Jeremy Corbyn arrived for a state banquet held at Buckingham Palace wearing full white tie, to the surprise of some.
The Labour leader had refused to confirm whether or not he would wear the full formal garb to the banquet, held to mark the first state visit to the UK in ten years by a Chinese premier.
Corbyn has form on ignoring Royal tradition and caused a furore earlier this year when he remained silent during the singing of the national anthem at a Battle of Britain commemoration event.
Attending Tuesday’s dinner at the Palace in honour of Xi Jinping’s visit, however, he appeared to go with tradition…
Reaction to the Opposition leader's get-up was mixed...
At the weekend, China’s UK ambassador said that Corbyn should avoid raising the issue of human rights at the banquet.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Ambassador Xiaoming said: “You think Labour party will raise this issue at a state banquet? I don't think so. The president is here for co-operation, for partnership, he's not here for a debate about human rights.
“We all know China and the UK differ very much because we have different history, different culture, we are in different stage of development.
“It's natural we have differences, even in regard to human rights. In China we care more about rights to better life, to better job, to better housing."
He went on: “I think the State Banquet is for Her Majesty – it’s her show. Either Jeremy Corbyn or others are her guests.
“I think the British people are very gentlemen[ly], very smart. They know how to behave on occasions like this. But we do not shy away from discussions about human rights.
“In fact I had a good meeting with Jeremy Corbyn last week.”
State Visit Of The President Of The People's Republic Of China - Day 2
(01 of15)
Open Image ModalChinese President Xi Jinping with the Duchess of Cambridge (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(02 of15)
Open Image ModalChinese President Xi Jinping with the Duchess of Cambridge (and Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(03 of15)
Open Image ModalChinese President Xi Jinping with the Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(04 of15)
Open Image ModalA general view of the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, London, as Queen Elizabeth II speaks at a state banquet in honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(05 of15)
Open Image Modal ALTERNATE CROPThe Duchess of Cambridge as Queen Elizabeth II speaks at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(06 of15)
Open Image ModalA general view of the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, London, during a state banquet in honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(07 of15)
Open Image ModalPresident of China Xi Jinping (R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (L) accompany Queen Elizabeth as they arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(08 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(09 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(10 of15)
Open Image ModalPrince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive for the banquet. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
(11 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images)
(12 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(13 of15)
Open Image ModalA protestor meditates outside Buckingham Palace in London ahead of the banquet. (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
(14 of15)
Open Image ModalA journalist records a televised speech of the state banquet in President of China Xi Jinping at Buckingham Palace, in a media centre within Buckingham Palace in London, on the first full day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Toby Melville/PA Wire)
(15 of15)
Open Image ModalA journalist records a televised speech of the state banquet in President of China Xi Jinping at Buckingham Palace, in a media centre within Buckingham Palace in London, on the first full day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Toby Melville/PA Wire)
State Visit Of The President Of The People's Republic Of China - Day 2
(01 of15)
Open Image ModalChinese President Xi Jinping with the Duchess of Cambridge (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(02 of15)
Open Image ModalChinese President Xi Jinping with the Duchess of Cambridge (and Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(03 of15)
Open Image ModalChinese President Xi Jinping with the Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth II at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(04 of15)
Open Image ModalA general view of the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, London, as Queen Elizabeth II speaks at a state banquet in honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(05 of15)
Open Image Modal ALTERNATE CROPThe Duchess of Cambridge as Queen Elizabeth II speaks at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace, London, during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(06 of15)
Open Image ModalA general view of the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, London, during a state banquet in honour of Chinese President Xi Jinping during the first day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(07 of15)
Open Image ModalPresident of China Xi Jinping (R) and his wife Peng Liyuan (L) accompany Queen Elizabeth as they arrive for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(08 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(09 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:WPA Pool via Getty Images)
(10 of15)
Open Image ModalPrince William, Duke of Cambridge (L) and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive for the banquet. (credit:Carl Court via Getty Images)
(11 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images)
(12 of15)
Open Image Modal (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
(13 of15)
Open Image ModalA protestor meditates outside Buckingham Palace in London ahead of the banquet. (credit:Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
(14 of15)
Open Image ModalA journalist records a televised speech of the state banquet in President of China Xi Jinping at Buckingham Palace, in a media centre within Buckingham Palace in London, on the first full day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Toby Melville/PA Wire)
(15 of15)
Open Image ModalA journalist records a televised speech of the state banquet in President of China Xi Jinping at Buckingham Palace, in a media centre within Buckingham Palace in London, on the first full day of his state visit to the UK. (credit:Toby Melville/PA Wire)