King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed more than 900 members of the Diplomatic Corps to Windsor Castle on Tuesday evening, marking the first time the annual white-tie reception has been held at the Berkshire residence since 2001.
The event, one of the most significant in the royal calendar, celebrates the presence of one of the world’s largest Diplomatic Corps and provides Their Majesties with the opportunity to meet representatives of countries accredited to the Court of St James’s. The gathering came just days after the King celebrated his 77th birthday.
The Prince of Wales joined the King and Queen for the occasion, making a solo appearance as the Princess of Wales missed the reception for the second consecutive year. Earlier in the day, the Princess delivered a major speech in London, urging business leaders to value “time and tenderness just as much as productivity and success” as part of her early years work.
The Diplomatic Reception is one of the monarchy’s oldest and most important annual events, held every winter to recognise the work of foreign ambassadors and high commissioners based in London. Its origins date back to the reign of King Edward VII, who saw formal engagement with the diplomatic community as central to Britain’s international standing.
Hosted traditionally at Buckingham Palace, the reception has often been regarded as one of the most glittering fixtures of the royal year, known for its strict white-tie dress code, state jewellery and the participation of multiple senior royals. While the reception was paused during the pandemic and occasionally relocated during palace refurbishments, it remains a cornerstone of the sovereign’s role as head of state and representative of the United Kingdom on the world stage.
This year’s decision to hold the reception at Windsor Castle marks a rare departure from tradition, with the State Apartments offering a historic backdrop not used for the event since 2001.
The King appeared in a tuxedo, while the Queen wore a floor-length white satin gown. Queen Camilla also revived a historic royal jewel: the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara. Created by Boucheron in 1919 for Dame Margaret Greville, the tiara – featuring a large central emerald set against rows of diamonds—later passed to the Queen Mother and then to Queen Elizabeth II. It was last seen in 2018 when Princess Eugenie wore it on her wedding day.
Though the evening delivered its customary display of royal pageantry, royal watchers noted the absence of the Princess of Wales, long a highlight of the event’s tiara tradition. She missed last year’s reception during cancer treatment and was again unable to attend despite her earlier public engagement.
The Princess is expected to join the Royal Family for the German state banquet at Windsor Castle next month.
