Why Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle Have Never Worn Princess Diana’s Wedding Tiara

Neither Kate Middleton nor Meghan Markle has worn the Spencer Tiara, the sparkling headpiece that their late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, donned when she married the future King Charles…and it’s unlikely that Prince William and Prince Harry’s wives ever will.

Both the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex made their royal tiara debuts on their wedding days. Princess Kate, 42, borrowed the Cartier Halo Tiara from Queen Elizabeth for her 2011 wedding to Prince William at Westminster Abbey. Meanwhile, Meghan, 43, was lent the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara from the royal family’s collection for her 2018 walk down the aisle at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Meghan’s only tiara wear came at her wedding, but Kate has gone on to sport the royal headpieces for occasions like state banquets, palace receptions and even other royal weddings. In total, she’s donned four different tiaras, with the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara becoming her go-to (the Princess of Wales has worn the accessory on 11 different occasions dating back to 2015).

While the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara was also a favorite of Princess Diana’s during her marriage to Charles, neither of the late royal’s daughters-in-law has ever worn what might be her most well-known head topper: the Spencer Tiara. Diana sported the family heirloom at her 1981 wedding to the future monarch and also used it at other white-tie events in the following years.

The Spencer Tiara has been in the Spencer family for nearly a century, according to The Court Jeweller, and was also worn by both of Diana’s sisters, Jane and Sarah, at their weddings. The headpiece most recently resurfaced on Celia McCorquodale, Princess Diana’s niece, at her 2018 wedding.

However, it’s unlikely that the Spencer Tiara was considered for Kate or Meghan’s bridal looks.

Lauren Kiehna of The Court Jeweller previously told Marie Claire that the Spencer Tiara was not an option for either Kate and Meghan on their wedding days because “it was never a royal tiara.” Instead, both Prince William and Prince Harry’s wives borrowed headpieces from Queen Elizabeth’s collection.

The Spencer Tiara remains in the Spencer family. Kiehna said, “While she was Princess of Wales, Diana often borrowed the tiara from her father and her brother [Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer], who still owns it now. Eventually, it will be passed along with the rest of the family estate to Earl Spencer’s son, Viscount Althorp.”

Although the 9th Earl Spencer technically could loan the headpiece to Princess Kate or Meghan, it’s unlikely.

While chances of the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex sporting the Spencer Tiara are slim, Kate and Meghan continue to sartorially honor their late mother-in-law through other jewels from Diana’s collection. In addition to earrings, bracelets and necklaces, Prince William and Prince Harry have both gifted their wives with sentimental rings that previously belonged to their mother.

The Prince of Wales, 42, proposed to Kate in 2010 with Diana’s famous diamond and sapphire engagement ring. In their engagement interview, William said, “It’s my mother’s engagement ring. So, I thought it was quite nice because obviously, she’s not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all — this was my way of keeping her sort of close to it all.”

During an April 2023 outing in Wales, Princess Kate said she was “honored” to wear the ring — and even revealed that it was the “same size” as when Diana had it!

Princess Diana only had one engagement ring, but Prince Harry, 39, inherited an aquamarine ring that was a gift for his mother to wear in place of her engagement ring following her 1996 divorce from Prince Charles. Diana was given the square-cut jewel by her friend Lucia Flecha de Lima, the wife of the former ambassador of Brazil to the U.K., veteran royals journalist Richard Kay previously said in the Daily Mail.

Meghan first wore the aquamarine ring in public on her wedding day as she and Prince Harry headed to their evening reception, and it’s popped up on Meghan’s finger during royal tours and galas.

Prince Harry also designed Meghan’s three-diamond engagement ring to include two gems from his mother’s personal collection.