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July 9, 2025

Kate Middleton dons tiara, gown by wedding dress designer for state banquet

WATCH: British royals welcome president of France and first lady

Princess Kate joined her husband Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla at a state banquet Tuesday night held for French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte.

Kate wore the Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara, the first time she is believed to have worn a tiara in over a year since announcing publicly last year that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

The mother of three has not shared details of the type of cancer with which she was diagnosed, though she has shared she underwent chemotherapy treatment. Kate has made a gradual return to public engagements since announcing in January that she is in remission from cancer.

PHOTO: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive for the State Banquet for President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, at Windsor Castle, July 8, 2025 in Windsor, England.
Aaron Chown/ Pool via Getty Images
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive for the State Banquet for President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, at Windsor Castle, July 8, 2025 in Windsor, England.

For her state banquet gown, Kate chose a dark red Givenchy evening gown designed by Sarah Burton, who also designed the princess's wedding dress.

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Kate and William shared their looks ahead of the state banquet on social media, captioning a photo, "Ready for what promises to be a wonderful State Banquet this evening in Windsor."

PHOTO: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive for the State Banquet for President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, at Windsor Castle, July 8, 2025 in Windsor, England.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive for the State Banquet for President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, at Windsor Castle, July 8, 2025 in Windsor, England.

Earlier in the day, Kate joined members of the royal family at RAF Northolt in Windsor, England, to welcome Macron and his wife for the start of their three-day state visit.

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Kate stood out at the welcome ceremony in a pale pink Christian Dior jacket and skirt, marking the first time she is believed to have worn the French designer at a public engagement.

PHOTO: Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales and Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales attend a ceremonial welcome for France's President and his wife at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britian, July 8, 2025.
Dominique Jacovides/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales and Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales attend a ceremonial welcome for France's President and his wife at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britian, July 8, 2025, on the first day of a three-day state visit to Britain.

She accessorized with a matching hat by Jess Collett, earrings ​​that belonged to the late Princess Diana and a pearl necklace from the collection of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

PHOTO: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales on the Royal Dais at Datchet Road, July 8, 2025 in Windsor, Britain.
Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales on the Royal Dais at Datchet Road, July 8, 2025 in Windsor, Britain.

Kate recently opened up about her recovery from cancer, describing the experience as a "roller coaster" in a conversation with patients and staff at Colchester Hospital in Colchester, England.

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"You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism, through treatment. Treatment's done, and it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal again,' but actually, that phase afterwards is a really difficult time," she said during the July 2 visit, according to the U.K. Press Association. "You're not able to function normally at home as you were perhaps once used to."

Editor's note: This article has been updated to include details about Kate's outfit for Tuesday night's state banquet.