Here are some photos from last night’s state banquet at Windsor Castle. Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Budenbender are spending three days in the UK for a state visit, the first German state visit to the UK in almost three decades. Crazy that the last time the Windsors received a German head of state was in the 1990s. This is the third state visit to be hosted at Windsor Castle this year, and this time, they changed the camera positions so that photographers would get shots of the Christmas tree. Meghan’s impact! (LMAO.)
As you can see, it was not a great night for Kitty, aka the Princess of Wales. Her straight-hair wig almost slid off her head at one point. The Jenny Packham gown was new-to-us, and the only nice thing I can say about it is that I’m grateful she didn’t flag-dress for this state visit. The dress is just hanging on her extremely slender frame. Kate also got to borrow a rarely-seen tiara for the banquet – this is Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara, and I kind of wonder if this piece was in storage because of the name. She also borrowed some diamond earrings from the royal collection.
As for Queen Camilla, she wore a teal Fiona Clare gown which made her look like a discarded sofa from the 1980s. She paired the gown with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which was one of QEII’s favorite pieces and one which she wore often. I always wince when I see Camilla wearing it, honestly. Camilla had the tiara yanked out of an exhibition at The King’s Gallery last month, so people knew that Cam would wear it. I don’t have an ID on Frau Budenbender’s gown, but she was the chicest one at the banquet.
The Windsor men did not have a good night, btw. William looked like he had to be forced at gunpoint to wear that Windsor-uniform dress jacket, and Charles just looks like he feels like ten kinds of hell. Does his back hurt? He’s certainly standing like his back is killing him.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Kensington Palace.
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- 03/12/2025. Windsor, UK. His Majesty, accompanied by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family, gave a State Banquet at Windsor Castle for The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Büdenbender. The King and The Federal President both delivered speeches at the beginning of the banquet.,Image: 1056321829, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no, Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (front) the Prince and Princess of Wales ahead the state banquet for the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender, at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of their state visit to the UK. Picture date: Wednesday December 3, 2025.,Image: 1056321830, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
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- 03/12/2025. Windsor, UK. His Majesty, accompanied by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family, gave a State Banquet at Windsor Castle for The President of the Federal Republic of Germany and Ms. Büdenbender. The King and The Federal President both delivered speeches at the beginning of the banquet.,Image: 1056321838, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: © Kensington Palace. This image is free for use but may only be used for news or editorial reporting purposes. This image must NOT be used for any commercial or other use, save for news or editorial reporting and cannot be altered or amended in any manner or form whatsoever. All rights reserved., Model Release: no, Credit line: Pete Maclaine/Avalon
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- King Charles III and Queen Camilla (right) with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender ahead of the state banquet for the German President and his wife, at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on day one of their state visit to the UK. Picture date: Wednesday December 3, 2025.,Image: 1056321908, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Aaron Chown/Avalon
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- Britain’s King Charles III (2R) and his wife Britain’s Queen Camilla (R) walk with Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) and his wife Elke Buedenbender as they arrive to attend a State Banquet at Windsor Castle in Windsor, on December 3, 2025, the first day of a three day state visit by the German President. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received a ceremonial welcome to Britain Wednesday as his state visit got into full swing — the first by Germany’s official head of state in 27 years.,Image: 1056322127, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CARLOS JASSO/Avalon
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- Britain’s King Charles III (2R) and his wife Britain’s Queen Camilla (R) walk with Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) and his wife Elke Buedenbender as they arrive to attend a State Banquet at Windsor Castle in Windsor, on December 3, 2025, the first day of a three day state visit by the German President. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received a ceremonial welcome to Britain Wednesday as his state visit got into full swing — the first by Germany’s official head of state in 27 years.,Image: 1056322176, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CARLOS JASSO/Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales and Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive to attend a State Banquet at Windsor Castle in Windsor, on December 3, 2025, the first day of a three day state visit by the German President. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received a ceremonial welcome to Britain Wednesday as his state visit got into full swing — the first by Germany’s official head of state in 27 years.,Image: 1056322236, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CARLOS JASSO/Avalon
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- Britain’s King Charles III, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales toast their glasses after the King delivered a speech during a State Banquet at Windsor Castle in Windsor, on December 3, 2025, the first day of a three day state visit by the German President. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier received a ceremonial welcome to Britain Wednesday as his state visit got into full swing — the first by Germany’s official head of state in 27 years.,Image: 1056322311, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: CARLOS JASSO/Avalon
