Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore Princess Diana’s famous Lover’s Knot tiara on Tuesday as she joined Prince William at a state banquet for Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik at Windsor Castle.
The Princess of Wales, 44, wore the diamond-and-pearl headpiece with a flowing yellow gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab as King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted the visiting sultan during his state visit to the United Kingdom.
Kate completed the look with King Charles’s Royal Family Order badge and the Royal Victorian Order sash and star.
Royal commentator Amanda Matta described the tiara as Kate’s “old faithful,” saying it had become a signature piece of her royal wardrobe.
“It has truly become her signature piece of royal jewelry, and it speaks to her constancy as a part of the modern monarchy.”
She added that pairing the familiar tiara with a new gown allowed Kate to maintain an elegant look without overshadowing the visiting sultan or the evening’s hosts.
The Princess of Wales has worn the Lover’s Knot tiara several times since 2015. Since marrying William in 2011, she has worn five different royal tiaras, with the Lover’s Knot appearing to be her favourite.
Matta said the headpiece suited Kate because of its romantic associations with the royal couple. “It’s a very romantic piece, tying in nicely with the sentimentality of William and Kate’s royal love story.”
The tiara was made for Queen Mary in 1913 by jeweller Garrard, using pearls and diamonds already owned by the royal family. It was modelled on a tiara that belonged to Mary’s grandmother, Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge.
Queen Mary reportedly gave up another tiara, the Ladies of England tiara, to create the piece. She later left the Lover’s Knot to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, after her death in 1953.
In 1981, Queen Elizabeth loaned the tiara to Diana following her marriage to then-Prince Charles. The late princess wore it on numerous occasions, making it one of her most recognisable pieces of royal jewellery.
After Diana’s divorce in 1996, the tiara returned to Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Camilla chose another historic royal headpiece for Tuesday’s banquet: the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, one of the late queen’s favourites. Camilla first wore it in 2023.
The state banquet took place in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle while Buckingham Palace undergoes renovations. The event formed part of the sultan’s official visit, which aims to strengthen diplomatic ties between the UK and Oman.
According to People magazine, the dinner was arranged for 160 guests, with a table measuring 50 metres. Traditional Arabic coffee flavoured with cardamom and rose water was prepared for the occasion, alongside Earl Grey and mint tea.
Kate has gradually resumed public duties since announcing in September 2024 that she had completed chemotherapy. In January 2025, she announced that her cancer was in remission.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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