Kate Middleton Creates Royal History by Donning Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara

Over the course of her 14 years as a working member of the British royal family, Kate Middleton has worn a very limited number of tiarasonly five in total. On December 3, however, she expanded that list by debuting an especially historic piece: Queen Victorias Oriental Circlet Tiara, first created in 1853.

By choosing this particular headpiece for the German state banquet, the Princess of Wales achieved a notable milestone. Until that moment, the tiara had only ever been worn by queens or queens consort. Kate became the first princess to appear in public wearing the Oriental Circlet Tiara, setting her apart in royal history.

Despite her extensive time in royal life, tiaras have remained a relatively rare accessory for Kate. The piece she wears most frequently is the Queen Mary Lovers Knot Tiara, famously associated with Princess Diana. Other tiaras that have appeared on her include the Cartier Halo Tiara, the Strathmore Rose Tiara, and the Lotus Flower Tiaraeach worn on just one occasion.

The Oriental Circlet Tiara had not been seen in public since 2005, when it was last worn by Queen Elizabeth II. It is also the largest tiara Kate has ever chosen to wear. Historical records note that Queen Victoria expressed in her will that the tiara should be reserved for queens and future queens, making Kates appearance in it especially meaningful as a future queen herself.

The tiara was originally commissioned by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria and designed by the luxury jeweller Garrard. It was first crafted using approximately 2,600 diamonds and featured opals, a gemstone favored by Albert. In 1902, the piece was returned to Garrard at the request of Queen Alexandra, who replaced the opals with rubies.

Although Queen Mary was never photographed wearing the tiara, it became a personal favorite of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. After her daughter ascended the throne in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II allowed the Queen Mother to continue wearing it until her death in 2002. The tiara then made a single public appearance in 2005 during Queen Elizabeth IIs visit to Malta and was not seen againuntil now.

Experts from Garrard have described the Oriental Circlet as a remarkable example of both artistic vision and technical mastery. Its transformation over time reflects the changing preferences of the royals who inherited it, while preserving the precision and craftsmanship for which Garrard is known.

While Kates decision to include the historic tiara in her rotation came as a surprise to many, representatives from Garrard welcomed the moment. They noted that a new generation is rediscovering and appreciating these timeless creations, giving them fresh relevance in modern royal life.

Author: Logan Reeves