Queen Camilla Debuts Queen Elizabeth's Aquamarine Tiara at Palace Party

Mar. 15, 2025

Queen Camilla arrives at the reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace in London on Nov. 19, 2024.Photo:AARON CHOWN/PA/AFP via Getty

AARON CHOWN/PA/AFP via Getty

Queen Camillais shining one ofQueen Elizabeth’s tiaras, a brand new addition to her royal rotation.

On Nov. 20, the Queen, 77, joinedKing CharlesandPrince Williamfor the Diplomatic Corps Reception at Buckingham Palace. WhileKate Middletonis usually a mainstay at such diplomatic events, she hasn’t fully resumed royal duties since announcing on Sept. 9 that she has completedchemotherapy treatmentfor cancer.

According toThe Court Jeweller, Queen Elizabeth wore it just once in public, slipping it on for dinner during a royal tour of Canada in 1970. Its provenance is a bit of a mystery, and the sparkler has been rarely seen since.

(Left) Queen Camilla at the Diplomatic Corps reception on Nov. 19, 2024; (Right) Queen Elizabeth at Yellowknife City Hall during a royal tour of Canada in July 1970.AARON CHOWN/PA/AFP via Getty; David Cairns/Express/Getty

AARON CHOWN/PA/AFP via Getty; David Cairns/Express/Getty

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburghisknown to reachfor aquamarines, and previously wore the Aquamarine Ribbon Tiara to two international royal wedding celebrations.Prince Edward’s wife glittered in the headpiece for a pre-wedding dinner before Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg in 2012 and wore it again for the royal wedding ofPrincess Madeleineof Sweden in 2013.

King Charles and Queen Camilla at the Diplomatic Corps reception on Nov. 19, 2024.AARON CHOWN/PA/AFP via Getty

While Princess Kate seems to favordemure headtoppers, Queen Camilla doesn’t shy from going big and bold. She has worn the Greville Tiara, distinct for its honeycomb design and large size, many times since marrying King Charles in 2005, and had afew tiara debutsfrom the late Queen Elizabeth’s collection since her husband’s accession in September 2022.

(Left) Queen Camilla at the state banquet celebrating the state visit from South Korea on Nov. 21, 2023; (Right) Kate Middleton at the state banquet celebrating the state visit from South Korea on Nov. 21, 2023.YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty; Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty

YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty; Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty

The delicate piece originally belonged toQueen Elizabeth, the Queen Motherand had not been seen for nearly a century before Kate wore it.

King Charles was known to be exceptionally close with his grandmother, who died in 2002 at age 101, and some interpreted Princess Kate’s wearing it as a nod to her close bond with Charles.

Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

“It has been said that Kate has looked for inspiration to the Queen Mother in terms of how she conducted herself and so to have that tiara symbolizing that, in such a public moment, I think it is really significant,” she added.

2024 looked different for both King Charles, 76, and Princess Kate, as both royals announced earlier this year that they were undergoing treatment for cancer. Buckingham Palace shared in February that the King wasdiagnosed with cancerand began treatment, while the Princess of Wales shared in March that she wasundergoing treatment for cancer.

The King’s treatment is thought to be ongoing, and Princess Kate shared in September that she completed chemotherapy.

Prince William at the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on Nov. 19, 2024.Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty

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In aremarkably personal interviewas his 2024Earthshot Prize Awardsdrew to a close in South Africa earlier this month, Prince William, 42, called 2024 “the hardest year in my life.”

“It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life,” the heir to the throne said in part. “But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”

source: people.com