Kate Middleton’s Gold Dress Calls Back to Queen Elizabeth

Kate Middleton‘s stunning golden gown at the state banquet held in honor of U.S. President Donald Trump had a meaningful royal connection back to the late Queen Elizabeth.

The Princess of Wales, 43, wowed attendees and royal fans around the globe when she and Prince William entered Windsor Castle for the white-tie event on Sept. 17. Kate wore a couture gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley with a full-length, hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace evening coat over a silk crepe gown.

She topped her look with her go-to royal headpiece, Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, and showed off her royal honors by sporting the Royal Family Order of King Charles III and the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II, as well as the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order star and sash.

Princess Kate also wore a pair of earrings belonging to the late Queen, but that wasn’t the only tribute to her grandmother-in-law. The golden shade of Kate’s dress was nearly the same as the gown Queen Elizabeth wore more than 20 years earlier for a state dinner in honor of another U.S. president.

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In November 2003, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip welcomed President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush, to Buckingham Palace for an official state visit. The banquet was held on Nov. 19, with the foursome posing for photos in the palace’s White Drawing Room prior to dinner.

The floor-length gowns worn by Princess Kate and the late Queen both featured intricate and similar lace patterns, as well as long sleeves.

Over the course of her 70-year reign, Queen Elizabeth became a style icon for many, and the glittering gown was certainly in line with her preference for bright colors and standout styles. She was quoted as having once joked, “If I wore beige, no one would know who I am.”

While it’s not definitively clear if Princess Kate’s decision to wear gold was a direct homage to the late Queen, royal attire — especially for an important event like a state banquet — is often laden with hidden meanings and tributes.

Kate wore meaningful ensembles for other appearances during the Trumps’ state. While greeting the president and first lady Melania Trump, her burgundy ensemble — which matched William’s tie — and the matching blue hues worn by King Charles and Queen Camilla were a classic example of flag dressing. On state visits, the British royals often wear a color from the other country’s national flag as a diplomatic nod and show of support.

Princess Kate also added sparkle to her burgundy look with Queen Alexandra’s Three Feathers Brooch, which The Court Jeweller noted is usually worn by the wife of the Prince of Wales. Both the late Princess Diana and Queen Camilla, as the Duchess of Cornwall, previously wore the Three Feathers Brooch, with Diana styling it as a pendant on a necklace. 

While the Trump state visit fell during a busy time for Kate, as her children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — headed back to school and she continues to manage her health following cancer treatment, royal expert Ingrid Seward told PEOPLE this week that the princess was ready for the moment and “lightened the whole evening” at the state dinner.

Seward said that, even while Kate still isn’t “100 percent” well, “she lit up the table with the megawatt smile.”

“There was a lot of pressure on her because all eyes were on her,” she added. “She would be very aware that the most important person there was the King, but she can’t help that all eyes are on her.”