The Princess of Wales is expected to be among the senior royals at the South Korean state banquet on 21 November. The white-tie dress code usually means there will be a rare tiara moment for Kate.
The last time Princess Kate wore a tiara was at the Jordan royal wedding in June, pairing a shimmering pink Jenny Packham gown with the Lover’s Knot tiara.
The diamond and pearl headpiece, which was previously worn by Kate’s late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales, has proved to be her favourite over the past 12 years.
The only other tiara Kate has worn are the Cartier Halo tiara – once on her wedding day – and the Lotus Flower tiara, most recently worn at the 2022 Diplomatic Corps Reception.
But following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, the Princess has been loaned more of Her Late Majesty’s jewels from the vaults, including pearl earrings worn on Remembrance Sunday.
So could Kate debut another tiara for the South Korean state banquet? Here are some potential contenders…
Strathmore Rose tiara
The then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later the Queen Mother) was given the floral headpiece as a wedding gift from her father, the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne in 1923.
She often wore the headpiece across her forehead, as was the style in the 1920s.
READ: Princess Kate Honors Queen Elizabeth II With Jewelry On Remembrance Day
The tiara was left to her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, after the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, but it hasn’t been seen on another member of the royal family since.
The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara
The circular diamond and pearl headpiece was made for Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna as a wedding gift in 1874.
It was later sold by her daughter, Princess Nicholas of Greece, to Queen Mary in 1921.
Mary had the tiara altered so that she could remove the pearl droplets and wear the headpiece with emeralds.
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
This sparkling tiara originally belonged to Queen Alexandra, when she was known as the Princess of Wales. So, it only seems apt that it could reappear again on Princess Kate?
It was presented to Alexandra on her 25th wedding anniversary to Edward VII in 1888.
READ: Prince William Reveals Which Band Louis Is Fan Of
It was passed down to her daughter-in-law Queen Mary, who then passed it down to Elizabeth II.
This style of tiara is based on the traditional Russian headdress called a “kokoshnik” and can also be worn as a necklace.
The Oriental Circlet tiara
The tiara was originally made for the late Queen’s great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, as a gift from Prince Albert in 1853.
Victoria’s granddaughter Queen Alexandra inherited the headpiece, which originally contained opals, but she replaced them with rubies.
The Queen Mother wore it on numerous occasions, but when it was passed down to Elizabeth II, she only ever wore it in public once during a visit to Malta in 2005.
English