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Kate Middleton Was Just Spotted Wearing One of Diana’s Favorite Tiaras—Here’s the History Behind the Crown

Princess Kate attended her first state banquet in two years at Windsor Castle on July 8, and it’s safe to say she stole the show. Appearing by her husband Prince William’s side to welcome French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, it was a statement in many ways. Not only was it a return to royal form after a hiatus due to her cancer treatments, but if there were any doubts that she wasn’t ready, she also laid those to rest the moment she stepped out in her crimson gown and showstopping tiara.

If you’ve followed the British royal family over the decades, that tiara might have looked familiar. Yep, it’s one of Diana’s—and Kate’s choice to wear it was loaded with symbolism and strength. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this serious sparkler and why she may have chosen it for her big comeback.

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Which tiara did Kate wear to the state banquet?

She donned the famed Lover’s Knot Tiara, a favorite of Princess Diana’s. The jeweled headpiece consists of numerous diamonds and 19 hanging teardrop pearls, and experts estimate that it’s worth at least £2 million (approximately $2.7 million).

Britain’s House of Garrard made it for Queen Mary in 1913, creating a replica of the 200-year-old Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara that her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel, had owned. It was later passed on to Queen Elizabeth II, who gifted it to Princess Diana when she married Prince Charles in 1981. Diana famously wore the tiara when she attended the Opening of Parliament for the first time as Charles’s wife that same year, as well as on royal tours including a dinner hosted by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia in 1986 and visiting the Culture Center in Hong Kong in 1989.

When Diana and Charles got divorced following his affair with Camilla, the princess returned the Lover’s Knot Tiara to Queen Elizabeth II, per royal protocol.

Why was Kate’s choice so significant?

The Lover’s Knot Tiara has been one of Princess Kate’s favorite headpieces ever since she married into the royal family in 2011. In fact, she’s chosen it a whopping 10 out of 15 times when wearing a tiara! Sporting her go-to sparkler at the state banquet for the first time since 2023 might have been a sign that she’s (slowly) coming back to her public royal life after fighting cancer. The tiara also has such a strong connection to Diana, it’s hard for people not to feel sentimental when they see it.

Kate first wore the tiara in December 2015 at a reception in Buckingham Palace, pairing it with an icy-blue lace gown by Alexander McQueen. She later chose it again for state banquets honoring King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain in 2017, and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in 2018, as well as King Charles’s first state banquet as monarch on Nov. 22, 2022. Prior to Macron’s visit, she’d last worn it to the annual Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2023.

What other symbolic items did she wear to the banquet?

The Lover’s Knot Tiara wasn’t Kate’s only choice that caught the eye of royal watchers. Princess Diana was a fashion icon, and just like her, Kate tends to send subtle signs with her outfits. Here’s what she wore to this occasion—and why.

  • Givenchy dress and clutch: Kate’s stunning crimson dress, which she paired with a matching clutch, was not a random choice. It was designed by Sarah Burton from Givenchy, who also created Kate’s wedding gown back when she was working with Alexander McQueen. At least equally important, it paid tribute to the French flag in combo with the blue sash. And that’s not all: Kate’s clutch was covered in lily embroidery, a popular flower in France—another nod to the royals’ guests.
  • The Royal Family Order of King Charles III: Royal fans quickly spotted a new pin on Kate’s robe. The princess debuted a pale blue ribbon with King Charles’s portrait dangling from it, right above a similar yellow piece showing the late Queen Elizabeth II. The pin was first seen when Queen Camilla sported it in 2024 at the state banquet for Japanese emperor Naruhito and empress Masako.
  • Queen Elizabeth’s earrings: To round out her head-turning look, Kate chose Queen Elizabeth’s Greville diamond chandelier earrings, which were created by Cartier in the early 1900s.

Does this mean Kate is making a full return to her royal duties?

Despite her strong showing at the banquet, probably not. Six months after she’d revealed her cancer diagnosis, the Princess of Wales confirmed in September 2024 that she’d finished her chemo treatment and her focus was on staying “cancer free.” Since January, she has been in remission, but she’s continued to be very mindful when choosing her public appearances, making a gradual rather than a full return to royal duties.

When visiting a hospital in South England in early July, she told patients that the phase after chemo wasn’t that much easier than the actual treatment: “You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” she said. “You have to find your new normal and that takes time … and it’s a rollercoaster. It’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. The reality is … you go through hard times.”

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward echoed this recently when talking to Hello! magazine. “Kate might be back, but she’s doing it sensibly, and on her own terms,” she said. “Her priorities have changed, and she’s listening to her body, instead of being a people pleaser. She’s absolutely got to be strict with herself and say: ‘No, I can’t do this.'” So, while we might see more of Kate in the coming months, it seems safe to say that she probably won’t be back working full time for quite some time.

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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Harper’s Bazaar: “The Princess of Wales slips into a red Givenchy gown and the Lover’s Knot tiara for a state banquet”
  • Harper’s Bazaar: “All the times Princess Kate has worn a tiara through the years”
  • Tatler: “Crowning glory: Princess Diana’s most glamorous tiara moments”
  • Tatler: “Kate Middleton ‘will not return to full-time royal duties any time soon,’ sources reveal”
  • Marie Claire: “Princess Kate breaks her tiara drought in dramatic red caped gown and a major new honor from King Charles”
  • Town & Country: “What is the Royal Family Order of King Charles III?”
  • BBC: “Catherine talks candidly of ‘life-changing’ cancer treatment”
  • Hello!: “Inside Princess Kate’s mindful return to royal duties on her own terms – exclusive”

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