Kate Middleton is back in the spotlight. And not just for her appearance at a state banquet, but also for the historic piece she chose for the evening. The Princess of Wales made her first public appearance wearing Queen Victoria’s iconic tiara, which was last seen in public 20 years ago.
Wearing the iconic crown, Princess Kate is pictured with Prince William in a new official portrait of the royal couple, taken before a banquet at Windsor Castle in honor of the visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender.
For the royal reception, Kate chose a blue Jenny Packham maxi dress with shimmering sequins and a sheer cape. She completed the look with her favorite Gianvito Rossi heels and earrings from Elizabeth II’s collection.
But the main decoration of the evening was the Oriental Circlet Tiara – Queen Victoria’s “Oriental Diadem”. This tiara is considered one of the most iconic in the history of the monarchy and one of the most massive ever worn by women of the British court.
The decoration was created in 1853 by jewelers Garrard based on a sketch by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. Initially, the decoration included opals and about 2,600 diamonds. Still, later Queen Alexandra replaced the opals with rubies, as they were considered “unlucky” stones.
This crown was rarely worn: it was last seen on the late Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Malta in 2005.