British Royals Showcase Royal Jewels at State Banquet for Nigerian Leaders King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Wednesday evening for President and Mrs. Tinubu of Nigeria, marking a historic occasion. The event was the first time in nearly a century that a British monarch had welcomed a Muslim head of state during Ramadan, with the iftar banquet following a tradition last seen when King George V hosted the King of Afghanistan in 1928. Queen Camilla opted for a classic gala look, donning a white gown paired with the sash and star of the Order of the Garter and the King’s Royal Family Order. Her jewelry included the late Queen’s Belgian Sapphire Tiara, Cartier bracelets from the Queen Mother’s collection, and a diamond serpent necklace inherited from her grandmother, Sonia Keppel Cubitt. The most notable pieces were her sapphire and diamond earrings, believed to be from the George VI Sapphire Parure. These earrings, designed for pierced ears, raised questions about whether they were adapted for Camilla’s preference for clip-style jewelry. The late Queen’s 1961 dinner for President and Mrs. Kennedy, where she wore the same earrings with a coordinating necklace and bracelet, highlighted the historical significance of the Victorian-era set. Princess Catherine, the Princess of Wales, echoed the blue tones of her order sash by wearing sapphire and diamond fringe earrings from the Queen Mother’s collection. She also donned Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, a piece commissioned by Mary in 1913 and later worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales. The choice of tiara, paired with Diana’s earrings for the morning’s welcome ceremony, was interpreted as a subtle tribute to William’s mother and grandmother.#nigeria #queen_camilla #king_charles_iii #windsor_castle #tinubu
