The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, has made another appearance in a famed piece of Princess Diana’s past. In London, Thursday, Kate emerged from her royal transport wearing the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara for an annual reception at Buckingham Palace. The tiara was crafted in 1913, and it originally belonged to Queen Mary.
Through passing generations, the piece was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth who gifted it to Princess Diana as a wedding gift after her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981. When the two divorced, the tiara was returned to Queen Elizabeth. The Duchess has made two appearances with the tiara since her marriage to Prince William.
The Duchess of Cambridge and the rest of the royal family are typically quite reserved when it comes to taking group photos, but Thursday’s reception was very different. Minus Prince Harry, the royal roster was in full attendance. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and Prince William and Kate were all dressed in royal garb as they posed for a historical family photo.
Kate Middleton wore Princess Diana’s favourite tiara in a moving tribute https://t.co/4iFyx4ATM9
— Hannah Z. (@1hannahz) December 10, 2016
Kate Middleton donned a dress from one of her most favorite designers, Jenny Packham. Looking as if she were some sort of magnificent flower, she accented her gown with diamond chandelier earrings and held her stunning appearance with the grace of a princess throughout the event. The annual diplomatic reception was not the first time Kate has worn the breathtaking Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara. In 1997, she wore the tiara for the first time to the same annual reception. It was the first time the public had seen the famed piece since the death of Princess Diana.
Following the divorce of Diana and Prince Charles, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot was returned to Queen Elizabeth and has remained in her possession for many years. The Duchess of Cambridge is highly honored by the Queen’s generosity. The tiara is not the only piece of royal jewelry the Duchess has had the opportunity to enjoy. Prince William crafted his marriage proposal around his mother’s engagement ring.
“She’s not around to share the fun and excitement of all this, so, this is my way of keeping her sort of close to it all,” said William of his late mother’s ring.
While the Duchess of Cambridge is widely known and loved for her down-to-earth style, she is a picture of perfect beauty when she displays her fascinating collection of apparel. The irreplaceable tiara was a favorite of Princess Diana and is still at the top of the list for Queen Elizabeth as well. Now rumored to be Kate Middleton’s favorite royal accessory, the piece has been a part of generations of history.
The dress she wore to Thursday’s event showed just a bit more that Jenny Packham is one of Kate’s favorite designers . On several occasions, Kate has been photographed sporting Packham attire. When the royal couple arrived for their 2016 Canadian tour, the Duchess wore a blue Packham dress with a shiny maple leaf brooch. In 2011, she wore a rose sequined gown adorned with pearls by the same designer. That is not all, either. She was also seen dressed in a yellow and white printed dress in 2011 by the same British designer.
The Duchess of Cambridge has repeatedly shown us a picture of beauty inside and out. Along with her flawless sense of style, the Duchess of Cambridge has an exceptionally giving spirit. She and her prince offer hope and light to the world around them. The world will be following this couple for many years to come.
[Featured Image by WPA Pool/AP Images]