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British RoyalsPrince & Princess of Wales

The Duchess of Cambridge has received The Queen’s Royal Family Order

The Duchess of Cambridge has received the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Pictures released from tonight’s State Banquet in honour of the State Visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima show Kate walking into the banquet hall wearing the distinct yellow order on her blue Alexander McQueen dress. 

The Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II is presented to female members of the Royal Family at The Queen’s discretion and is only worn at white-tie events. 

Joe Little, Managing Editor of Majesty Magazine, revealed on Twitter that Kate received her order last December and that this was the second time she has worn it. 

Kate would have worn it to the 2017 Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace, one of the few white-tie events on the Royal Family’s calendar. 

The Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II features a portrait of The Queen set against a yellow ribbon. 

Per Wikipedia, the Order is painted on ivory and “bordered by diamonds and surmounted by a Tudor Crown in diamonds and red enamel. The reverse, in silver-gilt, is patterned with rays and depicts the royal cypher and St Edward’s Crown in gold and enamel.”

Kate’s Order is set on glass instead of ivory, owing to Prince William’s work on behalf of the ivory ban.  

The Queen has awarded her Royal Family Order to 15 women in total, and it is not publicised when a royal receives it. 

In addition to Kate, currently the Royal Family Order is worn by The Duchess of Cornwall, The Countess of Wessex, The Duchess of Gloucester, The Princess Royal, The Duchess of Kent and Princess Alexandra. 

The Royal Family Order was previously worn by The Queen Mother; Queen Mary; Princess Margaret; Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood; Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone; Princess Alice, The Duchess of Gloucester; Princess Marina, The Duchess of Kent; and Diana, Princess of Wales. 

About author

Jess Ilse is the Assistant Editor at Royal Central. She specialises in the British, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Royal Families and has been following royalty since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. Jess has provided commentary for media outlets in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Jess works in communications and her debut novel THE MAJESTIC SISTERS will publish in Fall 2024.