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Kate Middleton Debuts Rare Oriental Circlet Tiara
6 Dec
Summary
- Kate Middleton wore Queen Victoria's Oriental Circlet tiara, a piece with specific royal lineage rules.
- Queen Victoria's will stipulated only future Queens could wear the Oriental Circlet tiara.
- The tiara was modified by Queen Alexandra, who replaced opals with rubies, deeming opals unlucky.
The Princess of Wales made a dazzling appearance at a recent state banquet, notably wearing Queen Victoria's Oriental Circlet tiara for the first time. This exquisite headpiece, designed in 1853, carries a significant legacy and a specific rule for its wearers, as stipulated in Queen Victoria's will. Only future Queens and Queens Consort were designated to adorn this particular tiara.
Following Queen Victoria, the tiara was passed to Queen Alexandra, who made notable alterations. Believing opals to be unlucky, she replaced the original stones with rubies, subtly changing the tiara's appearance. Subsequent wearers included Queen Mary and the Queen Mother, who frequently wore it throughout her life.
Queen Elizabeth II inherited much of her mother's jewelry collection and wore the Oriental Circlet on a single occasion. More recently, the Princess of Wales has showcased several other significant tiaras from the royal vaults, with the Oriental Circlet now adding to her collection of worn royal headpieces.
