Windsor Castle shimmered with festive grandeur last week as the Royal Family rolled out the red carpet for the German President and his wife to mark the first state visit in 27 years.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender were guests of honour at the dinner hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The diplomatic leaders were joined by a collection of celebrities including supermodel Claudia Schiffer and her filmmaker husband Sir Matthew Vaughn, as well as Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse and German footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Inside St George’s Hall, no expense was spared, as the table gleamed beneath 158 candles and a towering 20-foot Christmas tree glittering with fairy lights.

Every detail had been meticulously prepared: 152 place settings arranged with 329 knives, 320 spoons and 760 glasses, while silver-gilt centrepieces from the Grand Service were filled with hand-picked flowers gathered from Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and The Savill Garden.

Amid all the grandeur, it was the Princess of Wales who drew the night’s most heartfelt admiration.

Catherine arrived in a sweeping pale blue Jenny Packham gown, her gently waved hair crowned with Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet tiara – a rarely seen piece of royal jewellery.

It was designed by German-born Prince Albert for his beloved wife and features lotus flowers within eleven Mughal arches and 2,600 diamonds from Garrard in London.

The Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out in a show-stopping ensemble for Wednesday evening’s festivities

King Charles III (right) and the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2nd row) Ms Elke Budenbender and Queen Camilla (left), (3rd row) the Prince of Wales and Dr. Dorte Dinger ahead of the state banquet

King Charles III and Queen Camilla (right) with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had bagged himself a seat next to Lady Vaughn– otherwise known as supermodel Claudia Schiffer

St George’s Chamber ahead of the state banquet for the German President

Originally set with opals – that were later replaced by Queen Alexandra with Indian rubies – it became an ‘heirloom of the Crown’ upon Victoria’s death in 1901.

It was also worn frequently by the Queen Mother and only once by Queen Elizabeth in 2006, it is not believed to have been seen in public since – until last night.

Catherine was accompanied by Prince William, who himself looked suave in a white tie and the Windsor tail coat, as well as a Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the Lesser George.

Queen Camilla wore a green lace Fiona Clare gown with the girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara and the Order of Germany sash.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also all in attendance.

The menu was a culinary showcase worthy of the surroundings – hot-smoked trout with langoustines and quail eggs, Windsor partridge wrapped in pastry, crushed winter vegetables, a panaché of seasonal greens and a dramatic baked Alaska.

Guests toasted the evening with Breaky Bottom, Cuvee Reynolds Stone 2010 English sparkling wine, while the red wine, a Chateau La Fleur-Petrus Pomerol 1995, was chosen because it was the year the President and his wife married.

Even the cocktail had been crafted with care, flavoured with chocolate and cherry brandy to echo Black Forest gateau.

The seating plan provoked its own interest, as Keir Starmer was placed next to German-born supermodel Claudia Schiffer – something he looked particularly pleased about.

Perhaps intentionally, the royal household did not seat her beside William, who famously harboured a teenage crush on the model – who is married to filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, who was knighted this year.

Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (front) and the Prince and Princess of Wales ahead the state banquet

The Duchess of Gloucester (left) and the Princess Royal. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were also all in attendance

The Prince and Princess of Wales at Frogmore House before the banquet took place

Catherine, the Princess of Wales stands next to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

King Charles III gives a speech during the state banquet for the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender, at Windsor Castle,

He once recalled turning bright red and stumbling away in embarrassment when his mother invited Schiffer, Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell to Kensington Palace as a prank. Posters of the trio, he admitted, adorned his bedroom walls at the time.

In a warm and witty speech, the King highlighted the many centuries of history between Britain and Germany and current trading links, notably in the automobile industry.

He joked to huge laughter: ‘Even the distinguished representatives of the German automotive industry here this evening, with their cars containing all the latest technology, highest safety, greatest luxury, and new green technologies, would have looked in awe at you, Herr Bundespräsident, as you travelled this afternoon in the most comfortable and lowest emissions vehicle in the world: the horse-drawn Royal Carriage! It might only be six horsepower, but sometimes a simpler vehicle is all one needs.’

The Monarch also wittily referred to the age-old enmity between England and Germany at football, what he described as a ‘shared endeavour’.

He added: ‘Of course, I use the word ‘shared’ in the broadest meaning of the word: there was, one has to admit, some element of truth in the famous description of football as a game where eleven people play eleven people, and then, in the end, the Germans win!’

Turning to more serious matters, the King highlighted the marriage between Queen Victoria and his German-born great, great, great, grandfather, Prince Albert, who brought so many traditions to the UK that are still followed today.

Inevitably, he also referenced the two most recent world wars, but highlighted how much relations had strengthened since then, adding: ‘We have, of course, experienced the darkest times, and the most terrible consequences of conflict. But perhaps now, so many decades later, the acknowledgement of past suffering has become the basis for an honest friendship, renewed and redoubled.

‘Looking ahead, Herr Bundespräsident, we have a responsibility to our citizens, and to our European neighbours as well as the wider world, to speak about the shared values of the United Kingdom and Germany, and our shared vision for the future of our modern world.

In a warm and witty speech, the King highlighted the many centuries of history between Britain and Germany and current trading links, notably in the automobile industry

He also wittily referred to the age-old enmity between England and Germany at football, what he described as a ‘shared endeavour’

The German President replied with an equally warm address in which he referred to his own love of British music and listening to the British Forces Broadcasting Service as a teenager

A member of Royal Household staff places a candle during table preparations before the state banquet for the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier

‘And more broadly, of course, the United Kingdom and Germany together stand with Ukraine and bolster Europe against the threat of further Russian aggression.’

Charles added that it was crucial for both countries to move forwards with a ‘shared determination to face the future together – with honesty and in deep friendship.’

The German President replied with an equally warm address in which he referred to his own love of British music and listening to the British Forces Broadcasting Service as a teenager.

He also said that even those things that divided us – football, beer, lawns and our sense of humour – also demonstrated that the two countries actually shared the same passions.

He added: ‘Your Majesty, it is not least you and your family we have to thank for this work of reconciliation. The Windsors have consistently forged new ties and thereby promoted German-British relations. Just as you still do today. We want to place our partnership on a new footing.’

Today, the German couple will visit St George’s Chapel to lay flowers on Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb before joining the King and Queen at a reception celebrating The Big Help Out and the power of volunteering across the UK.