What to Know
Occasions that call for a tiara happen for the royals far less often than many of us would imagine, but Kate Middleton really pulled out all the stops for her latest formal event. At a state banquet hosted at Windsor Castle on Wednesday night, Kate wore the largest tiara she’s ever donned since joining the royal family in 2011.
Not only did the tiara make a major statement, but it’s also proven to be controversial among royal watchers. Some people are completely in love with all that sparkle, and some… well, not so much.
Kate wore Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara.
The royals gathered for a state banquet honoring visitor and German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and events like these always require tiaras (and all associated regalia, for both royal men and women). This time around, Kate chose to wear Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara, and not only was it the first time she’s worn it, but it’s also the biggest tiara we’ve ever seen her wear.
As People reported, she paired the tiara with a glittering dress by one of her favorite designers, Jenny Packham, along with the Royal Family Order and the Royal Victorian Order sash and star. In her ears were a pair of earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth.
The tiara held some significance for this particular event.
Kate is known for wearing clothing and accessories that are significant to the country she’s visiting (or the country of the world leader she’s welcoming to the UK), and it seems like that’s what influenced her to choose this tiara for the evening.
According to Garrard, the tiara was originally created for Queen Victoria and given to her as a gift by her husband, Prince Albert, who is from Germany. It features a whopping 2,600 diamonds and is also adorned with rubies. The last person to wear the tiara was Queen Elizabeth in 2005, and even then, she only wore it one time during her reign, so this is the first time the crown has been worn publicly in 20 years.
Royal watchers have mixed feelings about the tiara.
Royal watchers are sharing their feelings about Kate’s sparkling accessory on a royal gossip subreddit, and while some people really love the look, others are less than impressed.
“The tiara looks disproportionate on her head but the dress is nice,” one person observed. “The wig still looks stiff and William looks like he needs a laxative.”
Others are more bothered by all the symbolism that tiaras and sashes like these carry. “Yes, this exactly. It’s about to be 2026. Why the expensive cosplay? Learn a trade and contribute,” one person wrote.
The tiara is big (and a bit flashy), there’s no denying that. But there’s just one question no one seems to be answering: How much does it weigh? With something that heavy on her head, there’s a very good chance Kate ended her evening with a headache! Hopefully, it was worth it.
