In most Monarchies - Spain, UK, Denmark, Sweden and Norway - the dress code is decided by the Palace. It is the guest who must follow the host's dress code not the other way round. It also happened in Belgium and in the Netherlands in the previous reigns of Baudouin and Juliana.
--Previous Message-- : Well, it is not always the Queen's fault. When : the socalist President François Mitterrand : made a State Visit to the Netherlands, it : was in the fullest splendour possible. All : in white tie, even Princess Juliana came to : the banquet and the French guests slept in : the beautiful Empire guest suites of the : Royal Palace. : : When the gaullist President Jacques Chirac : made a State Visit to the Netherlands, he : preferred a black tie banquet and the Elysée : made known the President preferred to stay : in a hotel instead of the palace. : : When the German Bundespräsident made a State : Visit to the Netherlands, the usually so : business-like Germans however were treated : with a fullblown white tie event with all : égards. It is not purely the Queen's fault: : she listens to the wishes of the host. : : In the UK Queen Elizabeth simply ignores the : wishes of the guests: white tie is white : tie, even when the guests come in : suit-and-tie (Chinese President). The : overall result is a bit peculiar, if you ask : me. : : The only thing I 'blame' Queen Beatrix is : that she makes her State Banquets too : businesslike by not inviting Prince : Constantijn and Princess Laurentien, her : sisters Princess Irene and Princess : Christina, the head of that other royal : family in the Netherlands (the Duke of : Parma) and guests from the aristocracy as : was the use in days gone. : : The argument that Princess Irene and : Princess Christina are no members of the RF : is far-sought. For such a banquet often : artists, sportsmen, businessmen, good : relations, civil and military authorities : are invited, with their partners. I fail to : see why not add extra couverts for a few : more royals and nobles, they for sure would : add more sparkle indeed. The same can be : said about the Hofdames and Dames du Palais: : in ye olde days they wore diadems as well. :