Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s daughter-in-law had royal watchers doing a double take at the Nigerian state banquet by rocking a gown that looked much like one in Kate Middleton’s closet.
On March 19, Layal Jade Tinubu shared a glamorous video on Instagram that showed off her style from the state banquet at Windsor Castle the day prior.
Tinubu, who is married to the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, attended the diplomatic dinner at Windsor Castle on March 18.
President Tinubu’s daughter-in-law sported a dark green velvet gown for the special occasion, and the frock’s fitted style with a folded neckline was reminiscent of the deep green Talbot Runhof gown that Princess Kate wore in November 2025.
“It was a true honor to attend the State Banquet at Windsor Castle yesterday, hosted by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, in celebration of my father-in-law and mother-in-law His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and Her Excellency First Lady Oluremi Tinubu,” she wrote below her Instagram video, shouting out her in-laws.
“Grateful to have witnessed such a remarkable and prestigious occasion. 🇳🇬🇬🇧,” Tinubu added.
The president’s daughter-in-law had a total princess moment in the quick video as she modeled her dress on a sweeping staircase, and there may have been a deeper meaning to her gown’s green shade. The frock was one of the colors from Nigeria’s bicolor green and white national flag, meaning that her outfit might have doubled as a patriotic flag dressing nod.
The curve-hugging gown looked much like one that the Princess of Wales, 44, wore in the fall to the Royal Variety Performance with Prince William.
atherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 19, 2025 in London, England. (
Kate Middleton and Prince William attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall on Nov. 19, 2025 in London.Chris Jackson/Getty
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Princess Kate’s dress then dipped into a portrait collar, differentiating it from what Tinubu wore on Wednesday. Exclusively speaking to PEOPLE in November about Kate’s Talbot Runhof moment, one of the German label’s co-founders said they got a 30-minute heads-up from the palace before the Princess of Wales wore it.
“Two hours later, our name and our dress have been posted worldwide, so we are very thankful to her,” said Adrian Runhof, co-founder and designer at Talbot Runhof. “We think she is great, we respect her, and it’s a great honor for us that she picked this dress, that she obviously liked it enough to buy it and select it for the event last night.”
Talbot Runhof’s celebrity fans include Selena Gomez, Helen Mirren and Oprah Winfrey, and Runhof said he thinks Princess Kate bought the frock, which has been in their collection for many seasons, through a department store.
“I think she bought it a few seasons ago and found it in her wardrobe and thought, ‘Why don’t I wear this? It’s so beautiful,’ ” he told PEOPLE, adding that the royal looked “impeccable.”
The Princess of Wales also dazzled in green at the Nigeria banquet, choosing a long-sleeved gown by Andrew Gn. She topped her look with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, the most frequently worn tiara in her royal rotation, and her outfit’s shade was interpreted as a flag dressing tribute to the Nigerian flag.
Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Catherine, Princess of Wales arrive to attend a State Banquet in St George’s Hall on day one of their state visit to the UK at Windsor Castle on March 18, 2026 in Berkshire, England.
Kate Middleton arrives to attend a State Banquet in St George’s Hall on day one of their state visit to the UK at Windsor Castle on March 18, 2026.Aron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty
The Princess of Wales is known to sometimes wear a hue or two from the flag of the nation that is officially visiting, or that is visiting the U.K., in a strategic show of sartorial diplomacy.
A photo that Tinubu shared on Instagram showed that she and Princess Kate sat just a few seats apart at the state banquet, and the carousel closed with a snapshot of her official invitation.
Layal Jade Tinubu invite
A photo Layal Jade Tinubu shared to Instagram on March 19, 2026.Layal Jade Tinubu/Instagram
President Tinubu and the first lady were the guests of King Charles and Queen Camilla for a two-day state visit to the U.K. that ran from Tuesday, March 17, to Wednesday, March 18. The diplomatic trip marked Nigeria’s first state visit to the U.K. in 37 years, since 1989, as well as Britain’s first state visit of 2026.
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Britain’s King Charles III, Britain’s Queen Camilla (L), Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu (R) arrive to attend a State Banquet in St George’s Hall, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on March 18, 2026, on the first day of a two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom by Nigeria’s President.
Queen Camilla, King Charles, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu and Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu arrive to attend a State Banquet in St George’s Hall, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on March 18, 2026.Henry Nicholls / POOL / AFP via Getty
State visits are an important way for Britain to strengthen its relationships with other nations and the King, 77, touched on the dynamic connection between the nations in his banquet speech.
“The friendship between our two countries, Mr. President, is a partnership of equals that has brought us both enormous benefits. It has been described to me as a deeply spiritual connection – beyond churches and mosques – a deep bond through which we have strengthened our shared security, ensured our economies are more prosperous, and empowered each other to believe in a more hopeful future,” the sovereign said in part there.
