The Princess of Wales is reportedly just weeks away from her first major tiara moment of the new year, with the first state visit of 2026 now on the horizon. Following her return to royal duties after the Christmas break, Princess Kate’s diary is filling up, and a glittering highlight is expected in March.
A Historic State Visit on the Horizon
According to sources speaking to the Sunday Times, King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the President of Nigeria on a state visit to the United Kingdom in March. This would mark the first inward state visit of the year and the first such visit from Nigeria since the late Queen Elizabeth welcomed General Ibrahim Babangida in May 1989.
While Buckingham Palace has yet to officially confirm the dates, the news has already sparked excitement among royal watchers. State visits are pivotal events for strengthening international ties, featuring a packed schedule of ceremonial welcomes, meetings with politicians, and a grand state banquet.
The Princess of Wales's Key Role and Tiara Anticipation
As with previous state visits, the Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to play a central role. In 2025, Prince William and Princess Kate undertook official welcome duties for three state visits, greeting leaders from France, the United States, and Germany upon their arrival and accompanying them to Windsor.
The focal point for fashion followers, however, is invariably the state banquet held in the splendour of Windsor Castle’s St George’s Hall. This is where the Princess of Wales is anticipated to don a tiara for the first time in 2026. Her choices last year set a high bar:
- For the French and US banquets, she wore the iconic Queen Mary Lover's Knot Tiara.
- For the German banquet, she debuted the stunning ruby and diamond Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara, a piece designed by the German-born Prince Albert.
The question of which historic piece she will select for the Nigerian state visit is already a topic of fervent speculation.
The Significance and Structure of a State Visit
State visits are a cornerstone of diplomatic relations. An inward visit, like the one planned for March, typically spans several days and follows a formal structure designed to honour the visiting head of state.
The programme usually includes a ceremonial welcome with a Guard of Honour inspection by the King and the visiting leader, a private luncheon with the royal family, and high-level political meetings. The centrepiece is the state banquet, where both King Charles and the visiting leader deliver speeches celebrating the bilateral relationship.
This upcoming visit follows a notable unofficial trip to Nigeria by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in May 2024. Their tour, undertaken at the invitation of Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff, was not an official royal engagement, highlighting the distinct formal status of the planned state visit.
With the royal calendar taking shape, all eyes will be on Windsor Castle in March for a event that blends high diplomacy with high glamour, signalling a busy and significant year ahead for the Royal Family.
