Detail in Kate Middleton’s outfit leaves royal fans ‘irked’

Kate Middleton made a striking appearance at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, but some observers were distracted by her choice of headpiece.

She attended the event with her husband, Prince William, where King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Budenbender.

Earlier, the couple welcomed the German leaders at Heathrow Airport and joined them for a carriage procession through Windsor, accompanied by a 41-gun royal salute.

During the daytime engagements, Kate wore a navy Burberry dress paired with a matching Sarah Burton coat for Alexander McQueen, and later changed into a cornflower blue Jenny Packham gown for the formal dinner.

Her ensemble was complemented by the historic Oriental Circlet Tiara, famously associated with Queen Victoria, which drew both admiration and criticism for appearing slightly crooked in photos.

The tiara, designed over a century ago by Prince Albert, features lotus motifs within eleven Mughal arches and is set with more than 2,000 diamonds from Garrard, London. Queen Victoria designated it as a royal heirloom for future queens rather than wearing it herself.

Before Kate, the tiara was worn by the Queen Mother and, once, by Queen Elizabeth II. Kate’s choice and the way she wore it sparked discussion among social media users, with some noting it looked misaligned despite being an elegant and historic piece.