Princess Diana’s Favorite Tiara and Those Garters: ‘Magnificent 6’ Proudly Display Historical Jewels from Royal Vault
In one historic photograph, the royal family exuded elegance at the usually private annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace Thursday night in London.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were joined by Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Princess Kate dazzled with their finest gowns, tiaras and sashes.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
1. The duchess looked resplendent while wearing the late Queen Mother’s Greville tiara, which was name after a socialite who gifted it to her in 1921. The height of the tiara was increased in 1953 by adding more diamonds. After the Queen Mother passed away in 2002, the tiara went back to the Queen who frequently loans it out to Camilla.
2. On Camilla’s chest is the Royal Family order, which features a miniature portrait of the Queen encrusted with diamonds. It is given only to senior females of the royal family. The duchess also wore the riband, badge and star of the Royal Victorian Order, a personal gift of the Queen on her sash.
3. Camilla wore a beaded white Bruce Oldfield dress, paired perfectly with a pearl choker and diamond earrings, a favorite set of hers according to The Court Jeweller.
Prince Charles
4. The heir to the throne looked dashing in his blue Order of the Garter garter sash.
5. Charles had several medals in full display, including the Queen’s Service Order, the Queen’s Coronation Medal and the Canadian Forces Decoration.
6. Along with his father, Philip, and son, William, Charles wore knee breaches with the actual garter of the Order of the Garter, which is rarely worn by members of the royal family.
7. On the prince’s left hand side is the insignia of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, specifically the Queen’s Garter Star, which was a gift to her from her father, King George VI, in 1947. It was a wedding gift to the King from the Royal Navy before that. Charles also wore the Most Honorable Order of the Bath.
The Queen
8 & 9. The monarch opted to wear the Belgian Sapphire Tiara, according to The Court Jeweller, with the George VI Sapphire Suite that was gifted to her by her father as a wedding present in 1947.
10. She wore the Royal Family Orders that include portraits of herself and her father, King George VI, as well as the Garter Star, which was pinned to her dress.
11. The Queen’s dress was by Angela Kelly LVO.
Prince Philip
12. Philip is a Knight of the Order of the Garter and wore the star on his left breast, along with his son and grandson.
13. The prince’s left breast also weighed heavily with the weight of his 17 medals which range from service medals from his time serving in World War II to Jubilee and Coronation medals.
Prince William
14. The second in line to the throne wore just two medals: the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
15. On his left breast, he joined his father and grandfather in wearing the Order of the Garter.
16. He completed his look with the garter of the Order of the Garter on his breaches.
Princess Kate
17. Kate chose to wear the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara (often also called the Cambridge Lovers’ Knot tiara) along with a set of chandelier diamond earrings borrowed from the Queen. The tiara, which belong to the Queen, has become a favorite of Kate’s as she has worn it on several occasions. It’s clearly a royal favorite as it was also the top pick for Princess Diana when she was married to Charles.
18. The royal mom opted for the same regal red Jenny Packham dress she wore to her first official state banquet last year. She completed the look with the Queen’s very own wedding bracelet — a platinum and diamond piece designed by Prince Philip and given to Elizabeth on their wedding day in 1947.
