On December 4 and 5, 2025, the United Kingdom rolled out the red carpet for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a display of pageantry, diplomacy, and a touch of royal sparkle. The German state visit, the first by a German president in nearly three decades, was marked by a series of high-profile events, culminating in a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle—an affair that not only celebrated Anglo-German relations but also showcased the British royal family’s deep-rooted traditions and dazzling jewelry collection.
The state banquet at Windsor Castle, held on Wednesday, December 4, was a showstopper by any measure. According to multiple sources, including Hello Magazine and The Royal Watcher, the Prince and Princess of Wales were among the senior royals leading the event. The presence of King Charles III, who hosted President Steinmeier, further underscored the importance of the occasion. The following day, Steinmeier addressed business leaders in the City of London, urging Europe to rediscover its competitive edge and innovative spirit—a message that resonated against the backdrop of post-Brexit relations.
But let’s be honest: while diplomacy was front and center, much of the world’s attention was fixed on the royals’ sartorial choices. Princess Anne, at 75, turned heads as she welcomed President Steinmeier to Windsor Castle wearing her beloved Festoon Tiara. As reported by Hello Magazine, the tiara—possibly crafted by Cartier around 1900—features diamonds topped with a prominent pearl and was gifted to Anne in May 1973, just before her 23rd birthday. The tiara’s base was originally a row of collet diamonds but was later replaced with pearls by Princess Michael, adding another layer of royal history to the sparkling heirloom.
Anne paired the tiara with coordinating pearl earrings and a matching choker adorned with gold hardware. Her outfit—a black dress with silver crystal embellishments, a scoop neckline, and a floor-length skirt—was complemented by a cropped jacket and, before dinner, a fuzzy cardigan for warmth. Anne kept her makeup understated, with just a hint of mascara and pink lips, and wore her signature bouffant hairstyle—a look she’s perfected over the past 50 years. In a nod to her famously efficient beauty routine, Anne once remarked in a 2020 documentary, "Actually, I read an article the other day about Netflix and The Crown, but the actress was talking about how long it took them to do their hair like I did. And I’m thinking, ‘How could you possibly take that long?’ I mean, it takes me 10 or 15 minutes."
Not to be outdone, the Princess of Wales—Kate Middleton—made headlines with her first appearance in Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara. Designed by Prince Albert in 1853, the tiara is steeped in royal lore and, as The Court Jeweller notes, is reserved by Queen Victoria’s will for future Queens and Queens Consorts. Over the years, the tiara’s original opals were swapped for rubies by Queen Alexandra, who considered opals unlucky. The piece was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who wore it frequently during King George VI’s reign and even after his passing. Queen Elizabeth II herself wore it only once, at the Malta state banquet in 2005.
Kate’s ensemble for the banquet was nothing short of breathtaking: a blue Jenny Packham sequin dress with an asymmetrical neckline, a dramatic cape cascading to the floor, and a fitted bodice. She completed the look with a navy sash and a star pinned to her chest, and of course, the Oriental Circlet Tiara, its 2,600 diamonds sparkling under the lights. Kate’s hair was styled in an elegant knot to secure the tiara, with the rest of her hair curled neatly—a detail that did not go unnoticed by royal watchers.
Since her marriage to Prince William in 2011, Kate has worn five tiaras from the royal vaults: the Cartier Halo tiara (her wedding day headpiece), the Lotus Flower tiara, the Lover’s Knot tiara (closely associated with Princess Diana), the Strathmore Rose tiara, and now, the Oriental Circlet. Each appearance has fueled fascination with the traditions and stories behind these iconic jewels.
While the sartorial splendor captured headlines, the underlying message of the state visit was one of renewed partnership and forward-looking optimism. During his speech at the City of London banquet on December 5, President Steinmeier called on Europe to "redefine our role and discover a new self-confidence," urging the continent to "catch up in the digital economy" and praising the City of London’s innovative spirit. "In future, we Europeans can only be strong if we redefine our role and discover a new self-confidence," he told the audience, as reported by AFP.
Steinmeier, who served as Germany’s foreign minister during the 2016 Brexit referendum and was a vocal critic of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, struck a conciliatory tone. Drawing on pop culture, he referenced the reunion of Oasis brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher as a metaphor for UK-German relations post-Brexit: "Don’t look back in anger, as one of the most famous songs by Oasis puts it so well," he told MPs. He added with a smile, "Cool Britannia is alive! Our relations may have changed, but, my dear Britons, our love remains. So let us look not to the past, but rather together to the future."
Concrete steps toward this future were highlighted, including the Kensington Treaty signed in July 2025, which promises closer UK-Germany security and defense cooperation. Steinmeier also mentioned practical initiatives such as a German-British electricity interconnector set for completion in 2028 and youth mobility agreements to ease travel and study between the two nations.
The visit followed King Charles III’s own trip to Germany in March 2023—his first overseas journey as monarch and the first by a British king in over a decade. The reciprocal nature of these visits, paired with the symbolism of shared banquets and remembrance ceremonies, signaled a thaw in post-Brexit relations and a commitment to collaboration, even as Europe faces new challenges, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
As President Steinmeier’s visit continued on Friday, December 6, with a remembrance ceremony in Coventry—once devastated by World War II bombings and now a symbol of reconciliation—the legacy of the state visit was clear. Amid the glittering tiaras and formal speeches, the message was one of unity, resilience, and a shared future. For the royals and the politicians alike, the events of early December 2025 offered a reminder that tradition and progress can, indeed, go hand in hand.
