Kate Middleton’s iconic tiara moment echoes Princess Diana’s iconic fashion legacy; here's how

When we discuss royal fashion, the conversation somehow starts and ends with the British royal family, who possess a vault filled with historic jewels and moments. But when a piece of jewellery that belonged to the late Princess Diana is brought out, the world still stops and stares. With Diana gone, her daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, Catherine (aka Kate Middleton), is often seen wearing her jewellery with pride, and this was just another such time.At the state banquet at Windsor Castle, the royal family gathered to honour Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The spotlight shifted to Kate Middleton, not for her ensemble but because she wore one of Princess Diana’s favourite tiaras. She attended this event alongside Prince William, Princess Anne, King Charles, and Camilla Parker Bowles. For the event, Kate wore a flared, deep green Andrew Gn gown, whose colour likely nodded to the Nigerian state flag. She added a pin featuring King Charles’ Royal Family Order and wore the Royal Victorian Order sash with a star. She also wore the late Queen Mother’s sparkling sapphire and diamond earrings and carried a contrasting elegant white clutch. But none could match the impact of Princess Diana’s stunning tiara, reportedly one of her favourites. It is the Lover's Knot Tiara, initially created for Queen Mary in 1914 by the House of Garrard. It was crafted with Queen Mary's own jewels and was later inherited by the late Queen Elizabeth II, who gifted it to Diana when she became the Princess of Wales. The tiara was particularly heavy and caused discomfort to the late princess because of its exceptional quality of diamonds and pearls. The stunning headpiece is entirely made of diamonds and features a sleek collection of 18 hanging pearls set in platinum and gold. However, it was not a permanent possession for Diana, as the tiara was returned to the royal vault after her divorce from Charles. Well, it is now owned and worn by Kate as per the succession; she first wore it back in 2015 during a diplomatic reception. This stunning piece is valued at around $1 million in today’s market.