The Princess of Wales is wearing the Royal Family Order of King Charles III at the State Banquet for the President of France, the first time she has publicly worn it since her father-in-law’s accession.
The Royal Family Order is a personal gift from the Sovereign given to royal women for their work on behalf of the Crown. The tradition within the British Royal Family dates back to the reign of King George IV.
King Charles’s Royal Family Order debuted in June 2024 with the King’s portrait painted on polymin—a departure from the traditional ivory backing—and resting on a pale blue ribbon.
Each Sovereign changes the colour of their Royal Family Order. The King’s is pale blue in tribute to the Order of his great-grandfather King George V. Queen Elizabeth II’s was pale yellow; King George VI’s was pale pink.
Kate paired her Royal Family Order with a deep red gown from Givenchy, designed by her wedding dress designer, Sarah Burton, and her Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara.
King Charles’s portrait features him wearing the ceremonial day uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet alongside regalia belonging to the Order of the Garter, the Royal Victorian Order, the Order of the Bath, the Order of Merit and his other medals.
Queen Camilla was the first recipient of her husband’s Family Order, having debuted it in June 2024 ahead of the Japanese State Banquet.
In December 2024, the Princess Royal, the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester wore their Royal Family Orders at the Qatari Sate Banquet.
As is customary, Kate wore her Royal Family Orders together: she received one from the late Queen Elizabeth II nearly a decade ago.
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