The Princess of Wales has set tongues wagging with twin fashion moments as Britain welcomed South Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol for a state visit.

Early on Tuesday (British time), Kate wowed royal-watchers and fans in a custom-made Catherine Walker cape ensemble when she joined husband Prince William to officially greet Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

She was seen dipping into a polished curtsey as she and the Prince of Wales greeted his father, the King, and the Queen at Horse Guards Parade in London, amid the ceremonial splendour of the state visit.

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But the princess saved her biggest wow moment for later in the day at the state banquet in honour of the Korean couple.

Kate and William were among more than 170 guests, including leading figures from British and Korean life – such as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty, K-pop stars Blackpink, and other members of the royal family – at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night.

Gone was the red coat, in favour of a long, white dress and full-length gloves. But it was Kate’s tiara that stole the spotlight.

For the first time she wore the Strathmore Rose tiara, a historic piece that hadn’t been seen in public for 90 years.

It is part of the Queen Mother’s collection, given to her when she married the then Prince Albert. He would go on to become King George VI, father of Queen Elizabeth.

Kate is just the second person to wear the Strathmore Rose tiara in public, and it was only the fourth tiara among the extensive collection held by the British royals that she has worn.

The princess’s go-to tiara is usually the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot. She has also worn the Lotus Flower tiara and, famously, chose the Cartier Halo tiara for her wedding to Prince William.

In his speech at the dinner, the King praised Blackpink’s environmental credentials as he highlighted South Korea’s creativity and culture, from Gangnam Style, celebrated in the global hit by Korean rapper Psy, to the popular Netflix series Squid Game.

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In his banquet speech, the King said “Koreans have created a miracle” in their journey from “wartime devastation” to a thriving country where the “industrial efficiency” he witnessed during a visit in 1992 had become the “epitome” of technological innovation.

“Through their own sweat and toil, and under the shadow of tyranny and the ever present threat of aggression, over seven decades Koreans have built a bastion of democracy, human rights and freedom,” he said.

“In a world where these values are challenged, sadly, as rarely before in our lifetimes, the Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of all that we hold dear.”

Blackpink is South Korea’s biggest girl group, and is made up of singers Jennie Kim, Jisoo Kim, Lisa Manobal and Rose Park.

“I applaud Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rose, better known collectively as Blackpink, for their role in bringing the message of environmental sustainability to a global audience as ambassadors for the UK’s presidency of Cop26, and later as advocates for the UN sustainable development goals,” the monarch said.

“I can only admire how they can prioritise these vital issues, as well as being global superstars. Sadly, when I was in Seoul all those years ago, I am not sure I developed much of what might be called the Gangnam Style!”

During the white-tie banquet the guests dined on a menu of warm tartlet of soft poached egg and spinach puree, breast of Windsor pheasant with croquette of

Alongside the pomp and pageantry, Britain and South Korea will launch talks on a trade deal and sign a diplomatic accord – dubbed the Downing Street Accord – as part of Yoon’s three-day state visit.

-with AAP