The Singapore state visit turned up the glitter last night with a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh hosted, and the guest list also included the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.

As per usual at British state visits, the only royal who posed for photographs was the Queen. She wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, the Coronation Necklace and Earrings, and diamond bracelets. The order she wears is Singapore’s Order of Temasek, which she received in 1972; she’s secured the sash with Queen Mary’s Dorset Bow Brooch. She’s also wearing the family orders of George V and George VI.

As far as the rest of the royals go, we’ve got to seriously squint to come up with much. As the second-ranking royal lady present, Sophie Wessex sat beside President Tan. She’s wearing the aquamarine tiara from the Queen’s collection, plus the Royal Victorian Order and the Queen’s family order.

Princess Michael of Kent didn’t have a particularly good seat at the banquet, but that means she’s the only other royal lady we were able to see at all, really. (There are glimpses of shadowy figures that could be the Duchess of Gloucester or Princess Alexandra in the background of some images, but nothing clear.) Marie-Christine is the woman in the foreground wearing polka dots; she’s also wearing the festoon tiara that belonged to her mother-in-law, Princess Marina.

We can get a better look at the Kent Festoon, plus the tiara worn by Princess Alexandra (the Ogilvy Tiara), thanks to Mark Stewart’s photos of the Kent ladies arriving at the palace for the banquet. They really need to lower the seats in these cars so we get a better look a the tip-top of the tiaras!

I don’t know about all of you, but every British state banquet makes me grateful for the Swedes and their table-side jewel photography. Much less squinting involved.

The state visit from Singapore to the UK kicked off with a bit of excitement today when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greeted President and Mrs. Tan at their London hotel. Kate, who we learned this week is expecting her second baby in April, had not appeared at an official engagement since August, so her attendance garnered major attention.

Kate wore Alexander McQueen, and her accessories were familiar pieces. The earrings are a combination of elements from two different designers. The hoops, made of yellow gold set with diamonds, are by Kiki McDonough; the pearl drops are by Annoushka Jewellery, who tweeted this close-up:

Kate’s white gold and diamond pendant necklace is by Mappin and Webb.

She also wore her usual set of rings, including the famous diamond and sapphire engagement ring.

The quartet left the hotel and headed to Horseguards Parade, where they were greeted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the official welcome ceremony.

HM wore her usual daytime pearl necklace and earrings, and she pinned the smallest of Queen Victoria’s bow brooches (which we recently discussed here) to her navy blue coat.

Stop in again tomorrow morning for a look at the glittering jewels from tonight’s state banquet!