Queen Camilla Sparkles in a Legendary 132-Year-Old Diamond Tiara Formerly Worn by Queen Elizabeth

During a state banquet at Windsor Castle on December 3, Queen Camilla paid homage to the late Queen Elizabeth by donning one of her most treasured tiaras. The royal captivated guests wearing the iconic Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, a piece that originally belonged to Queen Mary and has connections to the famous Lovers Knot Tiara, loved by Princess Diana and Kate Middleton.

Queen Camillas dazzling appearance marked a tribute to two former monarchs and their legendary jewelry collections. She attended the event alongside senior royals, including Kate Middleton, Prince William, and King Charles, as the German president and first lady were welcomed to the U.K.

In keeping with the formal nature of the evening, Camilla elevated her ensemble with the historic 132-year-old diamond tiara, cherished by both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary. She complemented the headpiece with a turquoise Fiona Clare gown adorned with lace, highlighted by a striking diamond and emerald necklace. Her look was further accentuated by drop diamond earrings and a sparkling brooch placed near her red Order of Germany sash.

The centerpiece, however, was undoubtedly the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara. Crafted in silver and gold, the diadem features intricate diamond-encrusted festoon and fleur-de-lis designs. While Queen Camilla had worn this distinguished Garrard creation previously in 2023, it remains most famously associated with Queen Elizabeth. The late queen first received it in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, as a wedding gift to accompany her marriage to Prince Philip. Known affectionately as Grannys tiara, it adorned Queen Elizabeth in her early official portraits, during her final foreign state visit in 2015, and at significant national events such as the 70th D-Day anniversary in 2014.

This heirloom also carries sentimental links to Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. Originally featuring pearls at its peak, Queen Mary repurposed them to craft the famed Lovers Knot Tiara, now valued at $135 million, making the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara a historically rich and deeply personal royal treasure.

Author: Jackson Miller