Princess Di broke tradition by wearing a tiara from her own aristocratic family.
The tiara worn by the late Princess Diana on her wedding day will be displayed in London as part of an aristocratic tiara exhibit.
Titled The Sotheby’s Aristocratic Jewels exhibition celebrates Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee—making her 70th year on the British throne.
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According to a tradition dating back to the 19th century, brides would wear headpieces from their husband’s family to signify their transition from daughter to wife. The protocol was followed when the Princess’ two sons got married.
Breaking tradition
At the wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William, The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Cartier Halo tiara, a piece from the Royal Family’s vault since 1936, when King George VI gifted it to Queen Mary.
On the other hand, when Meghan Markle tied the knot with Prince Harry, she opted for Queen Mary’s bandeau tiara, which was loaned from Queen Elizabeth.
However, given that Diana was from an aristocratic family, she broke the norm and wore the Spencer tiara at her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles. Named the Spencer Tiara, it was created in 1930 by Garrard & Co., assembled with several old Spencer diamond jewels.
In 2018, Diana’s niece Celia McCorquodale (the daughter of her older sister, Lady Sarah McCorquodale), was the most recent wearer of the Spencer family heirloom at her nuptial with George Woodhouse.
The Sotheby’s Aristocratic Jewels exhibition will run from 28 May to 15 June and features 45 other historical tiaras—including pieces worn by Queen Victoria and Empress Joséphine Bonaparte.
If visitors get tempted to own opulent tiaras of their own, the auction house will display tiaras for purchase, made by the new generation of British designers.
Banner photo from @sothebys on Instagram.
