Kate Middleton Revives Princess Diana's Beloved Tiara for State Banquet
The Princess of Wales wore Queen Mary's Lover's Knot tiara, a piece previously favored by Princess Diana, for a state banquet at Windsor Castle.
Kate Middleton opted for a significant piece of royal jewelry for a recent state banquet: Queen Mary's Lover's Knot tiara. The Princess of Wales wore the dazzling headpiece alongside Prince William on October 20, 2026, as they hosted Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman for a state visit at Windsor Castle.
The tiara, which has become a signature accessory for Middleton since 2015, has a long history within the royal family. It was originally created for Queen Mary in 1913 by House of Garrard, using pearls and diamonds from her family's collection. Queen Mary had it made in the style of a tiara owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge. The original piece is believed to be in a private collection.
When Queen Mary died in 1953, the Lover's Knot tiara was passed to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II. In 1981, Queen Elizabeth II loaned the tiara to Princess Diana, who wore it on several occasions. The Lover's Knot was one of only two tiaras Diana was known to wear publicly, the other being the Spencer tiara, which belonged to her father and is now owned by her brother, Charles Spencer. Following Diana's divorce in 1996, the tiara was returned to Queen Elizabeth II.
Middleton paired the historic tiara with a sunshine-yellow gown by Elie Saab, the Royal Family Order badge of King Charles, and the sash and star of the Royal Victorian Order. Royal commentator Amanda Matta described the tiara as Middleton's "old faithful," noting its significance as a symbol of her constancy within the modern monarchy. Matta also suggested that the romantic nature of the piece aligns with the public's perception of Prince William and Kate's own royal love story.
Since her marriage to Prince William in 2011, Middleton has worn five different royal tiaras, with the Lover's Knot appearing to be her most frequent choice. This deliberate selection of a familiar piece, paired with a new gown, is seen as a way to ensure the visiting Sultan and the primary hosts, King Charles and Queen Camilla, remain the focus of the evening.
Queen Camilla, also present at the banquet, wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth II. State visits, such as the one hosted for the Sultan of Oman, serve to strengthen diplomatic ties between nations. The banquet was held in St. George's Hall at Windsor Castle due to ongoing renovations at Buckingham Palace.