Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle Banquet
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, made quite an entrance alongside her husband, Prince William, at Windsor Castle. This event coincided with the state visit of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who were welcomed by senior royals at a grand state banquet.
Ingrid Seward, the Editor-in-Chief of Major Magazines, mentioned that the royals love showcasing their impressive jewels during such gatherings. “They really do sparkle,” she noted, highlighting the opportunity to display these precious gems.
The state visit featured a lavish banquet held in St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. For context, this hall is about the length of a soccer field, and the centerpiece—the Waterloo table—can host up to 160 guests. Apparently, it takes five days to prepare, involving more than 4,000 pieces, some of which date back 200 years.
Attire for the evening was considerably formal. Men donned white ties and tailcoats, while women were expected to wear exquisite designer gowns and eye-catching jewelry.
Darren McGrady, a royal chef with 15 years of experience serving five U.S. presidents, shared that the evening’s menu pays homage to Queen Elizabeth II. One of the featured desserts, the Cardinal Bombé Greyce, combines vanilla ice cream with Kentish raspberry sorbet and lightly poached Victoria plums. It seems this particular dessert has a history, as McGrady mentioned that it was served at nearly 70% of all state banquets. The Queen had a fondness for ice cream at these events.
Interestingly, the royal menu also included offerings like Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne, paying tribute to the birth year of the President’s mother, along with a vintage port from 1945, which aligns with the President’s birth year. Plus, guests could look forward to selections of American red and English sparkling wines.
One of Trump’s fondest memories includes watching his mother, Mary Anne McLeod Trump, expressing admiration for the Crown Jewels during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. This nuance adds a personal touch to the evening’s reflection on family, history, and tradition.
Notably, the menu was presented in French, a tradition that dates back over a thousand years, which Seward suggested exemplifies refinement. Dishes featured organic Norfolk chicken and a quail egg salad, emphasizing local produce from royal estates. The evening’s signature cocktail, a transatlantic whiskey sour, combined Johnnie Walker Black with citrus marmalade, garnished with imaginative star-shaped biscuits.
The Associated Press noted that President Trump and other world leaders have historically recognized their visits to the UK with grandeur, a sentiment possibly echoed during this event that showcased 120 horses and a troop of 1,300 men.
