The British Family Royal Tiaras

Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara

First up is Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which was lent to the young Elizabeth by her grandmother, Queen Mary of Teck, on her wedding day. Before that, Queen Mary had it made from a diamond necklace given to her on her wedding day by Queen Victoria.

Famously, this tiara snapped on Elizabeth and Philip’s big day (pictured). Thankfully, royal perks meant it was mended by a jeweler just in time for the ceremony. The sparkling tiara features 47 bars of diamonds.

The Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara

One of the great things about being Britain’s longest-living and longest-reigning monarch is that you get plenty of opportunities to wear your tiaras. Here’s Queen Elizabeth wearing the Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara throughout her reign.

This tiara was commissioned by the Queen to match a diamond and aquamarine jewelry set given to her by Brazil for her 1953 coronation. After all, what’s the use in aquamarine earrings and a necklace without a tiara to top the whole look off?

The Cubitt-Shand Tiara

Up next is the Cubitt-Shand Tiara, which belongs to the family of Camilla Parker Bowles. Camilla Parker Bowles has been married to Prince Charles since 2005, and also has an aristocratic background.

This tiara belonged to Camilla Parker Bowles’ grandmother, Sonia Cubitt, and then to her mother, Rosalind Shand. The royal wore the tiara for her first wedding, to Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973. In 2006, Camilla and Andrew’s daughter, Laura Lopes, wore the floral Cubitt-Shand tiara on her wedding day.

The Lover’s Knot Tiara

The Lover’s Knot tiara is one of the more well-known pieces amongst the British royal jewels. Here, Princess Diana wears it in 1989, and Kate Middleton in 2018. The tiara features 19 baroque pearls and rose-cut diamonds, set in a series of heart-shaped knots.

The Lover’s Knot tiara was commissioned by Queen Mary, and later given by Queen Elizabeth to Princess Diana as a wedding present. After the couple’s official split in 1996, Diana returned the tiara to the Queen.

The State Diadem

This stately-looking headpiece is known as the State Diadem, and has been in the British royal family since 1821. The diadem was made for King George IV’s coronation, and later passed to Queen Adelaide.

Since then, it’s been tradition for female monarchs to wear the State Diadem. The Queen wore it for her coronation, and on her way to and from every State Opening of Parliament since. This ornate tiara has over 1000 diamonds, 170 pearls, and a four-carat yellow diamond at the center.