Queen Camilla dazzled in the Belgian Sapphire tiara at the Nigerian state banquet
HENRY NICHOLLS/Getty Images
Queen Camilla stepped out at the Nigerian state banquet in a tiara purchased by Queen Elizabeth II herself. Posing for a photograph with King Charles, President Bola Tinubu, and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Queen Camilla dazzled in the Belgian sapphire tiara.
Previously worn by the Queen to host the South African president at Buckingham Palace in December 2022, the tiara was purchased by Queen Elizabeth II in 1963 to wear with her sapphire suite of jewels. The tiara was, in fact, originally a necklace that belonged to Princess Louise of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born Princess Louise of Belgium, hence the name), Prince Albert’s mother and the grandmother of King Edward VII.
Queen Elizabeth II favoured the piece for several decades but later retired it to the royal collection, favouring other glittering headpieces instead. Queen Camilla has given the tiara a new lease of life, however – as she has with many tiaras from the late Queen’s collection.
At previous state banquets, the Queen has donned a number of historic tiaras, including the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara (considered by many to be Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘favourite’ diadem), the Belgian Sapphire tiara, and the Kokoshnik tiara.
Queen Camilla issued a style masterclass earlier in the day, when she joined King Charles to welcome President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to Windsor. Dressed in an all-pink ensemble, the Queen paired a pair of pearl earrings with a matching dress and fascinator.
Queen Camilla wore the Greville Ivy Leaf clip brooches to welcome the Presidential couple to Windsor earlier this morning
Samir Hussein