Kate Middleton Stuns in Striking Red Outfit For State Visit

There was pomp and pageantry in central London today as Britain rolled out the red carpet for a state visit from the president of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. And Prince William and Kate had a key role to play supporting King Charles as he hosted the start of the three-day trip.

The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee at their hotel and traveled with them to Horse Guards Parade to greet the King and Queen for the official ceremonial welcome. It has become tradition at state visits for the heir to the throne to perform this role, and Charles and Camilla previously welcomed many visiting heads of state in this way on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth. William and Kate first performed the duty at King Charles’s first state visit exactly a year ago welcoming South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to the U.K.

Following the official welcome at Horse Guards Parade, which saw a guard of honor give a royal salute as well as 41 gun salutes fired in Green Park and from the Tower of London, the royals and their guests traveled down the Mall in carriages to Buckingham Palace. The King and President traveled in the Irish State Coach, the Queen and First Lady in the Australian State Coach and the Prince and Princess of Wales joined the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister Choo Kyung-ho in the Scottish State Coach.

The royals were dressed in their smartest clothes but also wrapped up warmly for the outdoor ceremony. Kate opted for a striking red cape-style coat by Catherine Walker with a matching hat. Camilla chose a blue dress and coat by Anna Valentine with a Philip Treacy hat. She also wore a sapphire and diamond brooch.

The party enjoyed a private lunch at Buckingham Palace and this afternoon were scheduled to view an exhibition in the Buckingham Palace picture gallery of items in the Royal Collection which relate to the Republic of Korea. Following this, a trip to take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Korean War Memorial, to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the war is scheduled for the Korean couple and the Duke of Gloucester.

As is customary on the first day of a state visit, there will be a lavish state banquet in the Palace ballroom this evening where the King and President will make speeches. The next two days will be more low-key but will still involve significant visits from the Korean couple such as a meeting with the Prime Minster at 10 Downing Street and a visit to the Churchill War Rooms.

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