Windsor Castle shimmered in regal splendor Wednesday night as Catherine, Princess of Wales, captivated onlookers in a dazzling tiara during a state banquet welcoming U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
Arriving alongside Prince William, the future queen consort turned heads with her signature elegance, embodying the grandeur of the evening. According to royal insiders, such banquets are one of the rare occasions when senior royals showcase their most treasured jewels.
“They absolutely drip with jewels,” noted Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine. “It’s the one time they could really show off their jewelry.”
The glittering banquet was held in St. George’s Hall, where the historic Waterloo Table — nearly half the length of a football field — hosted up to 160 guests. Preparing the setting took five days, with more than 4,000 pieces, including 200-year-old silver, carefully arranged.
The menu, curated with a nod to tradition, included organic Norfolk chicken ballotine, quail egg salad, and locally sourced produce from the royal estates. A highlight of the evening was the bombe glacée cardinal, a Victorian-style vanilla ice cream dessert with Kentish raspberry sorbet and Victoria plums — a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. Guests also sipped on rare vintages, including a 1945 port marking the president’s birth year and a Hennessy 1912 Cognac honoring his mother’s birth year.
Adding a modern twist, the banquet featured a specially crafted Transatlantic Whisky Sour — blending Johnnie Walker Black with citrus marmalade, topped with a toasted marshmallow on a star-shaped biscuit.
The evening wasn’t just about fine dining and royal jewels. It also underscored deep cultural ties, with traditions such as menus written in French — a custom dating back to the 11th century to symbolize sophistication.
The historic occasion, marked by the largest guard of honor in living memory with 1,300 troops and 120 horses, further cemented the significance of the U.S.–U.K. relationship.
No U.S. president has ever been honored with a second state visit, making this a particularly momentous chapter in diplomatic history.
