Prince William made a solo appearance at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night, joining King Charles and Queen Camilla to host the annual glittering diplomatic reception.
Prince William, 42, mingled with approximately 900 distinguished guests at the white-tie and tiara event. Notably absent was his wife, the Princess of Wales, who missed the occasion for the first time in a decade.
Kate, who completed chemotherapy treatment during the summer, is steadily resuming her royal duties while focusing on her recovery from cancer. She is currently dedicating her efforts to hosting her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 6.
The last time the royal couple skipped the reception was in 2014, when it coincided with their official visit to New York.
Royal Fanfare
Trumpeters marked the arrival of the King and Queen at the grand reception. It was Camilla’s first appearance since the palace announced the sad news that her beloved rescue dog, Beth, had passed away.
Both the King and the Prince of Wales donned black evening tailcoats with white shirts, matching waistcoats and a white bow tie. And in a more modern move, Prince William did not shave off his facial hair for the glamorous bash.
The Queen’s Evening Look
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla, who has just recovered from a nasty chest infection, wowed in ablue velvet evening dress by Fiona Clare, and opted for Queen Elizabeth II’s small aquamarine and diamond tiara.
Big Change
The diplomatic reception is traditionally held in early December in the run-up to Christmas rather than in November.
But the King is hosting an incoming state visit by the Emir of Qatar in the first week of December.
Guests at the reception included foreign ambassadors and high commissioners based in the UK, their spouses or partners, and diplomatic staff, with the event usually including a buffet supper and dancing.
