Queen Camilla wore one of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite tiaras to the Nigerian state banquet

Queen Camilla arrived at the Nigerian state banquet on Wednesday evening in a familiar tiara: the Belgian Sapphire Tiara. Dressed in a cream embroidered gown by Fiona Clare, she entered St. George’s Hall at Windsor Castle alongside King Charles and Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu shortly after sundown as the Tinubus are observing Ramadan.

The Queen has worn the sparkler to several state banquets in the past, starting with her first as queen consort in November 2022 when hosting President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa. Camilla also brought out the diadem for two galas at Windsor Castle last year: for the French state banquet in July and one for U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in September.

A closeup of the Queen in the Belgian Sapphire Tiara as well as the Royal Family Order of King Charles III.

The King and Queen arrive for the banquet with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.

Camilla accessorized the tiara with its matching earrings, both previously belonging to Queen Elizabeth, alongside a diamond serpent necklace of her own. She also wore the the Order of the Garter Sash and Star and the Royal Family Order of King Charles.

The King and Queen, in the Belgian Sapphire Tiara, at the South African state banquet in 2022.

Per The Royal Watcher, it first belonged to Princess Louise of Belgium, daughter of King Leopold II and wife of Prince Philip of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Queen Elizabeth wore the tiara during her reign, including at the Colombian State Visit in 2016 as well as for her official portrait in Windsor Castle in 2019. The tiara’s last appearance on her came in 2020, when she wore the sapphires for her Canadian portrait. It would also mark the last time Queen Elizabeth was photographed wearing a tiara.

Queen Elizabeth in the sapphire suite at the Colombian state banquet in November 2016.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are hosting Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu this week for a two-day state visit this week. It’s the first state visit from a Nigerian head-of-state to the UK in 37 years. The most recent occasion was in 1989 when General Ibrahim Babangida, who took power of Nigeria in 1985 in a bloodless coup, was hosted by Queen Elizabeth during a four-day visit.

Queen Camilla sits with Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu during the banquet.

After flying in on Tuesday and a whirlwind of events on Wednesday, the Nigerian state visit concludes with the banquet. The dress code at state banquets are not just black tie formal. It’s a chance for the royals to wear all of their finest tiaras, jewels, gowns, and royal orders as well. Also in attendance were the Princess of Wales in her favorite Lover’s Knot tiara, Princess Anne in the Meander Tiara, and the Duchess of Gloucester in Queen Mary’s Iveagh Tiara.