Tiara

Photo: Getty
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, may as well be Princess of Barrel Curls, because the 40-year-old has been sporting her signature style for well over a decade. And with good reason—her shiny waves are impervious to the elements and always ready for a photo opp. Were it not against royal rules, I have no doubt she would’ve scored a Pantene sponsorship the second she entered the public eye. The Dyson Airwrap could never.
All this is to say that when Kate arrived to the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, December 6, her otherwise innocuous blowout was a legitimately striking. So long, iconic curls. Hello, straight hair era.
Photo: Getty
The Diplomatic Reception, which is held annually by the royal family to honor members of the Diplomatic Corps in the palace’s State Rooms, was a white tie affair—meaning tiaras were very much expected. For the occasion, the princess chose the Lotus Flower Tiara, marking the first time she’s worn the piece since 2015; she wore it for the very first time back in 2013. Notably, this also marks the first time Kate has styled a tiara with her hair down. She typically tucks the tiaras into romantic updos.
The princess paired the tiara with matching tear-drop diamond earrings and a long-sleeve crimson Jenny Packham gown with delicate floral beaded embellishments.
Photo: Getty
The occasion marks the second time Kate has worn a tiara as the Princess of Wales. She wore the Lover’s Knot tiara back in November, and before that, she hadn’t worn a tiara since 2019.
Whether the straight hair is here to stay or simply a fleeting style choice, Kate Middleton’s hair inspo remains unmatched. Long live the Princess of Good Hair days.
Originally published in Glamour.com

Photo: Getty
Kate Middleton has made her first black-tie appearance as the Princess of Wales.
At a state banquet for President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, she stepped out in a white caped gown by Jenny PackhamJenny PackhamJenny Packham. Adorned with shimmering beading and a boat neckline, the dress was both a demure, yet still high-fashion, choice for an evening at Buckingham Palace.
Upon her head was the Lover’s Knot Tiara. It’s a favorite of the princess’s—she’s worn it on several occasions—yet still a deeply meaningful one. Originally, the Lover’s Knot Tiara was commissioned for Queen Mary in 1913 from the House of Garrard, and is crafted from diamonds and 19 hanging pearls set in silver and gold.
The tiara eventually belonged to Queen Elizabeth II, who lent it to her daughter-in-law, Princess Diana. Through Diana’s explosive fame, it became one of the most famous tiaras in history. (Although she may have not enjoyed it as much as the public: Allegedly, it was so heavy she got headaches after wearing it.) Indeed, a photo of her wearing the diadem with a white, pearl-encrusted Catherine Walker in 1989 is considered one of the most iconic images ever of the late Princess.
Photo: Getty
When Kate Middleton married Prince William in 2011—14 years after Diana’s passing—Queen Elizabeth then passed it on to the young royal. Middleton’s tiara wasn’t the only piece of jewelry that played tribute to the royal women before her: On her wrist was a pearl bracelet that belonged to the late Queen, who passed away in September.
She accented her gilded ensemble with two badges. The first was the badge of the Royal Victorian Order, a white enamel Maltese cross with a Tudor crown, which the then–Duchess of Cambridge received from Queen Elizabeth in 2019 “for services to the sovereign.” The second was the yellow Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II, which is bestowed on female members of the British monarchy.
Her appearance at the state dinner marks one of the most glamorous royal moments in years, after such grand gatherings were put on hold during 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

The Queen photographed by Dorothy Wilding in 1952. Photo: Royal Collection Trust
The summer opening at Buckingham Palace this year will celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a special exhibition that revisits the monarch’s portrait sittings with photographer Dorothy Wilding. Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession, will not only showcase 24 of these historic images but will also see the jewelry that she wore in the portraits going on display alongside them.
The first sitting took place just 20 days after her accession to the throne and saw her wearing many jewels that held sentimental value. Many of the pieces were gifts, including a sapphire and diamond Cartier bracelet which was given to her by her father as an 18th birthday present, as well as a diamond necklace presented to her by the government of South Africa on her 21st birthday. One also gives us an insight into Her Majesty’s own tastes: the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace, a platinum necklace set with 300 diamonds, which she chose herself from Cartier as a wedding gift from the Indian ruler. She topped off this suite of jewels with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, a wedding gift from her jewelry-collecting grandmother, Queen Mary.
The girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. Photo: Royal Collection Trust
Another photographic sitting was organized just months after this first, in order to show the Queen wearing a coronet, which was thought to be more suitable for official use on stamps and currency. The Diamond Diadem, originally commissioned for King George IV’s coronation, was chosen. It was until recent years still worn by Her Majesty for the State Opening of Parliament but is now deemed too heavy.
The Vladimir Tiara. Photo: Royal Collection Trust
Images from the Queen’s final sitting with Wilding in 1956 are particularly special, as they were commissioned by the Bank of England but never used. They show her wearing the Vladimir Tiara, sometimes dubbed her favorite diadem, and another she inherited via her grandmother. It was originally made for Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia in 1874 but was sold by her daughter to Queen Mary after the Russian Revolution and the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his family.
The Queen photographed by Dorothy Wilding in 1956. Photo: Royal Collection Trust
Wilding had previously photographed Royal Family members including a young Prince George (later the Duke of Kent); and Elizabeth’s own parents, becoming the first woman to be awarded a Royal Warrant to be the official photographer to a king and queen at their coronation. Although English herself, Wilding also photographed a number of film stars and celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic, including Noël Coward, Cecil Beaton, Vivien Leigh, Anna May Wong, Tallulah Bankhead, Nancy Astor, Gertrude Lawrence and Sir Norman Hartnell.
Originally published in Tatler.com
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Chaumet presents Tiara Dream, the Middle East’s first patrimonial exhibition uncovering the tiara as both a symbol of prestige and a precious fashion accessory – and an eternal link to love.
Joséphine Valse Impériale tiara in white gold with diamonds, Joséphine Aigrette Impériale ring in platinum with diamonds, Chaumet; dress, Manaal Al Hammadi
Dentelle de Lumière tiara in white gold with diamonds, Chaumet; dress, Azzi & Osta
Tiaras are often the popular choice for family heirlooms in ruling families, mainly for their perpetual opulence and grandeur, and since 1780, French jeweler Chaumet’s tiaras have proven to always stand against the test of decades of fleeting fashion trends, catering to the most glamorous sovereigns, rulers, and emperors. Chaumet’s original muse for much of their designs throughout history, Empress Josephine, wife of French emperor Napoleon, turned constantly to the jewelry house or her beguiling looks. A woman who was as alluring as she was powerful, the empress trusted no one but Chaumet to embody her persona seamlessly.
Torsade De Chaumet Tiara win white gold with diamonds, Chaumet; dress, Dolce & Gabbana
Firmament de Minuit tiara in white gold with diamonds, Chaumet; dress, Shatha Essa
An emblem of prestige, elegance and timelessness, the House of Chaumet now presents us with Tiara Dream, the Middle East’s first patrimonial exhibition where a collection of tiaras will be available for viewing this month in Riyadh. Under the themes of Immersion, Unity, Power of the Past, Power of Today, Fashion, Eternity, Love, and Virtuosity, each of the dreamy tiaras in the exhibition demand attention towards their wearer, exuding an aura of elegance that will never fade over time. Bringing together elements like white gold, diamonds, and Colombian emeralds, the exhibit will include pieces like the Torsade de Chaumet tiara, the Firmament De Minuit and the Josephine Valse Imperiale this March.
Tiara Dream exhibition will take place at the King Fahad National Library, Riyadh, from March 16 to 26. Free entry; open to the public by reservation. 
Firmament de Minuit tiara in white gold with diamonds, Chaumet;
Torsade de Chaumet tiara in white gold with Vivid Green emerald and diamonds, Chaumet; dress, Eman Alajlan
Read Next: Is the Chaumet Tiara the Ultimate Accessory?
Photography: Philipp JelenskaStyle: Mohammad Hazem RezqMakeup: Eilaf SabbaghHair: Mona AliProduction: Danica ZivkovicLocal producer: Mustafa AlamasiModel: Amira Al Zuhair at Elite Model ParisPhotography assistant: Sultan MutradStyle assistant: Shaimaa HabbalProduction assistant: Rama Naser