On the evening of December 4, 2025, Princess Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence attended a banquet at the Guildhall in London, hosted by the Lord Mayor and the City of London Corporation in honour of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender. The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied by Ms. Büdenbender, is paying a State Visit to the United Kingdom.
For the banquet, Princess Anne wore the Diamond Festoon Tiara and Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Choker, along with the Sash and Star of the Order of the Garter, the Royal Family Order of King Charles III, and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Diamond Festoon Tiara was a gift to the Princess in 1973 from the World Wide Shipping Group. She first wore it for a series of portraits taken for her 23rd birthday, and later for a set of pre-wedding portraits.
Well, I had to smile when I saw these photos of Princess Anne wearing what appears to be a vintage angora long cardigan from the 1980s, complete with satin appliques! (Although knowing Anne's preference for re-wearing her vintage items, I should not be surprised). It's too bad that its distinct period piece aesthetic does not, to my eye, coordinate in any way with her gown.
ردحذفBut the gown itself with its beaded embellishment and matching jacket is lovely. Lyra
I smiled broadly reading your comment - 100% right!
حذفI felt the cardigan, light jacket coordinated beautifully with the dress The Princess Royal was wearing. The flowery print of the gown and jacket, was matched by the whimsical print on the light weight jacket or cardigan. She looked spectacular! Tiara, hair, makeup, spot on. Smile, priceless.
حذفYou aren't wrong.
حذفThe Princess Royal - smashing! Dress and jewels just beautiful.
ردحذفAgree 100%. so nice to see the Princes Royal looking really elegant
حذفAnnieM
What a gorgeous gown on the Princess Royal. She looks fantastic.
ردحذفT
Waouh, élégante madame Budenbender dans cette robe rouge corail qui épouse à merveille sa silhouette !
ردحذفThe wife of the German president looks stunning!
ردحذفPrincess Anne: always a surprise.
The first lady of Germany has a very good taste
حذفShe looks fantastic indeed!
حذفIt's too bad Anne chose to wear that unattractive jacket over what looks like a very stylish gown. I would have liked to have seen it in all it's glory because this way the total effect is covered up. In the photo where she is seated, it looks like the top of the gown has a cute cap sleeved bolero. The print or applique is lovely.
ردحذفSandra, I completely agree! The cardigan, imo, is all wrong for this occasion and this gown…if keeping warm was an issue, which would be understandable, then a light stole or shawl would have worked much better. — Jane
حذفI was the one wishing to see Anne at the Guildhall, among other things because Princess Anne with well-made tiara-hair is seldom seen, thank you Helen. If you look at the profile picture - really nice, so much better than the contours of her usual hairdo (which cannot be called attractive). I like her gown too, that she combined it with this funny cardigan - well, it's Anne. She has a perfect figure and looks really nicely groomed this time. Dress nice, hair nice, tiara very well placed, jewellery fitting, nice lipstick, decent lipstick, very well done. - Frau Elke B. looks as good as she does in most cases, she has an excellent taste. Another royal lady wore Talbot Runhof these days, I don't remember who.
ردحذفMrs. Büdenbender did wear Talbot Runhof for the State Banquet as well, and Catherine, The Princess of Wales, showed up in a dark green velvet number of TR at the Royal Variety Performance a little while ago.
حذفPrincess Anne’s updo looks lovely from the sides and back especially. The German First Lady looks very elegant in her flattering dress. She has looked impeccable throughout the State visit.
ردحذف-Royal Wtcher
Totally agree. Mrs. Büdenbender looked fab for this visit, in particular her evening wear. Seems Talbot Runhof does a very good job on her requirements.
حذفI agree
حذف@Royal Watcher, yes, I am quite enthusiastic about that updo ... what a difference it makes, and what a pity she does not change her self-updo.
حذفI agree with Lyra above, and those were my first thoughts too about Anne's outfit - the coat and the dress are lovely, but they don't pair well together. Still, I give her credit for choosing them (separately). Her beaded dress and tiara match wonderfully though.
ردحذفAs for Mrs. Büdenbender, she looks fab in her Talbot Runhof gown, It suits her figure perfectly and she carries it so well. A little something sparkly around her throat or a similar brooch would have added some panache, but she looks fine as is, on the right side of understated. I really liked her gown at the State banquet. She was my fav by far of all the ladies that night, together with the Duchess of Gloucester.
- Anon 9:13
Elke Büdenbender's red dress is again a good choice. I like the wrap skirt of the dress. Queen Maxima's yelllow dress in Suriname had also a wrap skirt. Is this fashion again ? I remember I had a burgundy wrap skirt at the end of the of the 80s. I wore it with a short printed velvet jacket and a pink blouse underneath. I should have kept it.
ردحذفI do not think that Elke Büdenbender is called First lady. There are only a few countries in the world which have a First lady. The wife of the US president of course is called the First Lady, but in France for exemple, I don't know if the expression Première Dame is the official title of Brigitte Macron. I think she doesn't have an official title.
ردحذفActually, one might call Mrs. Büdenbender (or generally the wife of the Bundespräsident) "First Lady". It is not a truly official term, but is widely in use colloquially. No harm done calling her that.
حذفThe thing is that she is always called by her maiden name Elke Büdenbender and not by the name of her husband President Steinmeier. Probably because she had a career of her own before, being a judge. I know no harm is done, but I asked the question because I called Brigitte Macron première dame once and received the answer that there was no one in France with such title. So I was asking myself if in Germany there was a title for the the wife of the president or not.
حذفI really like the last photo of Anne, she looks so serene, such a lady. Love the brooch and necklace.
ردحذفIf I remember correctly, Anne had this gown on at the after dinner party, at the wedding of William and Kate. So stunning! So Sandra, if you want to google the wedding, you should see this stunning gown in all it's glory.
ردحذفPrincess Anne looks indeed better than usual. Hair is better, but only when I look at the back of her head and in profile. In the front her hair still looks the same as usual with the side parts much to wide on each side of her head. She is wearing a better dress than usual, but when I look at the royal blue sash on the last picture I see the color which she should wear instead of the dark (navy ?) and white printed dress. The royal blue colour matches her very fair skin better. Somebody said her make-up was good, but I only see lipstick as usual. I must admit that the color of her face was better than usual. In any case she looked better than in the white outfit she wore at the state banquet.
ردحذف
ردحذفWho knew that Princess Anne’s hair could look so beautiful? Her updo is breathtaking. I know her style is austere and totally “no nonsense”, but I wish she would allow herself the comparatively small luxury of beautiful hair on a daily basis. She has more than earned it. — Jane
Germany’s 1st Lady has looked splendid on both nights,but this red dress really stands out. Both of her dresses are by the same designer.
ردحذفIt’s always fun to guess how long PA has had her dresses in her closet. When you think of the money the other British royals spend on their clothes,and here comes PA looking good in a dress and coat she’s probably brought out of moth balls for the night. Brava Princess Anne.
Lowri.
I wouldn't like to have a seat next to someone whose clothes are smelling like moth balls.
حذفI love the red gown worn by the First Lady of Germany, she looks splendid, it suits her wonderfully. The Princess Royal looks sensational. I love this gown, it fits her like a glove. She has worn this before, great to see it again. Her up do looks fabulous, I have read somewhere else she styles and does her hair herself. The sapphire and pearl choker looks wonderful, sitting in the neck of her gown perfectly. Great choice. The brooch is a welcome addition. Beautiful presentation by the Princess.
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