Prince Charles Gave Meghan Markle Tiara Advice on Royal Tour of Fiji: Report

Prince Charles Gave Meghan Markle Tiara Advice on Royal Tour of Fiji: Report

Meghan Markle is still learning the royal ropes — and her father-in-law Prince Charles is helping her along.

One of the Duchess of Sussex’s most memorable looks from her royal tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand with Prince Harry in October was her caped light blue gown, which she wore for a state dinner on their first day in Fiji. But the Mail on Sunday reports that the look was nearly completed with a tiara – until Charles explained that wearing the sparkling accessory can be viewed as too “extravagant” in some Commonwealth countries.

“Meghan did not understand all of this because she was new to the role and so Prince Charles told her that it would not be appropriate,” the source told the Mail on Sunday. “It was very kindly done.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Fiji | Press Association via AP Images
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in Fiji | Press Association via AP Images
Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Meghan Markle
Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Meghan Markle

Tiaras are usually reserved for state banquets with visiting dignitaries at Buckingham Palace and royal weddings. On the same night as the Fiji state dinner, Kate Middleton sparkled in jewels as she headed to a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. She wore a blue Alexander McQueen gown topped with the Lover’s Knot tiara. Sometimes referred to as the Cambridge Lover’s Knot, it is one of the best-known tiaras in the British royal family’s collection, mostly thanks to it being a favorite of the late Princess Diana. Her classic updo showed off her pearl drop earrings, which also belonged to Diana.

Kate Middleton | John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty
Kate Middleton | John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty
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Meghan, 37, hasn’t sported a tiara since her May wedding, when she walked down the aisle wearing the Queen Mary Diamond bandeau.

According to Kensington Palace, the English tiara, which features diamonds set in platinum, was made in 1932 and features a center detachable brooch made of ten diamonds dating back to 1893.

The tiara is “formed as a flexible band of eleven sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | GARETH FULLER/AFP/Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle | GARETH FULLER/AFP/Getty
Meghan Markle | JONATHAN BRADY/AFP/Getty Images
Meghan Markle | JONATHAN BRADY/AFP/Getty Images

The royal mom-to-be revealed that when she was invited by Queen Elizabeth to choose a tiara to wear on her wedding day, she took Harry along with her and together they chose the stunning heritage, art deco piece.

“Harry and I had gone to Buckingham Palace to meet with Her Majesty The Queen to select one of the options that were there, which was an incredibly surreal day as you can imagine,” Meghan shared in a personal recording for an exhibition displaying their wedding looks at Windsor Castle.

Harry said choosing the diamond and platinum bandeau tiara was an easy decision.

“[It’s] every girl’s dream to be able to try on a tiara and funnily enough, [that was] the one that suited the best, I shouldn’t have really even been there, but [it was] such an incredible loan by my grandmother, it was very sweet,” Harry said in the recording.