Kate Middleton shines at state banquet with Elton John, Mick Jagger and Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron was spotted giving a cheeky wink to Kate Middleton as they sat together at a star-studded banquet.
They were in the company of luminaries such as Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John at the soiree hosted by King Charles at Windsor Castle.
During the meal, Macron and the Princess of Wales were seen toasting glasses, with the French President playfully winking at her amidst the musical elite.
Rolling Stones' lead singer Mick was joined by his fiancée Melanie Hamrick, while the 'Crocodile Rock' singer Sir Elton was accompanied by his husband David Furnish for the extravagant Royal celebration.
Sir Elton, famed for hosting his own annual white-tie and tiara charity ball, was among the 160 guests who gathered at the King's Royal white-tie event in honour of French president Macron and his wife Brigitte. Both musicians have homes in France, and Sir Elton also has a residence in nearby Old Windsor, reports the Mirror.
Sir Elton is well-known for performing 'Candle In The Wind', reworded as 'Goodbye England's Rose', at the funeral of the King's first wife Diana, Princess of Wales. He shares a close bond with the Duke of Sussex – Charles's youngest son, with whom the King has a strained relationship.
The illustrious guest list for the glittering state banquet hosted by King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales boasted names such as Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, former England goalkeeper and current Paris Saint-Germain player Mary Earps, acclaimed authors Joanne Harris and Sebastian Faulks, renowned sculptor Sir Antony Gormley, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with his wife Lady Victoria Starmer.
During the opulent feast, King Charles was seated between President Macron and France's Culture Minister Rachida Dati. Princess Kate marked her return to state dinners after nearly two years, placing her next to President Macron and Christophe Leribault of the Musee D'Orsay.
Meanwhile, the Queen Consort enjoyed the company of Mrs Macron and French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, while the Prince of Wales, William, found a spot adjacent to First Lady Brigitte Macron.
Rock icon Sir Mick Jagger, endearingly labelled "Sir Michael Jagger" on his white place card, mingled with Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Alice Rufo, a senior official from the French defence ministry.
Breaking protocol due to his vision impairment, Sir Elton John chose to sit beside his husband instead of being separated, as is traditional at such gatherings, with the Duchess of Gloucester by his other side. Suffering from serious vision problems following an eye infection, Sir Elton has faced new challenges.
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer engaged in conversation with football sensation Mary Earps.
The 'First Dates' frontman Fred Sirieix, brought his charming presence to the scene, while pop icon Mika found himself in distinguished company beside the Duchess of Edinburgh.
In anticipation of a grand State Banquet at Windsor, William and Kate teased their regal attire on social media, captioning an image with: "Ready for what promises to be a wonderful State Banquet this evening in Windsor."
For the first time, Kate donned her Royal Family order from King Charles and accessorised with a lily of the valley embroidered evening clutch. She engaged in conversation with President Macron whilst waiting for the banquet to commence and had art history scholar Christophe Leribault, chair of the Musee D'Orsay, on her other side, echoing her university studies in the subject.
Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh as well as Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence were among the Royal attendees at the dinner.
Queen Camilla dazzled in an ivory silk and crepe gown by Fiona Clare, topped with a sapphire tiara once owned by the late Queen, completing her ensemble with the Legion d'Honneur's French sash, Garter Star, and the King's family order.
The banquet featured a menu crafted by renowned French chef Raymond Blanc, beginning with succulent summer vegetables fresh from the Gardens of Le Manoir, dressed with Sage, Raw Tomato, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
The subsequent dish presented was a Supreme of Rhug Estate Chicken paired with Norfolk Asparagus and Tarragon Cream, succeeded by an Iced Blackcurrant Parfait resting on a Blackcurrant-soaked Sponge accompanied by Elderflower Jelly for pudding. Buckingham Palace hailed the culinary partnership as embodying "in the spirit of the Entente Cordial".
Continuing a tradition initiated by the King, a unique cocktail was concocted for the event, dubbed L'entente. It's a blend of British gin and lemon curd with a dash of French pastis, adorned with dried French cornflowers and English roses.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
22 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Princess Anne will find it 'hard to forgive' Prince Harry's rift with Royals
Princess Anne is celebrating her 75th birthday today, and as the Royal Family's hardest-working member, she is showing no signs of slowing down any time soon She is frequently considered the Royal Family's most industrious member with a direct, practical approach to her wide-ranging responsibilities. And as Princess Anne marks her milestone 75th birthday, it is precisely this understated manner that she is adopting for the occasion. There will be no grand public celebration, and no television appearance - indeed, the sole way her birthday is being acknowledged is through a new commemorative coin from the Royal Mint, which marks the first time Anne's likeness has ever featured. Last year, the Princess Royal carried out 474 engagements across the nation, as well as internationally, maintaining her status as the 'most dedicated' working Royal. The figure would have been considerably higher had she not been compelled to pause her duties last June following hospitalisation after sustaining a severe head injury in what is believed to have been a horse-related accident at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire, reports the Mirror. And according to royal commentator Jennie Bond, it is precisely her straightforward character that propels her relentless schedule. She exclusively revealed: "She has always been a no-fuss woman. Her manner is crisp, clean and efficient. That's how she regularly gets four or five jobs done a day - often in different parts of the country. "There have been times when I think she has felt underappreciated. She once berated me for mentioning that Diana had been a champion of AIDS sufferers - I had been with the Princess Royal on a visit to an AIDS project in Uganda. Diana had recently died, and the charity asked me to tell Anne that they needed a new champion. The request did not go down well. "But in recent years, I think her immense contribution to supporting her brother and the monarchy has been fully recognised. She is incredibly hard working and shows no sign of slowing down." Anne was born on August 15, 1950, at Clarence House, just under two years before her mother's life transformed forever when she became Queen. At the time she arrived, she was third in the line of succession after her elder brother, now King Charles. Their shared experiences during childhood, as the late Queen and Prince Philip frequently embarked on lengthy foreign tours, enabled them to forge an unbreakable connection that remains evident today in her steadfast support of her elder sibling's Royal duties. Indeed, during his Coronation ceremony, he bestowed upon her the coveted role of "Gold-Stick-in-Waiting" as recognition for her loyal dedication. This historic position is traditionally given to someone trusted with protecting the monarch personally, with the King clearly considering his younger sister, who fondly calls him 'Old Bean', the ideal candidate. The late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's influence on their daughter, particularly in her illustrious equestrian career, cannot be underestimated, according to royal expert Jennie. Princess Anne made history as the first member of the Royal Family to compete in the Olympics, representing Britain's Equestrian team in Montreal in 1976. Jennie explained: "There is a lot of her father in Anne: brusque, to the point and no fan of the media. Like him, she doesn't like to talk about herself- she just gets the job done. "As the late Queen's only daughter, she had a very special bond with Elizabeth. They shared a passion for horses, and the Queen was very proud of Anne's equestrian achievements." However, it's not just her royal duties and supporting her brother that keeps Anne occupied - her family life is also bustling. The princess resides near both of her children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, from her first marriage, along with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. When Peter and Zara were born, Anne made the unconventional decision at the time that they would not receive any royal titles - and would be expected to carve out their own careers. This decision seems to have been fruitful, with both siblings agreeing it was the best choice for them as they lead independent lives, with Zara following in her mother's footsteps as an Olympian Equestrian. Mum-of-three Zara is well-known for her marriage to former England rugby player Mike Tindall, with whom she has three children: Mia, Lena and Lucas. Peter Phillipshas two daughters - Savannah and Isla - from his previous marriage to ex wife Autumn. Both Peter and Zara have spoken about their mother's hands-on approach to grand-parenting, while Mike revealed Princess Anne's cheeky sense of humour during his stint on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. Jennie chimed in, saying: "I think she has the love and admiration of her children, Peter and Zara. They are particularly grateful to her for having the foresight to decide against giving them titles. "They value the freedom and independence that this status (or lack of) has given them. And she is evidently quite a fun grandmother to have around - especially when it comes to teaching the children to ride. "Anne's sense of humour is dry - like her mother's - but she's no prude. She had a great comeback when her son-in-law, Mike Tindall, split his trousers dancing, revealing his underpants with the memorable logo 'Nibble my Nuts'. 'I'd rather not!' the princess quipped." So, with her own immediate family life settled, it's been debated by royal watchers whether Anne should lend her support to her brother Charles' tricky situation regarding youngest son Prince Harry Harry disclosed earlier this year he no longer speaks to his father, the King, whilst his bond with elder brother Prince William is also reportedly virtually non-existent. His grievances with his family were exposed in his autobiography, Spare, a reference to being a second-born child, like his aunt. A source close to Anne allegedly revealed how if Harry had approached his aunt, she could have shared her precious experience of her position. And Jennie agrees it would have been an ideal notion. She said: "Anne would have been the perfect person to offer advice and guidance - but, sadly, this is no longer relevant as Harry has made it quite clear that he has no desire to return to life as a working royal. "She could have told her nephew that 'playing second fiddle' is the wrong way to look at his status. Instead, as she has shown, the second-born can be an invaluable support to the institution of monarchy, and a vital friend, confidant and wingman/woman to the monarch. "She could have explained that they are a team, a firm, working together to keep the monarchy relevant and using their platform to help charities and communities. "It may be that the King has discussed his family troubles with Anne, but I rather doubt that she would want to get involved. To Anne, loyalty is paramount, and I suspect she feels that Harry has been extremely disloyal to his father, his brother and the monarchy. She might well find that hard to forgive." However, as Anne contemplates what lies ahead, she's reportedly already considering what the future holds beyond her forthcoming birthday. During a conversation earlier this year whilst visiting South Africa, she was questioned about stepping back from duties given the reduced number of working royals and confessed it "isn't really an option". Sources have recently revealed there are no indications of her decelerating in the near term. Indeed, insiders suggest she's determined to continue her duties until she reaches at least 80, before gradually reducing her commitments and potentially retiring completely around 90 - mirroring her father Philip's approach. Whilst carrying on with her work appears certain, one aspect Jennie believes will almost certainly never occur is Anne embracing social media. The princess has garnered a devoted following of online admirers, particularly on TikTok, thanks to her earlier years when she led a rather eventful romantic life, survived an attempted kidnapping - and donned the most stylish 1960s and 1970s fashion. Even today, some of her garments from four to five decades past remain in her wardrobe, occasionally making appearances at official engagements. Despite her newfound fanbase, Jennie concluded: "I think she'd be amused and bemused by the comments on TikTok, but I don't imagine that she'd really give them a second thought. I don't think social media is her scene at all." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Princess Andre breaks silence as she's quizzed on dad Peter and mum Katie Price's feud
Princess Andre has spoken out after her dad Peter Andre unleashed a scathing statement towards ex-wife Katie Price. The statement came as the fallout between the pair intensified as Princess, 18, released her debut solo TV project. The teen shared her life on screen in ITV documentary The Princess Diaries. And while dad Pete, 52, featured throughout, Katie was fuming that the producers opted to go ahead without input from her. Now, after her dad's outburst, Princess has broken her silence on the feud. Princess addressed the feud as she answered a question about her parents on Snapchat. It comes after Katie Price worries fans with appearance in family photo after explaining weight loss. One fan asked her on the platform: "Does it affect you even now when your mum and dad don't get on?' Princess then wrote: "To be honest it doesn't affect me. At the end of the day, they broke up when I was two years old so I don't even have any memory of them being together." Writing on top of the clip, she added: "I love my mum and dad and that's all that matters." It comes after an Instagram post in which Peter raged: "For sixteen years, I have stayed silent in the face of repeated lies from my ex-wife and her family, out of respect for my children and loved ones, but staying silent has been incredibly frustrating. That ends today. "The latest comments about my children's welfare and living arrangements compel me to set the record straight. "For well-documented reasons, and for their safety, Junior and Princess came into my care in 2018 and remained with me until they reached adulthood. In 2019, the family courts issued a legally binding order to enforce this arrangement." He went on: "I have never made this public before, out of respect for my children. In 2011 and 2015, publicly documented court cases, found my ex-wife had made false claims. "She was ordered to pay substantial damages and legal costs, and to apologise, to me and my management. The same falsehoods are being repeated today. "Unfortunately, there are many more lies and baseless accusations I have yet to address. Those will now be dealt with in the coming months." Following his claims, a spokesperson for Katie told the Mirror: "Kate is in a much better and clear headspace and is at peace with the situation, this was in the past and she doesn't feel the need to bring up tit for tat comments, but more importantly she's dealing with this the right way and it's now in her lawyers hands. Kate will no longer be gaslight [sic] and bullied as she once was..." It came after Katie seemingly proposed a true between the pair in the latest episode of The Katie Price Show podcast. The duo, who share kids Junior and Princess, haven't communicated since their divorce, after their marriage collapsed in 2009.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
M&S filmed their Xmas ad in my village during the August heatwave.. the pub never looked so good, do you recognise it?
Scroll down to see the snap which has left eagle-eyed viewers in hysterics YULE LOVE IT M&S filmed their Xmas ad in my village during the August heatwave.. the pub never looked so good, do you recognise it? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT may be the fourth heatwave in the UK - but it's already beginning to look a lot like Christmas in one village. While millions of Brits have been flooding to beaches to make the most out of the glorious sunshine, a leafy town in Hertfordshire has been turned into Winter Wonderland. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 One sleepy village has already been turned into Winter Wonderland Credit: instagram/@itschloegranger 4 Chloe Granger, a local resident, shared snaps of the festive makeover on TikTok Credit: instagram/@itschloegranger 4 According to Chloe, the popular supermarket M&S was filming their Christmas ad in her village - during the fourth heatwave of 2025 Credit: instagram/@itschloegranger According to the locals, Marks & Spencer is currently working on their much-anticipated Christmas ad, which last year featured TV comedy legend Dawn French. The retailer kicked off the festive season with the launch of the video through its social media channels at 9am last November. But while fans still have a while to wait to see the final masterpiece starring Aimee Lou, one local, Chloe Granger, recently shared snaps of her hometown following the festive makeover - so, do you recognise it? Outside the local pub, the popular supermarket had placed several Christmas trees and a huge, rich green garland upon the entrance. The whole street was also covered in fake snow - and the light sky indeed gave it that crispy winter morning feel. The rest of the picturesque buildings, she shared in the video, also featured a variety of ''cute'' decorations to fit the theme. ''Fake snow lining the streets! If only it actually looked like this in winter,'' chuckled Chloe who posts under the username @itschloegranger. After strolling down the local street, the resident said she was inspired by the decorations - despite it being one of the hottest weeks of the year. ''It looks so festive, walking around really got me in the mood for Christmas, even though this was happening in the middle of a heatwave. ''Can't wait to see the ad!'' M&S reveals SIX different Christmas food adverts featuring comedy legend and music star Chloe - who lives in Hatfield - also shared a hilarious snap where TikTok users could see people walking around topless and in shorts, which made for a rather bizarre contrast. ''It definitely took a sec for my brain to make sense of what I was seeing,'' she chuckled. Chloe added she was ''very ready for the festive season and cooler weather now''. The jaw-dropping transformation of the sleepy town has since taken the platform by storm, racking up close to 570k views in just one day. As almost 45k people gave it a like, more than 190 flooded to comments, where one said: ''It's making me crave winter so much.'' Another chuckled: ''I'd be saying you can use my house as long as i can keep the decorations you put up.'' A third was stunned, writing: ''It's actually mental how these photos make it look like a crispy winter morning at sunrise.'' Someone else chimed in: ''Imagine how hot any actors feel, having to walk down the street in winter clothes, when it's 30 degrees outside.''
