Why Princess Kate and Meghan Markle didn’t wear Princess Diana’s wedding tiara

Royal weddings are events that will go down in sartorial history, especially the stunning looks of the late Princess Diana, Princess Kate, and Meghan Markle.

The late Princess of Wales, who tragically passed away in 1997, was a radiant beauty on her wedding day in 1981 to King Charles. She wore a bespoke frothy gown made by David Emanuel and his now ex-wife Elizabeth.

King Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding portrait

David Emanuel and his ex-wife Elizabeth made Princess Diana’s 1981 wedding dress

But the rule-breaking bride moved away from tradition when she opted to wear a tiara from her family’s personal collection as opposed to one gifted to her by the royal family.

Diana’s wedding tiara

The Spencer Tiara was styled into Diana’s voluminous 80s locks. The stunning piece has been in her family for decades and was used to secure her 14-metre-long veil.

The Prince and Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day, 29th July 1981.

Princess Diana wore the Spencer tiara

Her tiara was worn by her mother Frances and sisters Sarah and Jane on their own wedding days and featured a central heart-shaped motif set with diamonds flanked by scrolls and star and trumpet-shaped flowers.

The piece was even worn by Diana’s grandmother when she was a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother. Most recently, the tiara was added to the bridal look of Diana’s niece Lady Celia McCorquodale when she married George Woodhouse in 2018.