The Queen’s wedding day disaster that was only just resolved in time

The Queen reportedly once revealed to Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge that she experienced an unexpected wedding day disaster that was only just resolved in time. 

• The Queen wore the stunning Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara for her wedding to Prince Philip in November 1947.
• On a visit with her granddaughter-in-law Duchess Catherine in 2011 to see the duchess’ wedding dress exhibited, the Queen revealed her personal wedding day disaster.
• In other royal news, Prince William has become 'very protective of Kate’ following Meghan and Harry’s interview.

The Queen might be calm and serene at all her royal engagements, but when it came to her wedding day, she was left upset by a last-minute disaster. The monarch married her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey back in November 1947. It was a heartwarming royal occasion, though it seems there was one aspect about the run-up to the ceremony that the Queen might perhaps regret. 

During a visit with her granddaughter-in-law Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge to see an exhibition on Catherine’s wedding dress in 2011, the monarch opened up about a wedding disaster she experienced on her own big day. For her wedding, the Queen proudly wore Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which was reportedly her ‘something borrowed’ and is so stunning, even the best jewelry making kits couldn't compare.

This beautiful piece of jewelry was originally a fringe necklace that belonged to Queen Mary, the monarch’s grandmother, who later had it re-fashioned into a tiara. However, just two hours before the wedding was due to start, the tiara reportedly snapped as the hairdresser was fixing the then-Princess Elizabeth’s veil in place. 

As reported by The Mirror, the Queen said: "The catch, which I didn't know existed, it suddenly went.

"And I didn’t know it was a necklace, you see. I thought I'd broken it.

"We stuck it all together again, but I was rather alarmed."

According to the publication, the Queen Mother remained calm throughout and is thought to have reminded her daughter "there are still two hours and there are other tiaras."

Thankfully for the Queen, the royal family’s jewelry house was on standby just in case and managed to mend this family heirloom, reportedly after taking it to their workshop to repair it, accompanied by a police escort.

The team frantically welded the piece back together and got it back to the Queen just in time for her walk down the aisle.

Who else has worn Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara?

The stunning diamond-encrusted tiara has historical and family significance to the Queen. So it is wonderful that royal fans have got to glimpse this stand-out jewelry piece since Her Majesty’s own royal wedding.

Princess Anne wore Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara for her wedding to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973.

Then in July 2020, the monarch lent this dazzling tiara to her granddaughter Princess Beatrice for her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Who knows which royals may get to wear this beautiful jewelry piece in the future?