Princess Diana's crown and a dress from an Arab designer.. How did Kate Middleton choose her outfit to receive the Sultan of Oman?

During the first day of the visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to the United Kingdom, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton's looks varied between dark green during the reception ceremony and yellow at the royal dinner held at the historic Windsor Castle. The difference in colors and details used in each look allows us to consider the choices of the Princess of Wales on two official occasions, especially in light of the possible connotations that royal fashion carries within the context of diplomatic visits.

Yellow dress from Elie Saab for the royal dinner party During the royal dinner party held by the British royal family in honor of the Sultan of Oman, Middleton wore a yellow dress from the spring-summer 2025 collection of the Lebanese designer Elie Saab. The design was made of chiffon with flowing pleats, with a built-in cap, a neckline with braided details, and a small opening at the chest.

The Princess of Wales coordinated the dress with "Greville" dangling earrings studded with diamonds, a diamond bracelet from Queen Mary's Jewellery, designed in the 1920s, and an "Art Deco" brooch from the British house "Bentley & Skinner", which she fixed at the top of the sash. As for the most prominent piece in her look, it was the “Love Knot” crown, which was previously worn by the late Princess Diana. It dates back to the early twentieth century, and was passed from Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth II, before it became one of the pieces associated with Diana’s looks.

The Princess of Wales has worn it several times since 2015, especially during official occasions. Dark green at the reception ceremony. Earlier the same day, Ambra Wales chose a dark green wool coat designed by the British house "Alexander McQueen", while welcoming the Sultan of Oman.

She coordinated the coat with a hat specially designed for her, and a black “mini classic” bag from the French house “Chanel.” She completed the look with yellow gold earrings and chrome diopside stones, a feather brooch with an emerald pendant, and green velvet shoes from the Spanish “Manolo Blahnik” brand.

Colors of the Sultanate’s flag with Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla In a reading of the connotations of colors in royal looks, the Jordanian expert in royal protocol and diplomatic etiquette, Lina Salama Nasser, in an interview with the Ofoq News website in Arabic, pointed to the red color in Queen Camilla’s look, and dark green in the look of the Princess of Wales, pointing out that the presence of green and red in the looks of members of the royal family during the reception of the Sultan of Oman allows a reading related to the identity of the guest country, as they are present in the colors of the flag. Sultanate. But she clarified that adopting the colors of the guest country's flag is not a binding protocol rule, and that the compatibility of the colors of the flag with the flag alone is not enough to confirm that her choice was made with the intention of sending a specific diplomatic message.