Tonight, Kate Middleton went with a tried-and-true winner for her tiara at the Nigerian state banquet at Windsor Castle: Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara.
Royal watchers immediately clocked the headpiece, which is known as one of the Princess of Wales’s favorites. This marks her first appearance in a tiara this year, which has already been a busy one. Lately, Kate has been making the royal rounds, from celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in head-to-toe green with the Irish Guards yesterday, to pulling pints and playing cheesemonger at Borough, the 1,000-year-old central London market, among other appearances.
Kate’s choice of tiara also has a sweet connection to Princess Diana. The Lover’s Knot tiara was originally commissioned from the House of Garrard in 1913 for Queen Mary, designed as a replica of her grandmother’s Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara. The sparkling headpiece features diamonds and pearls set in silver and gold. It was handed down to Queen Elizabeth, who gave it to her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. It was reportedly one of Diana’s favorites, though it was infamous for causing her headaches due to its weight.
The Princess of Wales paired the tiara with what is believed to be a bespoke chiffon forest green gown by Andrew Gn, a Jenny Peckham silver clutch, and Queen Elizabeth’s sapphire tassel earrings. The color of Kate’s dress is likely an homage to Nigeria, as the green hue matches the country’s flag. It continues a theme for Kate, who yesterday wore a coat by the rising British-Nigerian fashion designer Tolu Coker, whose London show King Charles III recently attended.
