Kate Middleton Stuns In Sequins For State Banquet & We're Calling It Her Best 'Fit Of 2025
It's never too late to pull out your best look. Catherine, Princess of Wales, is living proof that statement, as she stepped out on December 3, 2025 for the German state banquet at Windsor Castle wearing an outfit we won't be forgetting any time soon. While she's had some great looks in 2025 — think the gold gown she wore for President Donald Trump's state visit in September 2025 — it's easy to see why this is certainly her best outfit of 2025.
The illustrious event was held to welcome German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and recognize the U.K.'s relationship with Germany. Considering this monumental occasion, Catherine pulled out all the stops, donning a show-stopping cape dress by Jenny Packham, one of her favorite designers. The outfit will likely remind fans of the gold sequin cape dress by Packham that she wore for the 2021 premiere of the James Bond film "No Time To Die." Clearly, royal blue is her color. As if that weren't regal enough, the floor-length, asymmetrical gown glittered thanks to a full body of sequins. Keeping things traditional, she wore the Royal Order sash across her chest. But while the dress itself made a statement, what made the look extra memorable was her headpiece, which carried more meaning than you might have realized.
Catherine's state banquet look was queen-coded
Although Catherine, Princess of Wales has worn tiaras on numerous royal occasions, including her wedding day, the one she wore in December 2025 holds a particularly special remembrance. The head piece is Queen Victoria's Oriental Circlet Tiara, a masterpiece featuring over 2,600 diamonds as well as rubies. The topper was made in 1853, according to Gerrard, for Queen Victoria by her husband, Prince Albert, who was German. In other words, the tiara was a diplomatic nod to the German guests. Also, in a touching tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, the princess wore her diamond earrings. So the jewelry was one more example of harking back to the past, while looking to the future with such queenly dressing.
Catherine has made notable changes to her wardrobe in 2025, and all of these sartorial shifts point towards her future role as monarch. Compared to the pre-royal outfits that Catherine wore, her 2025 attire is dramatically different. Even Catherine's new blond 'do, her lightest yet, which she exhibited in 2025, shows an evolving look as she sheds the past and looks to the future. Likewise, Catherine's dramatic makeup for Remembrance Sunday in 2025, which arguably missed the mark, still shows that she's moving into something new. It's rare for her to miss, but she's a human being. However, she totally redeemed herself at the state banquet for Germany, with the most regal outfit imaginable.