Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Sparkles in Aquamarine Tiara at Palace Banquet

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh shines at the last state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

On Tuesday night, the 58-year-old Duchess of Edinburgh wore her aquamarine tiara to a state banquet that ended the first day of South Korea’s state visit to the UK. King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, and his wife, First Lady Kim Keon Hee, for a three-day stay, continuing the tradition by hosting a diplomatic dinner on the first night.

Sophie arrived in something else special: her coronation dress! The Duchess of Edinburgh recycled Suzannah Crabb’s bespoke cream dress which she first wore at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in May.

Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE, Crabb said she wanted to make “something unique, iconic, but in a calm way” and wanted Sophie to “feel amazing and confident” in the dress. Crabb is known for her classic and feminine designs, and has included a few “gentle British touches”, taking inspiration from London-based ceramic artist Rachel Dein for the floral embroidery design.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh attends a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on November 21.

Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images

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“I kept thinking this would be the most amazing embroidery,” Crabb told PEOPLE at the time, adding that she discovered the artist at the Chelsea Flower Show — a staple on the royal calendar. “I thought this was going to be a really beautiful unique thing, and it was created exclusively with British craftsmanship,” she added.

Royal watchers got a better view of the dress at the state banquet, as it was mostly hidden under the blue robes she wore to the coronation ceremony. Fans got a full view of the custom creation in one of the coronation group portraits the palace released after, though the official picture was taken from a distance!

Prince Edward and Sophie on their coronation day on May 6.

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Like her coronation dress, Sophie’s tiara might look familiar, as it’s a favorite in her jewelry box. According to The Court Jeweller, the striking lamp with a large jewel in the center with undulating rows of diamonds was made especially for Sophie. It was first presented by the royal family at the enthronement ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2005 and has been sparkling in it ever since.

Interestingly, the tiara is convertible and can alternatively be worn as a necklace. Sophie styled it this way for a gala performance in London in 2006, with diamond waves cascading down.

Sophie in 2005; Sophie 2006. Getty (2)

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton and Queen Camilla shone in rarely seen tiaras from the royal vault, which they have never worn before! The Princess of Wales, 41, wore the Strathmore Rose tiara previously worn by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, while Queen Camilla, 75, wore Queen Elizabeth’s Burmese ruby ​​tiara.

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The Duchess of Edinburgh recently wore it to a state banquet for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to the UK in November 2022.

The royal family seems to be reaching for blue jewels, borrowing Queen Elizabeth’s aquamarine ribbon tiara for the 2013 wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O’Neill.

Sophie was famously close to Queen Elizabeth and it came full circle when she was given the title of Duchess of Edinburgh, previously held by her late mother-in-law.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, in an aquamarine tiara in November 2022. Chris Jackson/Getty

Ahead of his 1947 wedding to the then Princess Elizabeth, Prince Philip was created Duke of Edinburgh, Baron Greenwich and Earl of Merioneth, the Royal Collection Trust reported. The newlyweds were known as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh until the Queen came to the throne in 1952, while Prince Philip retained his Duke of Edinburgh styling for the rest of his life.

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It was previously believed that the Dukedom of Edinburgh would eventually pass to Prince Edward; the title reverted to the Crown upon the death of Prince Philip in April 2021. The third and youngest son of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Rhys-Jones became the Earl and Countess of Wessex after they married in 1999. About Edward and Sophie on the day of the wedding, Buckingham Palace even indicated that the name Edinburgh was intended for them, Time reported.

After months of speculation following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, King Charles announced on Prince Edward’s 59th birthday that he had conferred the title of Duke of Edinburgh on his younger brother. Sophie became the Duchess of Edinburgh in one fell swoop.

The couple visited Edinburgh for the first time with their new titles that day, with Edward calling it a “very special and slightly overwhelming day”. He then sweetly referred to Sophie as “my wife and duchess”, prompting laughter from the audience.

Sophie and Edward visited Edinburgh, Scotland for the first time as the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh on March 10. JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education