Kate Middleton dazzles in incredible state banquet gown as Melania Trump pulls out stops

The Princess of Wales has revealed her incredible state banquet gown and tiara ahead of the glittering dinner with US president Donald Trump.

Posting a photo to social media, Kate unveiled her new Philippa Lepley full-length hand-embroided gold lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown. The coat features hand-embroidered roses with couched gold cording, accented with French knots and satin-stitched blooms and is said to highlight her commitment to supporting British craftsmanship and creativity.

Kate was also wearing the Royal Family Order of King Charles III, Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II, Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and GCVO Star and Sash.

• King Charles menu for Donald Trump banquet revealed but president will refuse key part
• Donald Trump forced to dine with ENEMY he once considered 'friend' at royal banquet

William is wearing a white tie and a Windsor tail coat, and the Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the Lesser George. He was also wearing his miniature medals – Order of the Bath and the Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilee and Coronation medal – as well as Chest Orders of the Order of the Garter and Order of the Thistle and the Neck Order of the Order of the Bath.

The couple posted a picture of themselves ahead of the banquet on the social media channels with the caption: "Ready for The State Banquet." For the dinner, Mr Trump, who earlier told Kate she looked beautiful, will be sat beside her.

Meanwhile the King and Queen posed with their guests Mr Trump and his wife Melania for a photo before the big event. Camilla is wearing a royal blue silk marocain embroidered dress by Fiona Clare, a sapphire and diamond tiara, and the King’s Family Order. Melania opted for a fitted, more daring off-the-shoulder, long-sleeved yellow gown, with contrasting pink belt.

During tonight's banquet, a bespoke transatlantic whisky sour cocktail garnished with a toasted marshmallow set on a star-shaped biscuit “evoking the warmth of a fireside S’more” is being served.

In a tradition started by the King, a new cocktail is created specially for each state dinner and incorporates a nod to its VIP guests. Buckingham Palace said the tipple, a UK/US twist on the classic whisky sour, “blends the smoky depth of Johnnie Walker Black with the bright citrus of marmalade”.

It added: “Crowned with a pecan foam and garnished with a toasted marshmallow set on a star-shaped biscuit, evoking the warmth of a fireside S’more.” Other touching gestures have been added to charm Mr Trump, whose high stakes second state visit is unprecedented for a US leader.

After dinner hosted by the King and Queen, guests will be served Warre’s 1945 vintage port, in recognition of Mr Trump’s role as the 45th, as well as the 47th, president of the United States and because it is the closest vintage port year to his birth year. A Hennessy 1912 Cognac Grande Champagne will be on offer in recognition of the President’s mother Mary Anne MacLeod’s birth year.

A Bowmore Queen’s Cask whisky from Islay, which was a gift to the late Queen Elizabeth in 1980 and bottled for her Golden Jubilee in 2002, has been chosen to reflect Mr Trump’s Scottish heritage. Mr Trump is a teetotaller, so will not indulge in sampling the variety of vintage drinks on offer, nor the cocktail.

But it is understood the White House has made him aware of what is being served and the care and thought that is behind each selection.

The sumptuous menu, written in French as is the custom, consists of Hampshire watercress panna cotta with parmesan shortbread and quail egg salad, followed by organic Norfolk chicken ballotine wrapped in courgettes, with a thyme and savoury infused jus, and then bombe glacee cardinal, which is a vanilla ice cream bombe with Kentish raspberry sorbet interior with lightly poached victoria plums.

Before tonight's spectacular dinner, the King and Queen personally inspected the banquet table and surveyed the scene shown in footage posted on the official monarchy’s social media.

Pink, purple and yellow blooms could be seen adorning the extravagant floral displays on the 50-metre table. The monarch and Camilla shook hands with Household staff who were behind the meticulous planning and staging of the grand affair.

Earlier today, the Royal Family rolled out the red carpet yesterday for Mr Trump affirming the special relationship between our two countries.

Flying into Windsor Castle on his Marine One helicopter from the US Ambassador’s residence in London to avoid potential protests in the town, the US leader greeted the King warmly after describing the monarch as his “friend” on his arrival to the UK on Tuesday evening.

The two men showed signs of constant affection with each other, laughing and joking throughout the day as the King and his family produced a charm offensive for Trump’s historic and unprecedented second state visit to the UK.

The American leader and First Lady were treated to a personal, family-centred greeting outside Victoria House, a little-known property nestled in the Royal Kitchen Gardens at Frogmore on the private Windsor estate.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were deployed to greet the Trumps, as the full pomp and pageantry of the British military was delivered for the US guests.

The princess gave Trump a broad smile as they shook hands at Windsor Castle, with the President telling Kate, “you’re so beautiful, so beautiful”.

Referring to Prince William as “my friend”, Trump grasped his arm and shook his hand telling him it was “great to see you again”. The two men previously met last December, where they joined other dignitaries in Paris to mark the restoration of the world-famous Notre Dame Cathedral, which was devastated by a fire five years ago.

The President and the First Lady joined The King and Queen, and The Prince and Princess of Wales, in a Carriage Procession through the Windsor estate, towards the Castle. As the Carriage Procession moved off, a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry was mounted at the start of the processional route.

For the start of the day’s spectacle, which Trump referred to as a “fest”, while boasting of the honour of being the first US President to be offered an unprecedented second state visit, the route was lined by Armed Forces personnel from the Walled Garden to George IV Gate.

In the afternoon the President and First Lady made a personal pilgrimage to the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II inside St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Mr Trump declared it a "great honour" to visit the royal chapel where the late Queen Elizabeth II is buried, after paying his respects at her tomb.

The US president and First Lady Melania spent around 10 minutes privately at the late monarch's final resting place during the first day of their state visit to the UK.

They laid a wreath at her tomb, before emerging into the nave of St George's Chapel to listen to a performance by some young members of the choir and taking a tour of the centuries-old gothic building.

The president had previously described Queen Elizabeth II in her lifetime as "a spectacular woman" and someone he had a good rapport with.