For the first time ever, Kate Middleton wore Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara, a massive Garrard & Co. headpiece featuring 2,600 diamonds and more than a dozen rubies.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown? Ask Kate Middleton.
The Princess of Wales wore her biggest tiara to date during a state banquet at Windsor Castle Dec. 3, stepping out in a massive, diamond-studded accessory that has not been publicly worn in 20 years.
Joined by husband Prince William, Kate sparkled in Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara, a Garrard & Co. headpiece commissioned by Prince Albert in 1853 to incorporate 2,600 diamonds set in gold.
The 43-year-old paired the royally luxe diadem with a sparkling blue Jenny Packham gown. For accessories, she wore diamond earrings that belonged to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother as well as the Royal Family Order sash and the Royal Victorian Order star.
And Kate’s tiara has quite the story to it. After all, it was originally made to house more than a dozen opals, but they were replaced with rubies in 1901 by Victoria’s daughter-in-law Queen Alexandra due to “superstitions” surrounding the milky white gemstones, according to its maker.
Per Gerard & Co’s royal ledger, Alexandra is believed to have only worn the crown once on a state visit to Germany before it was passed down to the Queen Mother and her daughter Queen Elizabeth II, who last donned it during a 2005 trip to Malta.
Kate seemingly tapped into the crown’s storied past by wearing it to the state dinner, where she and the royal family—including King Charles III and Queen Camilla—welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
But this wasn’t Kate’s first crowning moment of the year. After a two-year hiatus from tiaras, she made a style comeback in July with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot at a state banquet for French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron.
Two months later, the mom of Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, donned the same headpiece to host President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Windsor Castle.
To date, Kate has worn five tiaras—including the Cartier Halo for her 2011 wedding, the Lotus Flower and the Strathmore Rose.
Keep reading to see her best fashion moments…
Royal in Red
For a Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2022, the Princess of Wales styled her sparkly Jenny Packham gown with several regal accessories, including Queen Elizabeth II‘s Royal Family Order badge, the sash and star of the Royal Victorian Order, diamond frame earrings, a diamond Art Deco brooch and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother‘s famed Lotus Flower Tiara.
Princess of Style
Shortly after succeeding the Princess of Wales title, Kate wore this stunning Jenny Packham gown with Queen Mary‘s Lover’s Knot Tiara to a state dinner in 2022.
Vision in White
There’s nothing more refreshing than seeing a royal who isn’t afraid to wear an item on numerous occasions. The royal last wore this Barbara Casasola number at the 2016 for the Art Fund awards.
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Elegance at Work
Kate took the army’s salute in 2019 while sporting a lovely Catherine Walker coat dress, which she paired with matching clutch and shoes.
Victoria
Flaunt It
Kate showed the Americans how it is done in a white gown by Alexander McQueen, the same designer who created her iconic wedding dress, during a state banquet with Steven Mnuchin in 2019.
Shutterstock
Tea Party Ready
When in the presence of the Queen, it is pretty important to wear your Sunday finest. In 2019, the Princess of Wales sported a pink coat dress by Alexander McQueen and a fascinator by Juliette Botterill.
REX/Shutterstock
Boho Chic
For the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a whimsical dress from British label Erdem.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Sophisticated Suits
Kate wore a matching blazer and skirt combo to The Royal Foundation’s Mental Health in Education conference in 2019.
Anthony Harvey/BAFTA/Shutterstock
Gorgeous Gowns
The royal stunned in a white McQueen gown for the 2019 BAFTA Awards.
Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Going Green
Kate turned heads in this Eponine London dress for Children’s Mental Health Week 2019.
Neil Mockford/GC Images
Cute and Casual
In 2019, 5he royal looked fabulous in a tweed jacket and boots at Islington Community Garden.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Pretty in Plaid
Kate looked gorgeous in a Q by McQueen green and blue tartan coat dress during a visit to Scotland in 2019.
Heathcliff O’Malley – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Bold and Beautiful
The royal isn’t afraid to rock a bold shade, like this pretty magenta she wore to The Royal Opera House in 2019.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Beautiful in Blue
Kate was all smiles as she watched a flypast to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2018.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Elegant in Emerald
The mother of three stunned in this number for an event with Family Action Charity in 2019.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Royal Red
Next to Meghan Markle‘s royal blues, the Duchess of Cambridge’s monochromatic ensemble made a major impact in 2018.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Teal Time
In January 2019, Kate took a stroll with Prince William in a coat dress, matching hat and black pumps.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Festive and Chic
Kate was a major holiday fashion inspo in this green and white L.K. Bennett polka dot dress paired with a khaki clutch and matching heels during a 2018 visit to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Victoria Jones – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Cinderella Story
The princess looked like a real-life Cinderella at a 2018 diplomatic reception in this sparkly Jenny Packham gown that featured sheer cap sleeves and clusters of sequins.
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
Fabulous Flare
For an official visit to RAF Akrotiri in 2018, Kate rocked a business-casual look that included a forest green Smythe blazer paired with navy trousers and a white shirt.
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
Pleasant in Plaid
Kate hosted a 2018 holiday party in this festive plaid Emilia Wickstead skirt paired with a black Brora cardigan and slouchy black high-heel boots.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Burgundy Beauty
In 2018, the royal visitsed UCL Developmental Neuroscience Lab at UCL London in a burgundy Paule Ka blazer and skirt paired with a black turtleneck, tights and heels.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Buttoned and Belted
Wearing a chic blue coat dress with matching navy pumps and a black clutch, Kate stunned during the 2018 opening of McLaren Automotive’s Composites Technology Centre.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
