Why Kate Middleton wore a tiara to a state event and Meghan Markle didn't

When the Duchess of Sussex stepped out in Fiji for her first state dinner, the 37-year-old looked beautiful in a blue cape dress.

Meghan Markle looked elegant and regal in her ensemble, which skimmed over her just-popped baby bump and was paired with statement diamond earrings.

However, hours later when the Duchess of Cambridge attended the Dutch State Banquet in London donning a tiara, fans realised Meghan was missing a key-piece of royal jewellery.

It was expected the mum-to-be might wear her first post-wedding tiara at the event but instead, opted to go without.

The low-key look however was not down to Prince Harry's rank in-line-to-the throne or the fact Prince William will be King, it's something so much more simple than that.

It's all down to the dress code, according to Hello magazine's insider.

Prince Harry and Meghan's state dinner, hosted by the Fijian President, was a black tie event. Meghan could have decided to add a tiara to the look if she wanted to but it's not a necessary part of the dress code and there is no "royal protocol" surrounding it.

Meanwhile, Kate and Wills attended a state banquet, with the more formal white tie dress code.

This often means military uniform or white bow ties for the gents and gowns, sash's and tiaras for the women.

At the state banquet to formally welcome the King and Queen of the Netherlands, Kate wasn't the only guest wearing something from the vaults of the Royal Collection.

Queen Elizabeth and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall both donned glittering headpieces, which was complemented by Queen Maxima's crowning jewels also in a picture shared by The Royal Family on Twitter.

When Prince Harry's grandmother first visited Fiji in 1953 - her first trip around the Commonwealth following her coronation - Queen Elizabeth did sport a tiara, as it was a state banquet held in her honour.