William and Kate are attending a Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace with the Queen tonight, to meet with the 172 foreign missions in the U.K. For the first time since her wedding, Kate is wearing a tiara!!!!!
Who then loaned it to her DIL for her 1993 wedding, which was apparently the last time the tiara was publicly seen.
I'm pleasantly surprised for a few reasons ... first, I didn't think we'd see Kate in a tiara again until she became Princess of Wales (once the Queen dies and Charles becomes King). Second, I had read that this tiara belonged to Margaret's family and not the Queen ... but if Kate's wearing it tonight then I guess it was always the property of the Queen Mother and then the Queen, and Margaret and her DIL just had it as a loaner.
I started wondering what it would be like to wear a tiara around the house after I read the post. I am sure that MH would think I've lost my mind if he came home tonight and saw me wearing one. Not that I have one to wear. That's the real problem here. Maybe I should add one to my Amazon wishlist.
I started wondering what it would be like to wear a tiara around the house after I read the post. I am sure that MH would think I've lost my mind if he came home tonight and saw me wearing one. Not that I have one to wear. That's the real problem here. Maybe I should add one to my Amazon wishlist.
Ooh pretty! I'm more excited by the fact that Kate's nose is similar to mine. I never noticed that. DH always jokes that he's going to bounce my "nose ball."
I just saw an article saying that the Halo Scroll Tiara (the one she wore at her wedding) is on exhibition in Paris ... so I wonder if she would've worn the Halo today if it were available, or if she still would've worn the Papyrus?
I know nothing about tiara rules. Why was she expected to not wear one until she became Princess of Wales?
Would she not own her own tiara? Would most tiaras remain the property of the monarch? Why is this a particularly special tiara worthy occasion?
Also, I totally want to be invited to a tiara wearing event!!!
That was just me thinking that they wouldn't start attending the really formal events for a while. But I guess they're taking on more duties now that William is out of the military? And the queen is slowing down a little bit on what duties she takes on.
The tiaras are loaners - property of the queen - and loaned out at her discretion. That way they don't leave the family by being sold or given away. The queen would be free to just give Kate a tiara as a gift, but she probably wouldn't do that since they're family heirlooms. Charles will own them when he's king and then he can give/loan them as he pleases. He, or William, could also buy a new tiara for Kate as a gift and then it'd be her personal property.
Princess Diana's wedding tiara was a loaner from her own family. The pearl tiara she often wore was a loaner from the queen and was returned once she split with Charles. If the queen had gifted her the pearl tiara then Diana could've just kept it.
I had no idea about this event until earlier this morning, and I didn't know it was a white tie (tiaras and jewels) event until they posted that Kate was in a tiara. I thought it was just another meet and greet!
I would love to be a fly on the wall when she was allowed to try on the tiara. I wonder if she was able to visit the vaults and take her pick from the full collection?
So, are there actual rules about tiaras? Or is it just a custom thing? Say that I, as a non-peer (I think that's the right term) were invited to one of these white tie shindigs, and I happen to be a millionaire who likes pretty hair jewelry. What if I had a jeweler make me a tiara and I show up in it? Would it just be scandalous because you're supposed to "earn" the right to wear one? Or would it be worse, like, for example, wearing an Army Generals uniform when you've never spent a day in the Army?
I'd never thought about it, but I guess that the average British bride doesn't wear a tiara as part of her wedding day ensemble the way so many Americans do!
ETA: I just read the link in the OP. I'm fascinated that the Queen Mother had the tiara made from a necklace her husband gave her as a wedding present! "Oh, thanks so much for the priceless diamond necklace, honey, but it's not really my style. I'm going to have someone turn it into a tiara."
So, are there actual rules about tiaras? Or is it just a custom thing? Say that I, as a non-peer (I think that's the right term) were invited to one of these white tie shindigs, and I happen to be a millionaire who likes pretty hair jewelry. What if I had a jeweler make me a tiara and I show up in it? Would it just be scandalous because you're supposed to "earn" the right to wear one? Or would it be worse, like, for example, wearing an Army Generals uniform when you've never spent a day in the Army?
I'd never thought about it, but I guess that the average British bride doesn't wear a tiara as part of her wedding day ensemble the way so many Americans do!
I don't think there are formal rules, since essentially a tiara is just jewelry.
Like you said, maybe it's an unspoken rule that a tiara would look stupid on a regular joe versus a peeress/princess at an event like this? I really don't know, good question.
I think there ARE rules as to who is entitled to wear a coronet (small crown) at the British coronation. And what kind of coronet is worn ... when Charles is king, William will get a coronet as the heir, and Harry will get one as the kings other son, and other family members will have different ones. And the women might wear a tiara AND a coronet to the coronation ... Princess Margaret wore the Halo Scroll and her coronet when her sister was crowned Queen Elizabeth II.
If I were Kate trying on the tiaras I'd totally be Amy Farah Fowler ... "PUTITONME, PUTITONME, PUTITONME!!!"
"Kate, you look beautiful."
"OFCOURSEIDOI'MAPRINCESSANDTHISISMYTIARA!!!!!"
ETA: WhatKateWore.com confirmed that Kate's earrings were also borrowed from the Queen, and her dress is from Alexander McQueen. And we likely will not see any more photos from the event
I'm still annoyed at the lack of pictures I can totally understand that she shouldn't have to be subjected to candid photos every time she pops into a grocery store, but at a white tie event? in a tiara? Not analogous.
I'm still annoyed at the lack of pictures I can totally understand that she shouldn't have to be subjected to candid photos every time she pops into a grocery store, but at a white tie event? in a tiara? Not analogous.
Right??? I'm really puzzled that they didn't release at least one or two pro photos. I mean, Prince George's christening was a MUCH more personal and family-oriented event, and we still got a few photos from that.
I found a blog post and a short video from 1992 about the annual diplomatic reception:
I was also hoping that we'd see the Royal Family Order (the little yellow ribbon with the portrait of the Queen that select female family members pin to their shoulders) on Kate at this event, but maybe she didn't get it yet. They don't formally announce it when it's awarded, we just have to wait and see who wears it to these fancy events. So maybe she didn't get it yet since it's her first formal event and she hasn't "proved" herself yet as a full-time royal and someone who can stay out of trouble for a few years?
I love that the tiara photos from WhatKateWore.com are from the "Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor." Man, I love the British.
That's an awesome blog! I started reading it around the time that William and Kate got married, just for something to do, and then I got sucked down the rabbit hole and started learning more about all the different royal families.
It's super-interesting if you're a history buff, especially because pretty much every European royal family is related to each other. And the tiaras and jewels are also interesting because that blog gives the history behind them, plus a lot of jewels have passed between royal houses (like when a princess from one country married the prince of another, and brought her family's tiaras and jewelry with her and then passed them on to her own descendants).
I'm so interested in the ownership of the tiara. I suppose you are right and that it was just in Margaret's possession until she died and then reverted to the crown (or the queen?), but I would assume that Margaret's personal jewelry would have gone to her daughter. But for something like this would they want to keep it closer to the royal family? Lady Sarah Chatto, while the granddaughter of a king, isn't getting any closer to being royalty herself, and neither are her children, etc. Can you imagine being the great-great-great-great grandchild of a monarch and having had a tiara passed down through your family? Seems kind of awesome, but at the same time, no one would get to enjoy it, either through wearing it to official functions or on display.
I know there's a difference between what is considered the crown jewels, belonging to the crown/state, and the Queen's personal jewelry, belonging to her, some of it coming from her mother, grandmother, etc. I wonder if the Queen will pass on her personal jewelry to Anne, or if will go to Charles/Camilla, or maybe to Kate, or directly to a possible daughter Kate has? It seems nice to keep it in the line of succession, but it's also nice to give it to someone who would actually wear it. Then again, if you aren't that close in the line of succession, you have less opportunity to wear it!
I know nothing about tiara rules. Why was she expected to not wear one until she became Princess of Wales?
Would she not own her own tiara? Would most tiaras remain the property of the monarch? Why is this a particularly special tiara worthy occasion?
Also, I totally want to be invited to a tiara wearing event!!!
That was just me thinking that they wouldn't start attending the really formal events for a while. But I guess they're taking on more duties now that William is out of the military? And the queen is slowing down a little bit on what duties she takes on.
The tiaras are loaners - property of the queen - and loaned out at her discretion. That way they don't leave the family by being sold or given away. The queen would be free to just give Kate a tiara as a gift, but she probably wouldn't do that since they're family heirlooms. Charles will own them when he's king and then he can give/loan them as he pleases. He, or William, could also buy a new tiara for Kate as a gift and then it'd be her personal property.
Princess Diana's wedding tiara was a loaner from her own family. The pearl tiara she often wore was a loaner from the queen and was returned once she split with Charles. If the queen had gifted her the pearl tiara then Diana could've just kept it.
I had no idea about this event until earlier this morning, and I didn't know it was a white tie (tiaras and jewels) event until they posted that Kate was in a tiara. I thought it was just another meet and greet!
I would love to be a fly on the wall when she was allowed to try on the tiara. I wonder if she was able to visit the vaults and take her pick from the full collection?
Actually, this might answer some of my questions about the Queen's personal collection.
That was just me thinking that they wouldn't start attending the really formal events for a while. But I guess they're taking on more duties now that William is out of the military? And the queen is slowing down a little bit on what duties she takes on.
The tiaras are loaners - property of the queen - and loaned out at her discretion. That way they don't leave the family by being sold or given away. The queen would be free to just give Kate a tiara as a gift, but she probably wouldn't do that since they're family heirlooms. Charles will own them when he's king and then he can give/loan them as he pleases. He, or William, could also buy a new tiara for Kate as a gift and then it'd be her personal property.
Princess Diana's wedding tiara was a loaner from her own family. The pearl tiara she often wore was a loaner from the queen and was returned once she split with Charles. If the queen had gifted her the pearl tiara then Diana could've just kept it.
I had no idea about this event until earlier this morning, and I didn't know it was a white tie (tiaras and jewels) event until they posted that Kate was in a tiara. I thought it was just another meet and greet!
I would love to be a fly on the wall when she was allowed to try on the tiara. I wonder if she was able to visit the vaults and take her pick from the full collection?
Actually, this might answer some of my questions about the Queen's personal collection.
I started reading that blog around the same time as you, then, it sounds. It really is fascinating and is the most awesome history lesson in the entire universe. Especially because it includes so many pretty pictures, and an awesome community from around the world. I'm assuming that if you are a regular poster, like me, your screen name there is different from this one.
Either way, I was bummed we won't get any more photos, but happy for the few we do have!
I started reading that blog around the same time as you, then, it sounds. It really is fascinating and is the most awesome history lesson in the entire universe. Especially because it includes so many pretty pictures, and an awesome community from around the world. I'm assuming that if you are a regular poster, like me, your screen name there is different from this one.
Either way, I was bummed we won't get any more photos, but happy for the few we do have!
I really don't post any royalty-related sites ... I just read the info and look at the pretty photos
Royal Forums is apparently REALLY popular. Again, I don't post (don't even have a screen name registered), but sometimes I read through it. There was a big long thread when Kate first announced her pregnancy, with people trying to guess the names and godparents. That was neat. And another before her wedding trying to guess what tiara she'd wear.