Meghan Markle's Wedding Tiara Was Loaned by the Queen, and It's Absolutely Stunning
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Update: Ever since Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's engagement was announced, we've has been wondering which tiara Meghan will wear on her big day. The stunning bride ended up wearing Queen Mary's diamond tiara, which was lent to her for the wedding. The gorgeous diamond bandeau was made in 1932 and it features a beautiful center brooch that dates even further back to 1893. The brooch itself was gifted to then-Princess Mary in 1893 by the County of Lincoln on her marriage to Prince George, Duke of York, before both the brooch and the crown were bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Read on to see Meghan's beautiful wedding tiara as well as what other royals have worn in the past.
Original Post: As more information gets released daily regarding the details of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's big day, we're still wondering what tiara the future princess will wear. The royal jewels and tiaras are a big deal, and with each royal wedding from Kate Middleton, Princess Diana, Princess Margaret, and even Queen Elizabeth, each bride has sported a different look. There is no official protocol on if a tiara must be worn, but the style has been making a comeback on the wedding circuit — even Pippa Middleton wore one on her big day.
The hype is mounting as to what Megan will wear, so we wanted to take you on a trip down tiara memory lane to highlight the ones that have been worn by the royal ladies in the past and offer up some of our predictions!
— Additional reporting by Nikita Ramsinghani
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Meghan Wore Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara
The stunning bride ended up wearing Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, which was loaned to her for the wedding. The stunning diamond was made in 1932 and features a beautiful center brooch, which has 10 brilliant diamonds.
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The Spencer Tiara
The Spencer Tiara that Princess Diana wore on her wedding day in 1981 might be a top contender. Given Prince Harry and William's devotion to their late mother, wearing the same tiara would have been a beautiful gesture.
In typical royal jewelry fashion, this tiara actually comprises other pieces. The middle part of the tiara was originally a wedding present given to Lady Cynthia Hamilton (Diana's grandmother) in 1919 on her big day. That same year, the Spencer tiara got an upgrade with a topper piece, then had one more piece added before the 1920s. It underwent one more revamp in the 1930s and has remained the same ever since.
Diana's sisters, Sarah and Jane, as well as Victoria Lockwood, the first wife of Charles Spencer (Diana's brother), have all worn the tiara.
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The Lover's Knot Tiara
The Lover's Knot Tiara was one of Diana's favorites. Currently owned by Queen Elizabeth II, this sparkler is sometimes referred to as the Cambridge Lover's Knot and has also been worn by Kate Middleton.
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The Strathmore Rose Tiara
This stunning floral piece was made at the turn of the 19th century and was a gift for the queen mother on her wedding day. Unlike some of the thicker, heavier royal crowns, this tiara is delicate, feminine, and astonishingly modern. If Megan had decided to go with this look, it would be the first time since the queen mother's wedding that it has been worn in public.
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The Halo Tiara
Kate wore the Cartier Halo Tiara for her big day. First purchased in 1936 as a gift for the queen mother, it was gifted to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday. She lent it to Kate for her big day, when she paired it with her custom-made Alexander McQueen dress.