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.
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.”
