The Duchess of Cambridge Wears Princess Diana’s Favorite Tiara

While we love the Duchess of Cambridge for her down-to-earth every-mom style, we also love when she pulls out all the stops in a glamorous gown and tiara. And while attending the Queen’s Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, she wore the famous Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara. If the jewel-encrusted headpiece looks familiar, it’s for several reasons.

The tiara, which features 19 diamond arches, each with a dangling pearl, was created by Garrard for Queen Mary in 1914. Princess Diana, Kate Middleton’s mother-in-law, was photographed on several occasions wearing the crown, said to be her favorite piece in the British royal family’s collection. It currently belongs to Queen Elizabeth II. The tiara is supposedly also Kate’s favorite now, and this is the second time she has worn it. It is also a favorite of the queen, who has worn it at many evening events.

It is not the only piece of jewelry that connects the duchess to her late mother-in-law. Prince William famously gave Kate the famous diamond-and-sapphire engagement ring Diana was given by his father.

The Duchess of Cambridge also glowed in a red Jenny Packham gown that also might look familiar. The gorgeous “floor-length gown has a round neck, cap sleeves, sequined fitted bodice, and full skirt,” according to the product’s description.

In October 2015, more than a year ago, the brunette royal rocked the same red, bespoke gown by the British designer at her first state banquet at Buckingham Palace. (Isn’t it refreshing to know that even the rich and famous recycle their looks sometimes?) The color red was especially appropriate at that event, as it was held in honor of visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, and red is the color of the Chinese flag. The hue is significant in a number of other ways in the country’s culture; brides traditionally wear red gowns in China too.

It’s safe to say Packham is one of the duchess’s favorite designers. At her arrival for the royal couple’s 2016 tour of Canada, she wore a blue Packham dress complemented by a maple-leaf brooch, a nod to one of the country’s symbols. In 2011 and then again in 2016, Kate wore a gorgeous pearlescent rose sequined gown by Packham at charity events.

It doesn’t end there. The duchess was photographed in 2015 wearing a yellow-and-white printed dress by the British designer when she was leaving the hospital with newborn Princess Charlotte. In 2011 she was clad in a floral Packham frock made of hand-painted silk for an appearance in Santa Barbara, Calif. And perhaps of the most chic Packham dresses worn by Kate was a metallic number from the 2013 Tusk Conservation awards.

There are really too many to list here, proving that when the duchess finds a designer she loves, she sticks to that designer. If you want to emulate Kate’s style, see Packham’s designs here. We can’t help you with the heirloom tiara, unfortunately.

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