The Princess of Wales was elegant in an Emilia Wickstead coat dress which she paired with a matching hat as she welcomed South Africa‘s President to the UK today.

Kate Middleton, 40, alongside her husband Prince William, is playing a key role in the visit, greeting Mr Ramaphosa, before they traveled to Horse Guards Parade to view a welcoming ceremony with the King and Queen Consort.

The royal mother-of-three was elegant as she welcomed  Mr Ramaphosa today, donning the smart burgundy coat dress with a matching Sean Barrett hat and a £495 Mulberry bag.

She paired the look with her £560 Gianvito Rossi pumps.

Meanwhile she paid subtle tribute to her mother-in-law with the outfit, wearing pearl earrings that were gifted to Diana before her wedding to Charles in 1981.

Camilla shares a laugh with William and Kate at historic state visit

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The Princess of Wales was elegant in an Emilia Wickstead coat dress which she paired with a matching hat as she welcomed South Africa’s President to the UK today

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Meanwhile she paid subtle tribute to her mother-in-law with the outfit, wearing pearl earrings that were gifted to Diana before her wedding to Charles in 1981

During the event, the Princess swept her brunette locks behind her shoulder in her favourite bouncy blow-dry style.

Meanwhile she opted for neutral makeup for the occasion, wearing a sweep of dark eyeliner and a nude lipstick.

Kate has long been a fan of Emilia Wickstead dresses and worn them on dozens of occasions.

She also pinned The Princess of Wales’ Feather Brooch to her chest, which was given to Diana by the Queen Mother upon her engagement to Prince Charles.

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The Collingwood earrings became firm favourites of Diana and were sported on royal tours of Australia, Canada and Italy (pictured wearing in Washington in 1985)

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The Princess, who has worn the Collingwood earrings on a number of occasions in the past, also wore a brooch which was gifted to Diana from the Queen Mother

South African president enjoys royal welcome from Wills and Kate

Meanwhile the Collingwood earrings became firm favourites of Diana and were sported on royal tours of Australia, Canada and Italy.

The earrings feature a round diamond stud, from which is suspended an additional round diamond and a bell cap set with three more rows of small diamonds. The bell caps each contain a pearl drop.

Diana began wearing the earrings before she was Princess of Wales. They were a gift from Collingwood, a jewellery firm that was a favourite of the Spencer family.

She wore them on several occasions throughout her marriage.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, King Charles, Camilla,  Prince William, and Catherine attended the Ceremonial Welcome

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The royal mother-of-three was elegant as she welcomed Mr Ramaphosa today, donning the smart burgundy coat dress with a matching Sean Barrett hat and a £495 Mulberry bag

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The royal mother-of-three appeared in high spirits as she travelled to the event earlier this afternoon

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The Princess could be seen beaming as she travelled by car alongside her aide Natalie Barrows to meet with King Charles after welcoming the South African president

They made her gala outfits sparkle during her tour of the US in 1985, where she wore them with a lacy white gown and the Lover’s Knot tiara for a gala dinner at the British Embassy.

She also wore them with the form-fitting black dress she sported as she attended the Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in November 1994 in London, which then later become known as the Revenge Dress.

This morning, Charles III welcomed South African president Cyril Ramaphosa to the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade as he holds his first state visit as monarch.

The King, joined by the Queen Consort, will make presentations to the President as the South African national anthem is played and the Guard of Honour gives a Royal Salute.

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Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, (C) and his wife Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, greet South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) at the Corinthia Hotel in London

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The royal mother-of-three was elegant as she welcomed Mr Ramaphosa today, donning the smart burgundy coat dress with a matching Sean Barrett hat and a Mulberry bag

The President, accompanied by The King, will inspect the Guard of Honour, found by Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards.

Afterwards, the President will join Charles and Camilla, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, for a carriage procession along The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where they will be met by a second Guard of Honour found by 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

Following a private lunch at Buckingham Palace, the King will invite Mr Ramaphosa to view an exhibition in the Picture Gallery of items from the Royal Collection relating to South Africa.

In the afternoon, the President will visit Westminster Abbey, where he will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, before taking a tour, which will include the memorial stone for Nelson Mandela, the South African President between 1994 and 1999.

Mr Ramaphosa will then visit the Palace of Westminster, where he will be welcomed by the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker, before delivering an address in the Royal Gallery to MPs and other guests.

In the evening, Charles, Camilla and other members of the Royal Family, will give a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace for the President, who will join the King in making speeches at the start of the meal.

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Charles III has arrived at the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade as he prepares to welcome South African president Cyril Ramaphosa for his first state visit as monarch

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Camilla, Queen Consort during the State Visit of the President of the Republic of South Africa

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The King and The Queen Consort formally welcome The President at the Royal Pavilion on Horse Guards Parade