Major milestone for Princess Kate as she steps out at first State Banquet in 2 years

Princess Kate fulfilled a major milestone during her appearance at the State Banquet at Windsor Castle this evening. The senior royal has been pictured sporting the King Charles III Order for the first time - an honour that was first sported by Queen Camilla at the Japanese State Banquet last year.

The King, 76, and Queen, 77, are hosting a lavish state banquet for President Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron in Windsor this evening. A State Banquet for approximately 170 people is held on the first night of a State Visit.

Family Orders are badges that are traditionally worn at formal evening occasions by female members of the Royal Family.

As a huge honour to his beloved daughter-in-law, they are personally bestowed by the sovereign as a sign of the importance of the wearer within the royal household.

George IV is known to have started the tradition of presenting Family Orders - miniature portraits of the sovereign set in diamonds suspended from a ribbon - to female members of the family more than 200 years ago.

The debut of King Charles's order came almost two years after he acceded the royal throne following the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. The order, which was worn by Kate today, features a diamond-encased miniature portrait of the monarch topped with a tiny gold and enamel Tudor crown.

The King is said to have personally selected the pale blue colour of the ribbon which is based on the bow on the Family Order of his great-grandfather King George V.

Artist Elizabeth Meek created the portrait of the King using a powerful magnifying glass and tiny paintbrushes dipped in turpentine to thin the paint.

Describing the time she had to complete the portrait as "stressful", she told The Sunday Times: "[The King's Aide] said, 'I don't want to put you under any pressure, but how long do you think it'll take you?' And I did get it done in time.

"I did it in four weeks. My husband insisted I took a day off a week because I worked every day from morning till night. It was really stressful."