Princess Anne's Diamond Tiara: A Royal Redesign Revealed

Princess Anne recently captivated onlookers at a German state banquet, drawing attention with a modified Aquamarine Pineflower Tiara. This exquisite Cartier piece, a former gift from King George VI to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, underwent a significant transformation at the hands of the Princess Royal. She opted to shorten the tiara and ingeniously repurposed its central aquamarine and diamond element into a distinct brooch.

This clever redesign allows Princess Anne to wear the valuable central stone more regularly. Maxwell Stone, a leading diamond expert, estimates the brooch's worth at $150,000, suggesting the original tiara is considerably more valuable. The tiara, now featuring a prominent rectangular aquamarine in place of the original element, remains a favored choice for Princess Anne at state occasions.

The German state banquet also saw Princess Kate debut the Oriental Circlet Tiara, a Garrard design with a rich history, last seen on a royal two decades prior. Both royals' distinct tiara choices sparked conversations about royal fashion and the enduring legacy of these significant family jewels.