Every Time Princess Kate Has Worn Her Late Mother’s Lovers Knot Tiara

As the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate has a wide selection of headpieces. In addition, she wears a tiara to several events, including state banquets and receptions at Buckingham Palace. However, the royal family significantly cherished the tiara she wore on Monday to the Queen’s Diplomatic Corps reception.

The tiara, which features dozens of diamonds and 19 hanging pearls, is over 100 years old. It was made by Garrand for Queen Mary in 1914 and then passed down to Queen Elizabeth II.

When the tiara was first given to Diana in 1981, it was intended for her wedding day, but she opted to wear the Spencer Tiara instead. It was much lighter and easier to manage than the Lover’s Knot, which she found gave her headaches.

After Princess Diana married Prince Charles in 1981, she and her husband split up. As part of their divorce settlement, the tiara was returned to Queen Elizabeth, who put it in her safe at Buckingham Palace.

In 1993, Diana borrowed the tiara again and wore it for a gala event.

The tiara is believed to be one of the world’s most expensive jewelry pieces and was initially created for Cynthia Spencer, the wife of the 7th Earl Spencer. She was Queen Elizabeth’s Lady of the Bedchamber, so she often wore it for official engagements.

Her sister, Princess Camilla of Wales, also wore the tiara on various occasions during her marriage to Prince William. As a result, it is considered one of her favorites as well.

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She paired the tiara with an off-white caped gown designed by Jenny Packham.

Aside from the tiara, Kate wore her yellow Royal Family Order and blue and gold Royal Victorian Order sash to the event. Both symbols are significant royal symbols that signify her service to the crown.

The “Grand Duchess Vladimir” Tiara

The “Grand Duchess Vladimir” tiara is one of the most beautiful pieces in Queen Elizabeth’s collection. It was originally a wedding gift to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia and was nearly destroyed during the Russian Revolution.

But someone hid it in Vladimir Palace during the chaos, and it remains a treasure today.

Another tiara, the Delhi Durbar Tiara, is also considered one of the most stunning in the world. It’s a massive column of intricately swooped scrolls that contains one honking giant emerald (and later, diamond) at the top.

Even though it’s a stunning tiara, it had some unpleasant beginnings that are probably best forgotten. The tiara’s history began when Queen Mary and King George V wanted to create a piece of jewelry that would “command attention,” as they said in the early 1900s.

After Queen Mary commissioned the piece, it was sent to Garrand in London and created from pearls already owned by her family. It was modeled after her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, who had worn a similar style.