Princess Kate wears Diana-linked tiara as Oman returns to Windsor

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM — Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore a yellow Elie Saab gown and a tiara associated with Princess Diana at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, as Britain welcomed Oman’s sultan for a state visit.

The appearance drew attention to the royal family’s evening reception for Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. It was also the most visible moment of a three-day visit with a wider agenda: the British government has outlined prospective investment, trade and security cooperation with Oman. The last state visit to Britain by an Omani sultan took place in 1982.

A familiar tiara with a royal history

Catherine paired her soft yellow gown with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara, a diamond and pearl piece that became closely associated with Diana, Princess of Wales. She has worn it on previous formal occasions, so its appearance at Windsor was a return to a familiar choice rather than the debut of a new piece of jewellery.

The distinction matters because the tiara is often described simply as “Diana’s tiara”. Its history reaches further back: it was made for Queen Mary and later worn by other members of the royal family. Diana helped make it instantly recognisable to a wider public, while Catherine has brought it back into view at state banquets during her own years as Princess of Wales.

The gown supplied the new element. Its yellow colour and flowing shape stood out beside the formal decorations traditionally worn at a state banquet. For an evening watched as closely for its photographs as for its speeches, the combination offered a familiar royal image with a fresh look.

Why Oman was at Windsor

King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted Sultan Haitham at Windsor Castle during a state visit scheduled for 20–22 October. Catherine and Prince William joined the royal party for the banquet on the first evening.

The occasion marked a long interval in the formal calendar. In March 1982, Queen Elizabeth II hosted Sultan Qaboos bin Said on the previous state visit to the United Kingdom by an Omani sultan. Tuesday’s ceremony was therefore the first such visit in 44 years.

That does not mean contact between the two royal houses stopped in the meantime. According to the Royal Household, Charles visited Oman several times while he was Prince of Wales. He also met Sultan Haitham privately at Windsor in 2025. The current visit places that continuing relationship on a more public stage.

The photographs tell only part of the story

A state banquet gives a visiting leader a ceremonial welcome, and royal clothing inevitably becomes part of the public conversation. Catherine’s gown and tiara were among the details photographed as guests arrived. They are likely to remain the images many readers associate with the visit.

The programme has another purpose. The British government has presented the meetings as an opportunity to expand cooperation with Oman in investment, trade, defence and regional security. The banquet brought the relationship into view; discussions during the rest of the visit are where the proposed agreements and their practical terms matter.

That balance makes this more than a fashion story. The clothes can introduce readers to the event without standing in for its outcome. A memorable photograph records who attended the banquet, while announcements from the two governments indicate what they hope the visit will produce.

More than £1 billion in prospective investment

On Wednesday, the British government said more than £1 billion in new investment was expected to support jobs and growth across the United Kingdom and Oman. It said an agreement intended to encourage investment in both directions was expected to be signed during the visit.

The areas identified include renewable energy, technology, critical minerals, space, healthcare and financial services. The government also said UK Export Finance planned to raise its financing capacity for British exports to Oman to as much as £7 billion. That figure describes available financing capacity; it is not a claim that £7 billion has already been invested or spent.

One project highlighted in the announcement concerns a proposed artificial intelligence data centre in Salalah, Oman. UK-founded company Yamna was expected to sign an agreement for the development. The government said its first phase was expected to exceed £1 billion and create more than 100 highly skilled jobs in the UK. Those figures describe a planned project, whose delivery will depend on the agreements and work that follow.

Security and education are also on the agenda

The government’s plans extend beyond commerce. Britain and Oman were expected to agree on closer maritime cooperation, including the exchange of information and expertise. For the UK, Oman is a significant partner in a region that includes the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for international shipping.

Education forms another part of the proposed relationship. The British government announced plans to restore its Chevening scholarship programme for Oman, with applications expected to open in August 2027. It also outlined cooperation on the use of artificial intelligence in education and on space research and policy.

These initiatives are at different stages. An announcement of an expected agreement is not the same as a completed project, and the proposed investment will take time to assess. The clearest measure of the visit’s longer-term impact will be which commitments are signed, funded and carried out after the Windsor ceremonies end.

What remains after the banquet

For royal watchers, the evening supplied a striking image: the Princess of Wales in yellow, wearing a tiara long linked with Diana. For the governments involved, it opened a more detailed conversation about investment and cooperation.

Both parts of the visit have a place in the story. The banquet made the occasion visible well beyond Britain and Oman. The next steps will show whether the economic and diplomatic proposals announced alongside it become lasting results.

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