Kate and Camilla’s sweet moment as she and William break from tradition

The Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla shared affectionate words at Windsor Castle

The royal family’s trademark grandeur and ceremony was on full display this week as the King and Queen played host to the president and first lady of Nigeria for the first state visit of 2026.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, were received at Windsor by Prince William and Princess Kate on Wednesday, before being accompanied to Windsor Castle for their introduction to Charles and Camilla.

William and Kate joined the King and Queen on the dais for the inspection of the guards, where the Princess of Wales shared a touching moment with Queen Camilla, reflecting the warmth between the two women.

As they greeted one another on the grounds of Windsor Castle, Kate and Camilla leaned in and exchanged kisses on the cheek, with a lip reader casting light on the heartfelt words they shared.

Speaking to the Daily Express, lip reader Nicola Hickling said she believes Kate opened the conversation with: “Good morning, how are you?”, before telling Camilla, “you look beautiful!”

Camilla cut an elegant figure in a pink wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare, complemented by a pink beret-shaped hat by Philip Treacy, reports the Mirror. She also wore the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Cartier flower clip pair of brooches, as crowds lined the streets of Windsor to witness the ceremonial welcome.

That evening, William and Kate departed from convention in the run-up to the state banquet. Prior to each state banquet last year, the Prince and Princess of Wales would share a portrait on Instagram before proceedings got under way, affording royal enthusiasts an early preview of their attire.

Yet on Wednesday evening, no such image was uploaded. Instead, the official Instagram account for the Prince and Princess of Wales released a video featuring highlights from the glittering occasion.

William and Kate eventually shared the portrait, waiting a full 24 hours after the event before posting the striking photograph. Numerous royal fans flocked to the comments section to express their delight, having been made to wait an entire day.

One person wrote: “Thank you so much! We were all expecting this portrait last night and we were sad to not see it since the ones last year were amazing. You both look absolutely gorgeous and elegant.”

Kate donned the Lover’s Knot Tiara alongside a flowing emerald gown with a high neckline by British-Nigerian designer Andrew Gn, a nod to the colours of the Nigerian flag.

President Tinubu’s visit to the UK marked the first incoming state visit in nearly 100 years by a Muslim leader during the holy month of Ramadan, during which many Muslims fast and abstain from food and drink between dawn and sunset.

As a result, there was no traditional lunch on Wednesday with the King in the castle for the president during the day. Instead, it is believed the Nigerian president privately broke his fast before joining the royal family in St George’s Hall for the banquet.