In a rather surprising turn of events, Kate Middleton found herself paired with a member of the Trump family during a recent state banquet, sparking quite a buzz among royal watchers and guests alike.
A Memorable Evening at Windsor Castle
It was a grand evening at Windsor Castle on the night of September 17th, where King Charles III and Queen Camilla warmly welcomed former US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania. The occasion was marked by a royal ceremony in the opulent St George’s Hall, culminating in a banquet that concluded the first day of Trump’s second state visit to the United Kingdom.
The grand event saw an impressive guest list, featuring the likes of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria, alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton. In total, there were 160 esteemed guests from various sectors, including White House staff, lesser-known royals, and notable figures from the tech and business worlds.
The Procession and Unexpected Pairings
The royal dinners typically start with a ceremonial procession, where attendees enter the dining hall in an ordered sequence, usually in pairs. This tradition adds a touch of ceremony and formality as guests make their way to their respective seats.
However, what caught everyone’s attention was the unexpected pairing of the Prince and Princess of Wales, who famously were not seated beside each other. Instead, King Charles and President Trump led the procession, followed by Melania and Queen Camilla.
Prince William escorted Paula Reynolds, currently the Chair of the National Grid. Meanwhile, Kate Middleton was joined by Michael Boulos, the American businessman married to Tiffany Trump, Donald Trump’s daughter.
Interestingly, Tiffany, Trump’s only child with ex-wife Marla Maples, entered the hall much later in the procession. Walking alongside Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, her placement left many attendees puzzled over the evening’s unorthodox pairings.
Tiffany and Kate’s Seating at the Banquet
The seating arrangement was just as intriguing as the procession itself. Kate was seated between Michael Boulos and Donald Trump, with Tiffany placed further down the table, distanced from her husband.
The Princess Royal, Anne, also did not accompany her husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence. Instead, she walked with Warren Stephens, the US ambassador to the UK, while Laurence escorted US healthcare executive Dame Vivian Hunt.
These unexpected pairings led to various speculations among attendees and royal enthusiasts. Some attributed these choices to a traditional guideline of seating arrangements, which typically honors the seniority of royals and seeks to blend different guests, avoiding placing couples together.
Understanding the Customary Tradition
A seasoned royal observer explained it succinctly: “Tiffany wasn’t overlooked. The state dinner procession works on two primary factors – the seniority of the accompanying royal and the protocol that guests of opposite genders walk together.”
Such arrangements might shuffle couple pairings, keeping the processional order dynamic. While the specifics might vary with each event, the intent might just have been to keep the proceedings fresh and engaging, stepping away from placing couples strictly side by side.
