Kate Middleton Wears Tiara for Charles’ First State Banquet as King | It Was Once Worn by Princess Diana

Kate Middleton is living up to her title of the Princess of Wales! The 40-year-old royal dazzled in a beautiful tiara that is said to be over a century old. It was also one of the late Princess Diana's favorite headpieces. This was the first time Kate Middleton was spotted wearing a tiara in three years and it was for a very special occasion. King Charles’ first state banquet as monarch took place at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, reports HuffPost.

The Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara once belonged to Princess Diana. The stunning sparkler is over 100 years old and is believed to be one of the oldest royal jewels the Princess has worn so far. It was originally commissioned by the jeweler Garrard by Queen Mary in either 1913 or 1914. It was first filled on top with upright pearls which were later removed from the tiara. Now there is a row of dazzling diamond brilliants along the top of the piece, according to The Court Jeweller. The Queen received the piece in 1953 and in 1981 she gave it to her new daughter-in-law, Diana Spencer. 

PEOPLE reports Kate Middleton also wore other accessories belonging to the late Princess of Wales including earrings she recently wore for the Remembrance Sunday service. The soon-to-be Queen wore a gorgeous white gown by Jenny Packham for the banquet. She also wore the sash and star of the Royal Victorian Order and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II along with a bracelet from Queen Elizabeth's jewelry box.

The new monarch's wife Queen Camilla also wore her first tiara of King Charles' reign. A lovely sapphire and diamond piece with jewels that belonged to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II. The late monarch wore it for a 2015 state visit with President of China Xi Jinping. Queen Camilla paired her tiara with a blue gown.

The occasion was held on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa’s state visit which was King Charles’ first state banquet as monarch. During the event, President Ramaphosa sat between King Charles and Kate Middleton while South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor was beside Queen Camilla and Prince William at the table. In his State Banquet speech, King Charles welcomed President Ramaphosa and remembered his mother's famous pledge from Cape Town when she was just 21 years old, according to Town & Country Magazine. "South Africa, like the Commonwealth, has always been a part of my life," Charles said. "My mother often recalled her visit in 1947, the year before I was born, when, from Cape Town on Her twenty-first birthday, she pledged her life to the service of the people of the Commonwealth. It is therefore particularly moving and special that you are our guest on this, the first State Visit we have hosted." 

References:

https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2022/11/royal-tiaras-galore-including-a-sapphire-debut-at-tonights-buckingham-palace-state-banquet.html

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kate-middleton-dazzles-tiara_n_637bb1a2e4b0f04daf559d2b

https://www.thecourtjeweller.com/2019/02/queen-marys-lovers-knot-tiara.html

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a42042872/king-charles-remembers-queen-elizabeth-state-banquet-speech/

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L) Aaron Chown; (R) Hulton Archive