor Castle, held to honor France’s President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. Other members of the Royal Family in attendance included the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a photo taken before leaving for the banquet. 'Ready for what promises to be a wonderful State Banquet this evening in Windsor,' the caption read.
La robe de la princesse de Galles est d’une belle couleur : bourgogne. J’affectionne particulièrement ce ton.
ReplyDeleteDe même que celle de madame Macron.
Ce qui me dérange, ce sont ces capes. Je les trouve superflues. Tant sur la robe de la princesse de Galles que sur celle de madame Macron.
J’estime qu’elles ne leur apportent guère une plus-value.
La robe de la princesse de Galles est simple. Je n’ai pas l’effet « waouh » escompté. Par contre, j’affectionne sa pochette et les bijoux choisis.
J’ai une préférence pour la robe de madame Macron, mais sans la cape.
Ces messieurs sont élégants.
-Astrid.
the capes add a formal factor to the dresses.
Deletemrs. macroon wears the same dress at every state dinner only in different colour this time.
am glad Catherine's dress is red instead of white as ost of the other ladies
Catherine looks stunning, love her jewel choices. T Duchess of Gloucester looks immaculately groomed. Her gown and jewellery is perfect. Madame Macron looks beautiful, love her gown, the colour is sublime.
ReplyDeleteCatherine wears Sarah Burton for Givenchy, same designer for her wedding dress
DeleteMme Macron est splendide.
ReplyDeleteCatherine va être épuisée par cette soirée.
La Duchesse de Gloucester est toujours aussi magnifique
All the ladies look elegant.
ReplyDeleteWow! Think I love everything here tonight. The Princess of Wales fabulous red gown, Mme Macron’s beautiful deep blue and though I’m a wee bit disappointed not to have more colour, Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal, Duchess of Gloucester all look great. I’m not too sure about the dress worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh but her shoes are gorgeous. The jewellery on display is pretty impressive and the gentlemen are all looking good too. Lovely.
ReplyDeleteCamilla looks great. That sapphire parure is gorgeous and although the tiara isn't exactly harmonious and graceful, it suits her very well. Maybe because of the volume of her hair. I think the colors of her outfit are a tribute to France. Brigitte looks good too, although I'm not a fan of the cape. Same with Kate, but the dress and the color are beautiful and she looks good. Sophie's dress without those puffy sleeves would be a little better.
ReplyDeleteI think something revolutionary happened - Queen Camilla' brows are somehow tamed. They seem to offer less in volume, more in control and maybe a bit lighter in colour? I don't like: Catherines's robe, neither the form, nor the cape, nor the colour, and her eye makeup is strange. Sophie's gown is below any level where one could try to find an excuse or something positive. The Duchess of G. and the Princess Royal are equally praiseworthy, nothing special but looking good and elegant. I even think that Anne had her hair done (instead putting it up herself).
ReplyDeleteI’m in total agreement with everything said.
DeleteI think Princess Anne should continue to wear her hair like this. From a distance it is difficult to say, but I have the impression that she has a softer look on her face with this new hair do.
DeleteWell, Camilla is in her uniform as usual, Macron looks like a little boy playing dress up, and Kate, well, she looks comfortable.
ReplyDeleteMadame Macron outshines everyone and she doesn’t need jeweled tiaras to capture attention. Her blue cape gown hangs gracefully in a chic and truly elegant design. Catherine’s cape gown is very nice, but seems to have to much fabric in the skirt. Also a true winner is the Duchess of Gloucester in a simple and very tasteful white gown. She always looks stunning and carries herself so well.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with you. I'll just leave it there.
DeleteWell I tend to agree with Virginia, Me Macron looks really good here ! What strikes me here only Me Macron and Prcs Catherine are wearing colors. (a quite nice color for Catherine). All the other ladies are in white and none is really emerging, surely not Qn Camilla in spite of her jewelry. I will not comment on the capes, they are just reigning.
DeleteRed in not a great color on Kate! @teasuremind
ReplyDeleteI completely disagree. Her coloring is very well suited to jewel tones and this rich, ruby red is no exception.
DeleteI completely disagree. She looks wonderful in red as do other dark haired royal ladies like Queen Mary or Queen Letizia
DeleteThe best dressed is the First Lady, Macron and I won’t make any comments on the other ladies.🤐
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteI agree.
DeleteAs stated above it seems like the ladies were wearing colours of the French flag. Interesting that 4 of the ladies wore white. Mdm Macron’s dress is a very nice colour blue and love the embellishment on the shoulders, elevates her look since she is not wearing a crown. P Anne, someone has done her hair. Not that fond of POW red dress, flows well but not the best colour on her. Seems like they all had their makeup done, it looks different, perhaps the lighting. Overall they all look lovely and elegant and the men very dashing.
ReplyDelete...... and of the British flag.
DeleteThey have their makeup done for a formal evening occasion. Makeup is always different for formal/evening than it is for daytime.
DeleteQueen Camilla is only wearing one Royal Family Order for Ladies, the King Charles III one. Whereas all the other UK royal ladies appear to be wearing both the Charles III AND the Elizabeth II. According to Wikipedia Camilla received the Elizabeth II in 2007. Anyone have any idea why she didn't wear it tonight?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't. What I do know is that those Family Orders for Ladies are often ruining the dress(Princess Catherine) and why is Queen Camilla wearing hers on the sash, just the opposite site as of Princess Catherine's ?
DeleteI am strangely underwhelmed by the gowns of the ladies this evening. Apart from the red, white and blue, the significance of which is unquestionable, I expected more style. Madame Macron is probably my favourite. She wears this colour well and this colour with the style of her gown is a nice change from what we're used to seeing her in. Camilla is in her usual white, and though I always like her in white, this gown just seems like more of the 'same old, same old', and a bit..plain. I don't like Kate in this shade of dark red, and the dress itself is not flattering to my eye.There's just too much gown/fabric everywhere. I much prefer her in fitted silhouettes that she wears beautifully. However I will say that I'm glad to see her present as there was real doubt whether she would attend the dinner at all, in the days and hours leading up to it today. That leaves the Duchess of Gloucester who would be my second fav after Madame Macron. She is perpetually elegant. Anne doesn't look too bad and Sophie's choice of 'bedsheet chic' is a puzzle I'm not going to try to figure out. Nice hairstyle, though.
ReplyDeleteAs for all the sparklers on heads, necks and ears, they're all spectacular and a pleasure to see.
- Anon 9:13
The Duchess of Gloucester looks incredible - so elegant, perfect posture, well-fitting gown, and exquisite jewelry she wears with aplomb.
ReplyDelete-Royal Watcher
Agree !!
DeleteCatherine's face looks like she is dehydrated a little and something has happened to her eyebrows. She has a lovely smile though but seems pale. She has had a very busy day.
ReplyDeleteAgree, she looks drained
DeleteI noticed her brows as well, the left is a high arch versus the right more linear.
DeleteJe n aime pas non plus les capes. La couleur de la robe de la princesse Catherine est très belle et la jupe me plaît. Je trouve la princesse Anne très chic.
ReplyDeleteCatherine looks stunning!
ReplyDeleteCamilla is very elegant!
ReplyDeleteThe difference between Mme Macron's dress and the others is that the tailoring is real class. No matter who is the designer one can see immediately it is made by someone who delivers quality on the highest level.
ReplyDeleteMevrouw macron ziet er mooi eenvoudig, de andere dames lijken wel kerstbomen met die overdaad aan sieraden.
ReplyDeleteMadame Macron est très élégante de la tête aux pieds.
ReplyDeleteCette robe est belle et lui sied à merveille.
Je suis totalement d'accord,elle surclasse toutes les femmes présentes.
Point besoin de diadème pour être au sommet de l'élégance.
Just had a quick photo scan during my tea break and if voting hasn’t closed yet, then for me, it’s a toss up between The Duchess of Gloucester and Madame Macron.
ReplyDeleteIn France, Madame Macron is titled as the wife of the President, not the first lady).
I find Camilla a bit ‘over jewelled’ (personal opinion caused by jealousy 😀).
Thanks to Helen who must have had a late night putting all the photos and article together.
Madame Macron est élégante dans ce style de robe à cape dont j'aime la coupe et la couleur ; je suis ravie que la duchesse de Gloucester ait ressorti ses bijoux turquoise ; comme d'habitude, elle a toujours beaucoup de goût !
ReplyDeleteThe white gowns are starting to get very boring! More colour please ladies! and Sophie ditch the big sleeves, they aren’t doing you any favours
ReplyDeleteCatherine’s dress is reminiscent of the bespoke lilac gown she wore to the BAFTA’s in LA 2011. That dress was a Sarah Burton for AMcQ. If you were to remove the cape it would be the same dress different color. I like it. She can wear such a bold red color. The choice of jewellery worked well.
ReplyDeleteQC - Same as her usual choices. But she does look good in white.
DoE - Needs to move away from Suzannah and venture into other designers. This dress does nothing for her. I don’t think anyone looks good in overly puffy sleeves. Sophie needs to take a leave out of DoG book.
PA - I think she wore this for one of her birthday portraits. It’s very PA!
DoG- Pure elegance.
Mrs M - Lovely dress. Her hair was nicely done.
Lowri.
The jewels save the evening. Something is not quite the same, perhaps everyone is tired from a long day. Mme Macron and Dof G are the best put together. I do like the photo of the P and Pof W taken outdoors, usual to see this at a stste dinner. Overall lovely put plain
ReplyDeleteI like everyone, some loyal to their style, that's fine with me, some stunning jewelry, a minor for me is the Duchess of Edinburgh, her dress seems to 80's. But oh well they can not please us all all the time!
ReplyDeleteLuna
All my props go out to The Duchess of Gloucester. Outstanding. Contrary to many others, I find Mme Macron dressing in blue (again, she wore the same colour for the British State Visit in 2023 to France) a bit ... tedious. Then Queen Camilla, who wears the Belgian Sapphire Suite well, no doubt, in her - also rather predictable - white. The Duchess of Edinburgh was my personal downturner, not that I really dislike her ensemble, but it truly did nothing for her. She just faded into some sort of nothingness here. Anne Princess Royal stays always true to herself, and gives a d*mn about most things fashionwise. I do admire her for that steadfast attitude. I would have put the Princess of Wales on the very same step as The Duchess of Gloucester, had she opted for an updo. But maybe it would have been all too heavy on her head, with the huge tiara as well. I understand that she chose comfort over style in this particular case. The dress is beautiful, without question. I also like the more swishy skirt part of it. I am, however, somewhat puzzled that the gentlemen do no longer wear Windsor dress (I think only the king did). Hmh... o tempora, o mores.
ReplyDeleteNeed to add/edit: I think the Duke of Edinburgh and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Lawrence also appeared in Windsor dress.
Delete@ Deadeggs 10:17
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. In the title of this item Madame Brigitte Macron is also indicated as the First lady, which is not correct officially. There are also French tv speakers who are calling her "la première dame", but officially she must be called Madame Macron.
Yes, Anon 15:13 in some areas of the French media, journalists are using more and more “"La Première Dame - the first lady” for the wife of the French president.
DeleteI’ve read that the title of First Lady came into use in the late 18th century for the wife of President Washington, Martha Washington.
But I think the French are quite cool” with their wife of the President being titled as France's First Lady (La Première Dame).
I’ve often thought that Helen should extend her blog to be New My Royals -n- First Ladies.
There are quite a few First Ladies out there who outshine the Royals.
The Duchess of Gloucester is the most outstandingly elegant!
ReplyDeleteI must have seen Princess Anne‘s dress before, but I like her flowing style combined with a professional hairdo, so much better than the ten-minute routine, very dignified and regal. Otherwise, the Duchess of Gloucester is pure elegance, especially the superb cut of the bottom part.
ReplyDelete🌞 Virginia
All the ladies look beautiful and royal, very well-groomed and suitable for their age and personality. It's such a shame that many comments are so harsh, especially about Catherine. She doesn't have it easy and I think she deserves a little warmth.
ReplyDeletePost a Comment