Tonight, the King and Queen are welcoming over 100 guests for a lavish state banquet at Windsor Castle.

One of the highlights of a state visit is the glittering banquet that takes place on the evening of the first day. Over 100 guests will be invited to join the royal hosts and guests of honour for a three-course dinner in the impressive St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.

The white-tie dinner will be extra special tonight, as the stunning venue has received a festive makeover, featuring a 20-foot-high Nordmann fir tree with over 3,000 twinkling lights and shimmering green and gold ornaments. But the guests, which include politicians, celebrities and dignitaries, will be looking forward to tucking into a delicious feast.

The evening dinner has been months in the making, with every detail meticulously checked and approved by the King.

Guests will dine on an exquisite menu, written in French, prepared by royal chefs and served on historic, priceless dinner sets.

Tonight’s meal starts with an open tartlet of hot smoked trout with langoustines, quail eggs and shellfish sauce, followed by Windsor partridge supreme wrapped in puff pastry with confit cabbage and port sauce. The main is served with crushed carrots and swede and an assortment of winter vegetables.

To finish, guests will enjoy a baked alaska with blackberry, vanilla and raspberry ice creams with coffee and petit fours to follow.

Food was washed down with four specially selected wines, and after dinner, guests were served a black forest gateau-themed cocktail.

German State Banquet menu in full:
Food menu:

Tartine de Truite Fumée à Chaud Langoustines et Œufs de Caille Sauce Nantua
(Open Tartlet of Hot Smoked Trout with Langoustines, Quail Eggs and Shellfish Sauce)

Guests sat on tables adorned with beautiful hand-picked seasonal flowers and foliage from the gardens at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle arranged in silver-gilt centrepieces.

The Duchess of Edinburgh’s String Orchestra played an assortment of music with a nod to the German guests, including the music from famed film composer H.Zimmer, including Gladiator and Pirates of the Caribbean. Music by J. Strausse, W.A Mozart and G.F Handel also featured.

The evening event drew the first day of the state visit to a close after the President was treated to an impressive display of pomp and pageantry.