Tiara Wars: How Meghan Markle's 'Spencer Sparkle' Dreams Were Crushed and Why Kate Middleton Won't Ever Wear Princess Diana's Iconic Diadem
Diana, Princess of Wales famously wore the Spencer family tiara, but tensions are reportedly on the rise as to whether Princess Kate or Meghan Markle will inherit the diadem.
Diana, Princess of Wales loved wearing the ornate Spencer family tiara to state occasions. Fast-forward to today and her family's sparkling heirloom has not been worn by the current Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, or Diana's other daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle.
However, this is reportedly not without trying on Meghan's part.
In his 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry revealed that he was touched by his mother's side of the family who suggested Meghan wear the famous diadem. The late Queen Elizabeth II was also insistent the bride-to-be pick from a selection of priceless headpieces from the private royal collection.
Harry wrote, "Shortly before the wedding, however, Granny reached out. She offered us access to her collection of tiaras. She even invited us to Buckingham Palace to try them on. Do come over, I remember her saying. Extraordinary morning. We walked into Granny's private dressing room, right next to her bedroom, a space I'd never been in."
"One was all emeralds. One was aquamarines. Each was more dazzlingly stunning than the last," he said of the immaculate stones on display.
The Spencer accessory was made in 1937 for Cynthia Spencer and was intended to always be worn by the current Earl Spencer's wife, styled as Countess Spencer. However, an exception was made in 1981 when John, 8th Earl Spencer suggested his youngest daughter, Lady Diana, take temporary possession of the diadem due to her status as the Princess of Wales.
Diana stopped wearing the tiara in 1992 when her father died and her younger brother, Charles, 9th Earl Spencer inherited the accessory, which is estimated to be worth roughly $500 million dollars.
Although many have speculated on if Kate or Meghan would one day show up to an event in the stunning heirloom, the piece is the property of Earl Spencer, and will only be passed down to each aristocrat's male heir.
"Some of Charles' wives have worn it, but these are private events mostly away from the media as we see with the monarchy," a royal insider shared. "I think it was a one-off and will therefore always be associated with Diana, it's most famous holder."
The source further observed that "any decision on who gets to wear it solely belongs to Earl Spencer."
The influential auction house Sotheby's wrote, "Designed in the garland style as a central heart flanked by continuous running scrolls, interspersed with star and trumpet-shaped flowers. Set throughout with circular and rose-cut, cushion and pear-shaped diamonds, mounted in gold."
To date, the Duchess of Sussex has appeared in a tiara only once during her wedding to Harry.
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Marie Claire reported on the Spencer family tiara.
