It is the largest - and one of the most glittering - annual receptions the monarch holds at Buckingham Palace. Little wonder, then, that the Duchess of Cambridge was determined to shine. Arriving at tonight’s Diplomatic Reception in a chauffeur-driven Bentley, Kate sported in public for the first time since her wedding a dazzling tiara, believed to have been loaned to her by the Queen. Regal: The Duchess pictured on Tuesday night arriving for a diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace wearing a tiara once owned by Princess Margaret . All dressed up: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are seen leaving Kensington Palace earlier tonight . With her long, dark locks swept back . in a half-up half-down hairstyle to show off the delicate diamonds to . their best advantage, the Duchess, 31, looked more regal than ever. The Duchess was wearing a bespoke evening gown by Alexander McQueen. Kensington Palace confirmed tonight that the tiara had belonged to Princess Margaret. It is a . particularly delicate diamond tiara of fanned motifs crowned by floating . diamond arches and studded with two pearls at the base and a central . top pearl. Glittering: The stunning tiara is thought to have belonged to the Queen Mother . Big occasion: It is thought to be the first time the Duchess has been seen wearing a tiara since the Royal wedding in 2011 . It was made from one of her wedding gifts, a necklace of a Greek key pattern with pendant diamonds and pearls given by her husband, the future George VI. Jewellers Garrard dismantled it and created a tiara instead. The . Queen Mother often wore it as a young woman before handing it down to . her youngest daughter, Princess Margaret, who also loaned it to Serena . Stanhope for her wedding to Margaret’s son Viscount Linley. Although . Prince William and his wife have studiously avoided attending any state . banquets since their wedding (when a tiara is obligatory), claiming . they are left to senior working royals, tonight’s reception was . something of a three-line whip. There . are 172 Foreign Missions currently accredited to the Court of St . James’s in London, because St. James’s Palace is still the senior palace . and official residence of the Sovereign. Each . year the Queen throws a lavish reception in their honour, where members . of the royal family make a point of meeting and greeting each one. A piece of history: The beautiful tiara was owned by the Queen Mother and handed down to Princess Margaret. Kensington Palace confirmed that the Queen loaned it to the Duchess for tonight . Family heirloom: The Queen Mother is pictured wearing the tiara in a picture from 1930, left, while Princess Margaret is seen wearing it to a state dinner, right .
The Duchess of Cambridge pictured arriving at the Diplomatic Reception .
She was seen arriving at Buckingham Palace in chauffeur-driven Bentley .
The Duchess appeared to be wearing matching earrings and a white dress .
It is the first time she has been seen with a tiara since the Royal wedding .
She had her hair in a half up, half down style to show off the diamonds .
It is the largest - and one of the most glittering - annual receptions the monarch holds at Buckingham Palace. Little wonder, then, that the Duchess of Cambridge was determined to shine. Arriving at tonight’s Diplomatic Reception in a chauffeur-driven Bentley, Kate sported in public for the first time since her wedding a dazzling tiara, believed to have been loaned to her by the Queen. Regal: The Duchess pictured on Tuesday night arriving for a diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace wearing a tiara once owned by Princess Margaret . All dressed up: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are seen leaving Kensington Palace earlier tonight . With her long, dark locks swept back . in a half-up half-down hairstyle to show off the delicate diamonds to . their best advantage, the Duchess, 31, looked more regal than ever. The Duchess was wearing a bespoke evening gown by Alexander McQueen. Kensington Palace confirmed tonight that the tiara had belonged to Princess Margaret. It is a . particularly delicate diamond tiara of fanned motifs crowned by floating . diamond arches and studded with two pearls at the base and a central . top pearl. Glittering: The stunning tiara is thought to have belonged to the Queen Mother . Big occasion: It is thought to be the first time the Duchess has been seen wearing a tiara since the Royal wedding in 2011 . It was made from one of her wedding gifts, a necklace of a Greek key pattern with pendant diamonds and pearls given by her husband, the future George VI. Jewellers Garrard dismantled it and created a tiara instead. The . Queen Mother often wore it as a young woman before handing it down to . her youngest daughter, Princess Margaret, who also loaned it to Serena . Stanhope for her wedding to Margaret’s son Viscount Linley. Although . Prince William and his wife have studiously avoided attending any state . banquets since their wedding (when a tiara is obligatory), claiming . they are left to senior working royals, tonight’s reception was . something of a three-line whip. There . are 172 Foreign Missions currently accredited to the Court of St . James’s in London, because St. James’s Palace is still the senior palace . and official residence of the Sovereign. Each . year the Queen throws a lavish reception in their honour, where members . of the royal family make a point of meeting and greeting each one. A piece of history: The beautiful tiara was owned by the Queen Mother and handed down to Princess Margaret. Kensington Palace confirmed that the Queen loaned it to the Duchess for tonight . Family heirloom: The Queen Mother is pictured wearing the tiara in a picture from 1930, left, while Princess Margaret is seen wearing it to a state dinner, right .
Duchess of Cambridge was determined to shine. Arriving at tonight’s Diplomatic Reception in a chauffeur-driven Bentley, Kate sported in public Queen. Regal: The Duchess pictured on Tuesday Buckingham Palace wearing a tiara once owned by hairstyle to show off the delicate diamonds to . studded with two pearls at the base and a central Big occasion: It is thought to be the first time the Duchess has been seen wearing a tiara since the Royal wedding in 2011 . It was made from one