What Tiara Will Kate Middleton Wear to King Charles's Coronation?

Update, May 1, 2023: With less than a week until King Charles's coronation, The Times is reporting that Kate Middleton will actually forgo a tiara altogether, and opt for a floral headpiece instead. It is also believed that other senior members of the royal family will ditch a tiara as well. The news comes after it was revealed that guests attending the coronation were asked to dress down to match the atmosphere of the scaled-back ceremony. If the Princess of Wales should wear a floral topper, the decision would be fully in keeping with King Charles’s love for nature.

The countdown for King Charles's coronation is on. The historic event is slated to take place on Saturday, May 6, at Westminster Abbey. As final preparations are put into place, there is some speculation beginning to brew about which tiara Kate Middleton will don on that day.

We already know what Queen Consort Camilla will be wearing—Buckingham Palace announced she chose Queen Mary's Crown over the Queen Mother's highly-controversial Koh-i-Noor Coronation Crown—but it's still unclear what the Princess of Wales will top her head with (if anything at all!).

Since marrying into the royal family, Kate has rotated between three historic headpieces 13 times. The first time she ever wore one was at her 2011 nuptials to Prince William, when she opted for the Cartier Halo Tiara. The royal sparkler dates back to 1936 when it was crafted by the French luxury house. It initially belonged to Elizabeth, the Duchess of York (the then-future Queen Mother), and was given to the future Queen Elizabeth II on her 18th birthday.

In 2013, she made an appearance in the Lotus Flower Tiara (sometimes referred to as the Papyrus Tiara), which she has gone on to wear two more times (most recently this past December). The ornate headpiece features both diamonds and pearls and was a favorite of Princess Margaret's. It was also worn by the Queen Mother in the years before her husband took the throne.

Kate has worn the Lover's Knot Tiara (sometimes referred to as the Cambridge Lover), one of Princess Diana's favorite pieces, on a number of occasions, too. Also rich in history, this topper was commissioned for Queen Mary in either 1913 or 1914 by House of Garrard from pearls and diamonds already owned by her family.

While Kate's exact tiara choice is still up in the air, there's a good chance we'll also see her in a coronet, which is a small crown often worn at a coronation. During King George VI's 1936 coronation, the then-titled Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were both photographed wearing the smaller headpieces. King Charles also wore a coronet for his mother's 1953 coronation.

As for the tiaras? The Lotus Flower Tiara or Lover's Knot Tiara that Kate often wears might make an appearance again, or perhaps the Cartier Halo Tiara, which Princess Margaret wore to her sister's coronation. Other top contenders? If Kate plans to go down the Queen Elizabeth tribute route—which we fully expect in some capacity—we might get to see her in one of the late monarch's favorite headpieces, such as the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara or The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara.

For now, we'll just have to wait and see what Kate decides to pick for Charles's big day. Stick with T&C as more details come in and stay tuned.

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