Tonight, the Princess of Wales made a statement in a dark red Givenchy by Sarah Burton gown to a state banquet at Windsor Castle honoring French President Emmanuel Macron. The flowing silk creponne gathered evening gown featured a cape back detailing.
The Princess paired it with an evening clutch embroidered with a lily of the valley motif as well as the Lover’s Knot Tiara. The diadem, made by the House of Garrard in 1913, consists of diamonds and a collection of 19 hanging pearls set in silver and gold. The Lover’s Knot was also a favorite of the late Princess Diana.
The Princess of Wales’s choice of Sarah Burton for Givenchy is a clear statement of fashion diplomacy: a design by a British woman for a French fashion house, it serves as a sartorial symbol of the symbiotic relationship between the two European countries.
It is also a moment that will excite followers of the fashion industry. Dressing the Princess for the state banquet is one of the highest-profile moments thus far for Burton during her tenure as Givenchy’s creative director. Her appointment was announced in September 2024 and her debut collection was shown in March 2025. Previously, Elle Fanning wore one of her designs to the Oscars, as did Cynthia Erivo to the 2025 Tony Awards.
It also further cements Middleton’s role as a perennial muse for Burton. The designer was the creative mastermind behind the royal’s now iconic ivory lace wedding dress, which she wore to marry Prince William at Westminster Abbey in 2011. She also designed three separate looks for the Princess’s ethereal birthday portraits. Like Queen Elizabeth’s longstanding relationship with British fashion designer Norman Hartnell, it seems that Sarah Burton and the Princess of Wales will continue to etch their fashion story together.
