Kate Middleton stuns in red during state banquet honouring Xi Jinping visit to the UK

The Duchess of Cambridge was stunning in red on 20 October as she attended her first state banquet in honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is a guest of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The Duchess, who was accompanying her husband Prince William, wore her favourite designer Jenny Peckham in a radiant red gown, complete with the Lotus Flower tiara.

The royal mother of two wore her shiny brunette hair in an elegant updo, which she complimented with sparkling diamond drop earrings and a bracelet, Hello! Magazine reported. The banquet also marked the new mother's first official outing since ending her maternity leave following the birth of her daughter Princess Charlotte.

According to the magazine, the 33-year-old wore the Papyrus/Lotus Flower tiara for a second time; she previously wore it during the annual diplomatic reception in 2013. The first time she was pictured wearing a tiara in public was her 2011 wedding, when she donned the Cartier Halo tiara.

Kate Middleton, however, was not spotted wearing the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II, which she was rumoured to have received during her visit to her husband's grandmother at Balmoral in September. The magazine previously reported that Buckingham Palace was unlikely to make a formal announcement as to whether the Queen would bestow on Kate.

The banquet, which was held in honour of the Chinese president and his wife Peng Liyuan, included a number of royal family members. The Queen and Prince Philip were joined by Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, along with Prince William and his wife. As the second most senior royal lady at the banquet, the Duchess was seated next to President Xi, by the Queen.

Prince William's father Prince Charles and stepmother Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall did not attend the banquet, but did enjoy afternoon tea with the guests of honour at Clarence House earlier in the day. Queen Elizabeth toasted to the president and his wife and to the people of China, noting "unforgettable memories" of her trip to China nearly 30 years prior.