The Princess of
Wales has worn one of Queen Victoria’s beloved tiaras to the German
State Banquet, adding some extra sparkle to her stunning blue
gown.
Queen
Victoria’s Oriental Circlet tiara was designed by Prince Albert
in the 1850s, based on Indian jewels that had been presented to his
wife during the Great Exhibition. Garrard designed a
diamond-and-opal tiara from Prince Albert’s specifications in 1853.
Five years later, some of the diamonds were removed due to the
Hannover Settlement, and Garrard replaced the diamonds with others
from Queen Victoria’s collection.
Upon her death, Queen Victoria dictated in her will that the
Oriental Circlet tiara would be designated for queens only. The new
Queen Alexandra had the opals replaced by rubies in 1902 as she
felt they were an unlucky jewel, and the arches were reduced down
to eleven from seventeen.
Princess of Wales wears
Queen Victoria’s tiara at German State Banquet KensingtonRoyal / X
/ Fair Use
Neither Queen Alexandra nor Queen Mary wore the tiara much—if at
all—and it wasn’t until Queen Elizabeth, the new queen, wore it in
public in 1937 shortly before her husband’s coronation and added it
into her regular rotation.
The Oriental Circlet tiara became one of Queen Elizabeth The
Queen Mother’s favourites during her widowhood, which she retained
despite her daughter’s accession in 1952. Queen Elizabeth II only
gained possession of the tiara in 2002, upon her mother’s
death.
Queen Elizabeth II only ever wore the Oriental Circlet tiara
once, in 2005 at a State Banquet in Malta and returned it to the
jewel vault.
Though the Oriental Circlet is reserved as a queen’s tiara, for
use by queens and queen consorts, Queen Camilla has yet to wear
it.
The Princess of Wales paired the Oriental Circlet tiara with
earrings from Queen Elizabeth II and a blue gown by Jenny Packham.
On social media, she and William posed together in front of the
Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, writing:
“Looking forward to a special banquet tonight in
Windsor.”