Royal ‘secret weapon’ Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh makes touching nod to absent Princess Kate at state banquet 

PRINCESS Kate was absent from last night’s glitzy State Banquet at Buckingham Palace – but Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh gave a touching nod to her.

Sophie, 59, looked regal in a £4,890 floor-length green Suzannah London gown, and wore the Lotus Flower Tiara for the occasion.

The glittering diamond tiara has been worn by the Princess of Wales in the past, at her first state banquet to welcome the Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan in 2015.

Kate, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, was also the last one to wear it for a 2022 Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace.

Like with many of the royal tiaras, this one was originally a pearl and diamond necklace which the Queen Mother had made into the Lotus Flower tiara in 1923 by British jeweller Garrard.

Princess Margaret inherited the tiara from her mother in 1959, just before she married Antony Armstrong-Jones and regularly wore it with a beehive in the 60s.

She also loaned it to her daughter-in-law, Serena Stanhope, for her wedding to Margaret’s son, Viscount Linle in 1993.

It was the first time Sophie, once hailed the royal family’s “secret weapon”, has worn the Lotus Flower tiara.

For her 1999 wedding to Prince Edward, she dazzled in the Anthemion tiara.

The royal state visit had been postponed from 2020 due to the pandemic, but went ahead with the expected pomp and pageantry. 

Yesterday, William welcomed Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako at their hotel before accompanying them to Horse Guards Parade.

The prince has stepped up to lead the royal family while his wife Princess Kate undergoes treatment for cancer.

Kate, 42, made her public comeback at Trooping the Colour earlier this month but will not yet resume full-time royal duties.

She delighted fans by appearing on the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside the King, Queen, Prince William and her three children.

However, royal sources have insisted that despite her appearance, she is not yet returning to a full schedule of public engagements as her preventative cancer treatment continues.

But, she is expected to attend more events this summer when she feels able to and with the support and guidance of her doctors.

We previously shared how Princess Kate is said to have a “tower of strength” in Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, who has been supporting the princess through her cancer diagnosis.

Royal biographer Claudia Joseph told Fabulous: “Interestingly, while Meghan rebuffed Sophie’s offer to mentor her on life as a Royal, Kate gracefully jumped at The Queen’s suggestion – she saw her as a ‘solid and trustworthy member of The Firm – and the women have become close as Kate adapts to her new role as Princess of Wales.

“She has found that Sophie is a true confidante and sounding board and they have developed a mutual respect and an unbreakable bond.”

Following the death of Prince Philip, the late Queen even referred to dependable Kate and Sophie as her “strength and stay.”

One thing that binds the two women together is their “sense of humour” and they have an “enormous amount in common”, claims Claudia.

She added: “Whether they are the Trooping the Colour ceremony or Royal Ascot, they are often pictured in each other’s company in fits of laughter.”

Yesterday evening, King Charles and Camilla greeted the Emperor and Empress of Japan at a State Banquet as the Queen wore a new badge for the first time.

The King’s new Family Order has been worn for the first time by the Queen at the Japanese state banquet.

Family Orders badges are worn at formal evening occasions by female members of the royal family and personally bestowed by the sovereign, and are a sign of the importance of the wearer within the royal household.

Camilla stepped out wearing the diamond-encased miniature portrait of her husband topped with a tiny gold and enamel Tudor crown.

It was suspended on a pale blue silk bow on her left shoulder for the glittering event in the Buckingham Palace ballroom.

It comes nearly two years after Charles, the longest serving heir to the throne, acceded as monarch following the death of his mother.

Also in attendance was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, 44, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, 58, and Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer, 61.