Home · Entertainment · Oct 20 archive
Kate Middleton Wears Diana's Favorite Tiara at State Banquet
Confirmed
In Short: Princess Kate Middleton wore Queen Mary's Lover's Knot tiara, a favorite of Princess Diana, for a state banquet at Windsor Castle.
At the state banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla for Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman, Kate Middleton chose to wear the Lover's Knot tiara, a piece that has become her go-to for royal events.
The tiara, which features 19 arches and 28 drop-shaped pearls, was first commissioned by Queen Mary in 1913 as a copy of a tiara owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel.
Kate has worn the tiara multiple times since 2015, and it is considered her favorite among the five tiaras she has used since marrying Prince William in 2011.
The tiara was loaned to Diana by Queen Mary in 1981, and it is one of only two tiaras Diana was photographed wearing.
Royal commentator Amanda Matta noted that Kate's choice to wear the tiara is a romantic gesture that ties into the sentimentality of William and Kate's royal love story.
Kate paired the tiara with a flowing, sunshine-yellow gown by Elie Saab, King Charles' Royal Family Order badge, and the Royal Victorian Order sash and star.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold believes Kate wears the tiara to keep Diana's memory alive and to ensure people continue to remember her.
Christopher Andersen, author of 'Kate!', told Fox News Digital that Kate's modern approach, family values, and 'soft power' make her a vital asset to the royal family and the UK.
Kate's choice of the tiara also reflects her conscious effort to incorporate elements of Diana during her time as Princess of Wales, according to royal experts.
The tiara's sentimental value and its status as a favorite of both Diana and Kate make it a significant piece in royal history.
Kate's fashion choices at state events are crucial to her role as a future queen, and she takes a slow and steady approach to evolving her style.
The tiara's history and its connection to both Queen Mary and Princess Diana add to its significance, making it a fitting choice for Kate's latest royal appearance.
What's confirmed
- The princess announced in January 2025 that she was in remission.
What's still developing
- "I always come back to what a perfect piece this was for Kate to pull off all those years ago when she first wore It," said Matta.
- The Court Jeweller reported that when Mary commissioned the piece, she "sacrificed a tiara from her own jewelry collection, the Ladies of England tiara, to make it."
- The outlet noted that the Spencer tiara is now owned by the late princess' brother, Charles Spencer.
- The original tiara is believed to be held in a private collection.
- Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty The Princess of Wales usually wears tiaras a few times each year for occasions such as state banquets, diplomatic receptions and occasionally, royal weddings.
- Meanwhile, Princess Anne wore the Meander Tiara — which originally belonged to her paternal grandmother, Princess Alice — while the Duchess of Gloucester donned the Honeysuckle Tiara.
- “It’s a subtle evolution, and she’s definitely still ticking all those boxes that are so integral to who she is as a royal and future queen,” explained Holt.
- “ It is a huge amount of pressure for Kate to always deliver this fashion moment at these big state events, but it’s all part of the package,” said Holt.
- “It fruited heavily this year because of the warm summer,” a royal aide explained.
- Opposite them, Prince William sat between Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, the Crown Prince, and Dina Macki, an Omani chef and cookery blogger.
- The Sultan sat between King Charles and Princess Kate, while Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq bin Taimur Al Said, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs, was seated on the King’s left.
- In addition to the spectacular headpiece, which features 19 arches and 28 drop-shaped pearls, Kate donned a flowy yellow gown by Elie Saab featuring a braided collar, keyhole cutout and chiffon cape.