Tonight's State Banquet

Well, I shall be interested to see what gowns they wore, what jewellery, tiaras…..

Shallow, moi?

I want to know what was on the menu, loads of courses I daresay. How wonderful to be waited on like this in such sumptuous surroundings.

Looks like my christmas table.
Hahahahahahaha

I’m shallow too Calendargirl, I’m a tiara watcher, they fascinate me. Queen Camilla was wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which is beautiful. Catherine was wearing her usual, the Lovers Knot Tiara. There are so many that haven’t been worn for a long time that I always find out, just in case a different one appears - but not tonight.

I thought Camilla’s tiara looked great with her hairstyle, as did the Duchess of Gloucester’s, a very pretty one. The latter always looks effortlessly elegant.

Princess Anne looks more and more like the Windsor women, Queen Mary and the late Princess Royal, the Countess of Harewood. Probably wearing a gown she’s had for ages, and nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I like to see the Princess of Wales with her hair up on such state occasions. Just looks so much more elegant and regal.

I don’t usually take a great deal of interest in these things but I read the BBC news account last night and was gobsmacked by the monogrammed salt 😂

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8040qgryqd3o

PS. I thought the table was over decorated; a wall of flowers down the middle.

Calendargirl

Well, I shall be interested to see what gowns they wore, what jewellery, tiaras…..

Shallow, moi?

I call it interested and curious!

I actually love looking (and oft critiquing) the wondrous, the beautiful and the downright odd!

Did you see the British Museum Ball Gowns??

I just checked, the Duchess was wearing the Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara, which is cleverly designed so the central jewel can be changed, it is beautiful. She does always look so elegant.

Fallingstar

I want to know what was on the menu, loads of courses I daresay. How wonderful to be waited on like this in such sumptuous surroundings.

Me too haha

Didn’t know there was one 🤣🤣🤣

Cossy

Fallingstar

I want to know what was on the menu, loads of courses I daresay. How wonderful to be waited on like this in such sumptuous surroundings.

Me too haha

Much of the menu is described in the BBC account I linked to.

I'm a Republican, so have little interest in matters royal, but I do feel a little sorry for the King and Queen, and Princess Anne.
I enjoy a meal out with the best of them, but I do wonder if they look at the calendar, sigh about dressing up in stiff clothes, and eating late into the night.
I envisage them thinking " I'd much rather have supper on a tray in front of Emmerdale".

The U.K. is so very good at occasions like this, using their soft power .

The Monarch and the entire extended Royals looked elegant as expected.

I thought the table floral display looked OTT. Too tall. Once sat down the guests unlikely to be able to see across the table. I’d have been expecting David Attenborough to part the leaves and peer through if he’d have been opposite me!

Bringing the garden inside! A bumper crop of pomegranates on the royal estates apparently this year, so some were set amongst the floral display.

I enjoy looking at the outfits and the jewellery. I'd hate to have to dress up like this and make tiny talk while eating delicate messes. However, it's part of the job for the Royal family. Long may their soft power continue. We need all the help we can get these days.

Chocolatelovinggran

I'm a Republican, so have little interest in matters royal, but I do feel a little sorry for the King and Queen, and Princess Anne.
I enjoy a meal out with the best of them, but I do wonder if they look at the calendar, sigh about dressing up in stiff clothes, and eating late into the night.
I envisage them thinking " I'd much rather have supper on a tray in front of Emmerdale".

Oh I agree. When you read about how many times they change clothes in a day when they're at Sandringham for Christmas they must long for a pair of joggers and a sweatshirt!

And yes, I'm sure they would prefer to have their "Pot roasted Windsor pheasant with spiced quince" on a tray in front of the telly, just as I do

When you read about how many times they change clothes in a day when they're at Sandringham for Christmas they must long for a pair of joggers and a sweatshirt!

Goodness. That sounds like hard work. How many times a day do they have to change?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

I thought the table floral display looked OTT. Too tall. Once sat down the guests unlikely to be able to see across the table. I’d have been expecting David Attenborough to part the leaves and peer through if he’d have been opposite me!

We have a very rare moment of agreement here. I thought the table decorations were awful 😂

Having lived in Oman for many years, we were interested to see the guest of honour, the Sultan of Oman, who we thought looked both magnificent and dignified.
Oman has long been a friend of the UK.
The old Sultan, Qaboos, was affectionately known by expats as SuperQ.

Is there no 'sultana'? I mean a female companion?

I didn't know there was a banquet so I am now avidly scouring the news for reports. I agree about 'soft power', and if you have got it (the trappings,) flaunt it!

Aveline

Is there no 'sultana'? I mean a female companion?

I wondered about this last night and it took a lot of searching to find out anything about the Sultan's wife, other than her name. All I could find out was that the Sultan is an absolute monarch and his wife does not take part in public occasions. I think the BBC report referred to the Crown Prince being at the banquet, King Charles referred to him in his speech.