Kate Middleton's Most Iconic Tiara Moments
The Duchess of Cambridge is no stranger to a sparkling headpiece
One of the best parts about marrying into the royal family is undoubtedly getting to borrow jewelry from Queen Elizabeth's vast collection. Over the course of her royal career, the Duchess of Cambridge has sported three different tiaras publicly: the Cartier Halo, which she wore on her wedding day; the Lotus Flower, which was notably one of Princess Margaret's favorites; and the Lover's Knot, which carries a special association to Kate's late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Here, take a look back at every time the Duchess of Cambridge has worn a tiara.
This article originally appeared in Town&Country
While Kate has yet to re-wear the tiara publicly in the years following her wedding, jewelry enthusiasts hope to see it again, as it has a rich royal history. The topper dates back to 1936, when it was crafted by Cartier. While the piece was initially owned by Elizabeth, the Duchess of York (the future Queen Mother), it was given to the future Queen Elizabeth II on her 18th birthday.
The Duchess of Cambridge's first post-wedding tiara moment took place in December of 2013 at the annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace. For the formal event, she chose the Lotus Flower Tiara, which is also sometimes referred to as the Papyrus Tiara. Kate wore the piece with dangling earrings and what appears to be a pale blue gown.
The dainty tiara, which features both diamonds and pearls, was a favorite of Princess Margaret's, and was also worn by the Queen Mother in the years before her husband took the throne.
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Kate wore the Lotus Flower Tiara once again in October of 2015, at a state banquet in honor of the president of China, Xi Jinping. On that occasion, she paired the sparking topper with a vibrant red gown.
Photographers aren't always allowed inside the annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace, so sometimes the only photos we see of the Duchess of Cambridge at these events are taken through her car window as she's arriving and leaving the party. In this image from 2015, a keen eye can just barely make out the edge of the Lover's Knot Tiara, one of Princess Diana's favorite pieces of jewelry.
Kate wore the Lover's Knot again in December of 2016 to the annual the diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace. Given that her late mother-in-law Princess Diana frequently wore the tiara, it obviously holds sentimental value for the Duchess of Cambridge, but the piece also has a distinguished royal history. Sometimes referred to as the Cambridge Lover's Knot, the tiara is, in fact, a replica of an earlier royal sparkler. The tiara Kate wears was created for Queen Mary in either 1913 or 1914 by the House of Garrand from pearls and diamonds already owned by her family. She modeled it after her grandmother Princess Augusta of Hesse's headpiece, the original Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, which is currently thought to be held in an unknown private collection.
By July of 2017, it was clear that the Lover's Knot was becoming one of Kate's favorite tiaras. Here she is wearing the piece with a plunging blush-colored Marchesa gown and a ruby-and-diamond necklace for a state dinner.
Kate chose the Lover's Knot Tiara for the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace once again in 2017. That year, she paired it with a diamond necklace, and diamond and pearl earrings.
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At a state banquet honoring King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Kate paired the Lover's Knot with an icy blue dress, the Queen Alexandra Wedding Necklace, and her new royal order.
In late 2018, Kate again wore the Lover's Knot tiara at the annual evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace. Fortunately, photographers were allowed inside to capture this image of Kate in the tiara and shimmering gown by Jenny Packham. A bedazzled clutch, pearl earrings, and her yellow Royal Family Order completed the look.
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