Kate Middleton can't wear Diana's tiara on her first official banquet as Princess of Wales. Female members of the Royal Family usually sport tiaras during official state visits and although it remains to be seen which Princess Kate chooses - it won't be Diana's.
- Kate Middleton can't wear Diana's tiara as the piece in question, the Spencer tiara, was returned to the Spencer family after her death in 1997.
- The Spencer tiara was worn by the late Princess on her wedding day and first day as the Princess of Wales.
- In other royal news, Queen Camilla's unique horseshoe brooch and huge hat are steeped in history as she steps out for disappointing Ascot event.
Kate Middleton's engagement ring is famously inherited from her late mother-in-law and is a direct connection between the late Princess of Wales and her successor. Despite her new title, the Princess of Wales isn't eligible to wear the Spencer tiara, which Diana wore on her wedding day and first day as the Princess of Wales. The reason for this is pretty straightforward - it's the Spencer Tiara and belongs to the Spencer family.
It's been four decades since Prince Charles and Princess Diana's relationship began and 26 years since it ended. Princess Diana's wedding dress went down in history as one of the most famous gowns in history, as did her stunning jewelry. The cherry on top was the Spencer Tiara - a garland-style diadem made up of circular and rose-cut, cushion and pear-shaped diamonds all mounted in gold. These precious stones cover a central heart that's flanked by running scrolls, which are interspersed with stunning star and trumpet-shaped flowers.
According to Sotheby's (opens in new tab), "The tiara is reported to have been created originally in 1767 for Viscountess Montagu and remodeled by exclusive jewelers Garrard in the 1930s." Princess Diana's grandmother Viscountess Althorp was purportedly gifted the central motif by Lady Sarah Spencer in 1919. After this, further motifs were added, which combined to create the stunning tiara we see today.
After the late Princess' father John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer, inherited the tiara in the mid-1970s, all three of his daughters wore it on their wedding days. Celia McCorquodale, Princess Diana's niece, wore it for her wedding in 2018 and the family still has it in their possession. This is despite some reports claiming that Princess Diana's Spencer tiara will be given to her eldest granddaughter, Princess Charlotte.
Princess Kate is certainly settling into her new role as the Princess of Wales, as she's been busy doing plenty of public engagements. All eyes will be on the new generation of the Royal Family during the upcoming state visit - the first since the Queen died.
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