As Princess of Wales, Princess Kate is the most senior female member of the royal family behind Queen Camilla, and as such, she has been present at a number of high-profile ceremonies and events where some of the world’s most priceless jewels have been on display.
Since marrying Prince William in 2011, Kate has been entrusted with some of the royal family’s most valuable treasures, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and glittering tiaras.
Once worn regularly for receptions, galas, balls and banquets, tiaras today are reserved for only a select number of events, making the opportunities to see them all the more publicly anticipated.
There are two annual events where tiaras can typically be expected to be worn, one being a state banquet held at Buckingham Palace by the king for visiting heads of state, and the second being the annual diplomatic corps reception at the palace, which is attended by ambassadors and high commissioners stationed in Britain.
Queen Elizabeth II lent Kate more of her most famous jewels than any other royal family member, including some of her most sentimental bracelets and tiaras, a trend that King Charles III has continued.
Here, Newsweek examines all of Princess Kate’s sparkling royal tiaras since becoming Britain’s future queen.
Cartier Halo Tiara
Princess Kate’s first royal tiara was worn on her wedding day in April 2011 at Westminster Abbey.
For the occasion, Queen Elizabeth II lent her new granddaughter-in-law a sentimental jewel, the Cartier Halo Tiara.
Purchased in 1936 by King George VI for his wife, Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, the couple gave it to their eldest daughter (Elizabeth II) as her first tiara for an 18th birthday present.
Before passing it on to Kate, the queen lent her present to her younger sister, Princess Margaret, and her daughter, Princess Anne.
The princess has not worn this particular tiara again since her wedding day.
