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The most glittering royal moments of 2024 – and we mean glitter

Do you know how hard it is to narrow down some of the best white-tie stylings into a list of five? So many gorgeous gowns left on the table, but these are the five that I can’t stop thinking about!

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg goes Barbiecore in Belgium

When Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa paid a visit to their neighbours in Belgium, not only was it a family affair, it was a joint birthday party! King Philippe celebrated his 64th birthday on 15 April and Grand Duke Henri celebrated his 69th birthday the next day.

© Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

At the state banquet on the first evening of their visit, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a beautiful black strapless gown with an oversized pink satin wrap that added Barbie-girl glamour to the festivities. Paired with the Belgian Scroll Tiara—diamonds abounding—and jewellery from the Aquamarine parure, this look was one of my absolute favourites this year.

Princess Catharina Amalia dazzles in diamonds

The future queen of the Netherlands has made no secret that she loves tiaras and dressing up and the fact that we were treated to two state visit appearances by Princess Catharina Amalia this year? May it continue in 2025!

Koninklijkhuis Instagram still/ fair use

In mid-December, Princess Catharina Amalia dazzled in an icy purple sequin Tadashi Shoji cap sleeve gown with the Dutch Star Tiara. Her earlier appearance at the Spanish State Dinner—where she wore a navy Marchesa evening gown and the Ruby Peacock Tiara—was also a hit, but if I have to choose… I’m going with this gorgeous purple gown!

The Duchess does diamonds and then some

Sophie’s always been a pinch-hitter for the British Royal Family and while this isn’t one of the showiest state banquet gowns I’ve ever seen, it’s so perfectly suited for the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Royal Family / X / Fair Use

This simple black Savannah gown with a ‘debutante’ neckline and modified to include long sleeves screams Sophie. Paired with her trusty aquamarine tiara and complemented by her Royal Victorian Order and the Royal Family Order of King Charles III and it’s a perfectly regal look.

Queen Letizia takes a seat at the top table of glitter – again

Queen Letizia has mastered stylish business dress, but when she goes for full glam, you can’t help but admire her sartorial splendour. Take, for example, her 2nd Skin Co. gown at the State Banquet for the Spanish State Visit to the Netherlands in April.

Europa Press still/ fair use

This gorgeous cobalt blue gown came replete with crew neck, long Japanese-style sleeves and a full skirt and looked both chic and sleek—and reminiscent of the official portraits marking King Felipe’s 10th anniversary on the throne, released in the autumn —that you can’t help but love it when Queen Letizia dons the full white-tie glam. Paired with the Pearl Loop Tiara and we’ve got a winning look!

Queen Maxima goes max with that tiara again

Not to be outdone, Queen Máxima also wore her best state visit gown during the Spanish state visit. While she’s renowned for bold colours and bright patterns in her day-to-day wear, when it comes to white-tie styling, Queen Máxima operates on another level.

Casa de S.M. el Rey

The Jan Taminiau couture gown, a beautiful icy blue that suited both her colouring and complemented Queen Letizia’s cobalt blue, was sheer perfection. And with the Stuart Tiara, one of the biggest in the Dutch Royal Family’s collection, it’s a perfect look.

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 is now available.