Kate Middleton’s Royal Banquet Dress Disaster Narrowly Avoided

0:03 Hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue. I am your host, Mark Francis. After a rain-soaked welcome in Windsor, the royal family changed into evening dress for a state banquet honoring the Sultan of Oman. Charles and Camilla hosted around 160 guests, with William and Catherine joining them for a night of speeches, royal jewels and formal dining. Kate's yellow banquet gown attracted plenty of attention at Windsor, but during the King's speech, some viewers were watching the chair. Part of the sheer cape on her Elie Saab dress appeared to be caught beneath a chair leg as she sat beside the Sultan of Oman. No, the chair on the dress, one viewer wrote.

0:49 Another warned, if she gets up, chaos will follow. There was no apparent disaster. Hello reports that Catherine was later seen standing and talking to guests with the gown looking undamaged. The lemon-yellow dress with its flowing cape was paired with Queen Mary's lover's knot tiara, diamond jewellery from the late Queen's collection, and a gold Anya Hindmarch clutch. It was a change from the dark green she had worn for the daytime welcome. Catherine and William joined Charles and Camilla for the evening banquet, where the King and Queen hosted around 160 guests in honour of Sultan Haytham. Dinner included Scottish crab and langoustine, Windsor pheasant and baked Alaska, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were among the royal guests. Charles used his speech to celebrate the relationship between Britain and Oman, including its continuation through the next generation. He spoke of few happier symbols of success than seeing that relationship passed on, a reference to William and Saeed Thayazan, who had served as joint patrons of an Omani expedition. The banquet came hours after Harry's GQ interview in which he said, With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile.

2:02 Harry's representatives have pushed back against suggestions that his latest interview contained an attack on William. A spokesperson says his remarks were not intended as a swipe at his brother. In the GQ conversation, Harry said, Some people don't want it to work out. I want it to work out. He did not identify those people. At the evening banquet, the King spoke about William's partnership with the Sultan's son, Saeed Thayazan. The expedition was a 30-day journey through Oman, travelling on foot by camel and four-wheel drive. It followed the route taken by British explorer Bertram Thomas in 1928. Charles added, Your Majesty, there can be few happier symbols of success than a living relationship being passed from one generation to the next. Before dinner, William and Catherine also posed for a new portrait, released initially in black and white.

3:05 People reports that they chose Greg Williams, whose work includes photographs of film stars at Cannes and Venice. It was a change of photographer following their portrait for the Nigerian state banquet earlier this year, which was taken by Christiana Ibeniza. Catherine wore her yellow Ellie Saab gown and Queen Mary's lover's knot tiara. William wore a white tie and a Windsor tailcoat with his medals and royal orders. Camilla chose the goals of Great Britain and Ireland. Tiara, one of Queen Elizabeth's most familiar pieces, seen in portraits used on banknotes and coins. Inside the banquet, Charles' speech looked beyond the current generation of royals to the problems their successors would inherit. Your Majesty, neither of us can know precisely what challenges our successors will face, despite our constant efforts, climate change will regrettably alter the lands and seas they inherit.

3:57 Artificial intelligence holds both promise and peril, unless managed with great wisdom and foresight. Competition for resources will test the international order in ways we cannot yet foresee. But this much we do know. Our successors will rely on trusted friends they will need, allies prepared to work together across difference. to defend peace and international law, to marry innovation and stewardship, and to think not merely about the next year, but about generations to come. The king also spoke in Arabic, offering a greeting translated as Welcome to a visitor of whom one never tires. The hospitality continued after dinner with a royal kitchen interpretation of kawa, the aromatic Arabic coffee.

4:39 Traditionally offered to guests, for Windsor, chefs used British teas and Windsor honey. The combination included Earl Grey and date, iced mint and rose in a warm cardamom-spiced blend. Queen Camilla has sparked a debate over royal etiquette after appearing to flick a flower. The royal family shared a behind-the-scenes video of the preparations, and it was Camilla's brief interaction with the floral display that caught some viewers' attention. One asked, did she just shake pollen onto the table with that flick? Another, identifying themselves as a floral designer, wrote, As a floral designer, I love it when clients and guests want to interact with the flowers. I take it as a compliment when people notice, ask questions and touch the arrangements. There was also interest in the china which bore the late Queen Elizabeth II's monogram. One viewer commented, I noticed the china being used as Queen Elizabeth's initials. Another said, so cool to see the king kept his mother's china in use.

5:35 More palace in just a moment. King Charles has paid tribute to Aberfan's unconquerable spirit as he joined Queen Camilla and Prince William to mark 60 years since the disaster that killed 116 children and 28 adults. On October 21, 1966, a colliery waste tip collapsed after heavy rain sending a wall of debris into Pentecost Junior School and neighboring homes. Sixty years later, survivors, rescuers and bereaved families gathered to remember those who never came home. At 9.15 in the morning, people across Wales observed a minute's silence. In Aberfan's cemetery, white roses had been placed on the headstones, alongside flowers and personal tributes from families. The King, Queen and Prince of Wales later visited the Memorial Garden, which stands on the site of the school. Charles and William laid wreaths.

6:28 Camilla placed a posy containing rosemary for remembrance, white roses associated with the memorial, rosebuds representing childhood and September flowers for farewell. The king's message read in special remembrance. Camilla's read in eternal memory. William's wreath, signed by both him and Catherine, carried the words, In our memory and in our hearts forever, followed by the same message in Welsh. As they walked to the community centre, residents thanked them for returning. One man called to the king, Thank you very much for coming. William was told it was good of you to come today. Inside, they met survivors, bereaved parents, siblings and former pupils, alongside retired emergency workers who had helped search the wreckage. Among them was a 96-year-old woman who had served as a police officer. Jeff Edwards, the last child rescued alive, spoke about the community's enduring relationship with the royal family. Of the late queen, he said, she maintained a remarkable and enduring bond with this community.

7:26 He praised the king's genuine compassion, warmth and understanding and told him, Your Majesty, you have continued that very special relationship with Aberfan from our darkest hour on the 21st of October 1966. To this present day, you have remembered us, you have stood with us, and you have helped ensure that Aberfan and those whose lives were taken from us will never be forgotten. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. William stayed at the community centre longer than expected, listening to families and former pupils. It's been so nice spending some time chatting to you. I could spend all time listening to your recollections, he told one group. Before leaving, he said, I'm not sure any other community could have handled it like you have. You've shown exceptional strength. There was also a gentle moment of family recollection when the headteacher showed William a letter from Prince Philip, describing her as young, enthusiastic and glamorous. William described his grandfather as a bit of a charmer. I'm Mark Francis. My thanks to John McDermott. This is Palace Intrigue.