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Royal News

It’s glamorous Givenchy for Kate at the French State Banquet!

Kate wears the Royal Family Order of King Charles III for the first time

For her first state banquet in two years, Catherine turned to a trusted designer for a bit of sparkle and glamour: Sarah Burton, who took over as creative director at French fashion house Givenchy last fall.

On Tuesday evening, Catherine stunned in a deep red evening gown with a caped back detail and fashioned out of silk creponne. She paired it with a lily of the valley-embroidered evening clutch, and jewellery belonging to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Atop her head, Catherine wore her regular tiara, the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot.

William and Kate, in Givenchy, at French State Banquet
William and Kate at French State Banquet Kensington Royal / X / Fair Use

Her earrings, the Greville Diamond Chandelier Earrings, from Queen Elizabeth II. These earrings are famous for their diamonds featured in many cuts: brilliant, half-moon, baguette, trapeze, and pear-shaped.

To complement the Givenchy gown, Catherine wore the sash and star of the Royal Victorian Order—of which she is Dame Grand Cross—and her Royal Family Orders of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II. She also wore a rosette from the l’ordre nationale du merité, a French honour she received earlier in the day from President Macron.

Sarah Burton famously designed Catherine’s wedding dress for her April 2011 wedding to Prince William. At the time, she was newly-appointed to run British fashion house Alexander McQueen, and her success with Catherine’s wedding dress made her a trusted designer for all major royal events.

The iconic French fashion house announced last September that Sarah Burton would become Givenchy’s new creative director with immediate effect. She is responsible for all women’s and men’s collections.

In a press release, Burton said: “It is a great honour to be joining the beautiful house of Givenchy, it is a jewel. I am so excited to be able to write the next chapter in the story of this iconic house and to bring to Givenchy my own vision, sensibility and beliefs.”

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.