A Sneak Peek Inside the Royal Vault: 27+ Exquisite Tiaras and Their Fascinating History

Passed down from generation to generation, the stunning collection of royal tiaras is certainly something to admire. From diamonds to emeralds, each number played a significant role in the monarchy of the United Kingdom.

The Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara

Passed down from Queen Mary of Teck to her granddaughter, Elizabeth, this tiara was gifted to the royal family by a group known as "The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland." It was given to Mary upon her marriage to the Duke of York.

The tiara has a classic design of festoons and scrolls, inlaid with two different cuts of diamonds. It was redesigned in the 90s so it could be worn in different styles, such as a necklace, a coronet, and a headband. One of Elizabeth’s favorite pieces, it has been one of the most worn and recognizable pieces in her wardrobe.

Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara

Another piece made for Queen Mary of Teck, the Cambridge Lover’s Knot has been worn by many royal women. This elaborate tiara has graced the heads of everyone from Queen Mary to Princess Diana, to the late Queen Elizabeth II herself. It currently resides with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Princess Diana, one of the most iconic royal family members of the modern age, was quite a fan of the Lover’s Knot. She wore it frequently during her marriage to Prince Charles, and after her passing, it was not worn until 2015 when the Duchess of Sussex wore it to Buckingham Palace. It now sits in Catherine's closet.

The Lotus Flower Tiara

Made in 1923, the Lotus Flower was made for the Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. It was originally a necklace gifted to her by King George VI for their wedding and reconstructed soon after. Speaking of weddings, it was even worn by Serena Stanhope on the day of her marriage to Lord Linley in 1993.

This unique piece is dominated by gorgeous lotus flower designs and was usually worn either directly on top of the head, or low on the forehead. Both of the Queen Mothers' daughters donned the tiara throughout their lives, though it is now most often worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

The York Diamond Tiara

This tiara had a particularly unique origin story. It was made especially for the wedding of royal bride-to-be Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew, Duke of York in 1986. The tiara sat beneath a crown of flowers, revealed when it was lifted off of her on her Wedding day.

It first debuted during their post-wedding ceremony, which was televised to the public, though it had been present on Ferguson’s head throughout the event. The purpose of placing the tiara beneath the flower crown was to act as a symbol of her move from commoner to royalty.

The Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara

This beautiful piece was made up of 15 interlinked diamond circles. Suitable for any look, the dangling pearls within each circle can be swapped out for diamonds or emeralds. It was initially made for the Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia but was inherited by Queen Elizabeth II upon Queen Mary's passing.

The crown is still worn to this very day, and it certainly stands out. However, the tiara has been through its fair share of changes over the years. The biggest change occurred when luxury jeweler Garrard reconstructed the tiara to hold Queen Mary’s Cambridge emerald.

The Burmese Ruby Tiara

This Burmese ruby-encrusted tiara was made especially for and designed by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. She asked Garrard to use rubies and diamonds from dismantled tiaras and necklaces in her collection. Its unique floral pattern was made to resemble Queen Victoria's favorite Oriental Circlet tiara.

The queen must have a taste for Ruby, as the Burmese ruby tiara has been said to be one of her favorites out of her collection. Sadly she doesn’t wear the Burmese ruby often these days, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled if you want to see the tara in action.

The Gloucester Honeysuckle Tiara

Like many other items on this list, the beautiful Gloucester Honeysuckle has been made from older dismantled royal jewelry and was also created for Queen Mary of Teck. This particular headpiece has a center stone that can be removed. So, the main jewel of the piece can be changed according to the occasion.

Currently, the Gloucester Honeysuckle is held by Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester. She usually pairs the tiara with her family stones: Either a pink topaz, emerald, or honeysuckle diamond. Duchess Birgitte reportedly has an extensive tiara collection, but this is the piece she has worn most often.

The Delhi Durbar Tiara

The gorgeous Delhi Durbar tiara was constructed with diamonds that were cut from the largest diamond ever found, a 3000-carat rough stone mined in South Africa in 1905. It was then taken out 42 years later by The Queen Mother when the royal family was on a South African tour.

The tiara’s structure is made of platinum and gold, decorated with scrolls and festoons. Often worn by Elizabeth II, it was later loaned out to her daughter-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. It is now one of the biggest pieces in her collection, and it certainly stands out!

The Cartier Indian Tiara

This immensely elaborate piece was made by Henri Lavabre at Cartier, for Princess Marie Louise in the early twentieth century. Though it is not Indian in origin, the design was made to imitate traditional Hindi designs and is currently on loan to Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester.

Heavy is the head who wears the crown, and considering how tightly the tiara is packed with diamonds, sapphires, and pearls, we can only imagine the weight of this one! The style is a little different compared to the rest of the royal collection, so when it has been worn in public it really makes a statement.

The Modern Sapphire Tiara

The Modern Sapphire tiara was originally brought for the daughter of King Leopold II, Princess Louise of Belgium. However, the sapphire was later auctioned off and bought by Queen Elizabeth II. It’s since become one of the most iconic and publicly recognizable pieces of the late Queen's collection.

The Queen wore it countless times throughout her public life, and for good reason. It’s a beautiful piece and also fits well with Princess Diana’s sapphire collection - from her sapphire engagement ring to her brooch-necklace and various other pieces.

The George IV State Diadem

Another iconic and recognizable piece, the George IV was commissioned in 1820 and has been worn by four different queens: Victoria, Alexandra, Mary, and Elizabeth. This exquisite piece is worn exclusively by British queens, but interestingly it was commissioned for King George IV.

The George IV Diadem was made of gold and silver and inlaid with pearls and over 1000 diamonds! Yes, you read that right. It has featured on British state currency and postage stamps, and Queen Elizabeth II has been said to adore the crown, wearing it on many special occasions.

The Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe Tiara

Originally a diamond bandeau, the Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe were commissioned by, who else? Queen Mary of Teck of course. It was then passed down to various daughters and daughters-in-law of the royal family. Katherine Worsley came to wear it in 1961 during her wedding ceremony to the Duke of Kent.

Since then it has remained in the Duchess of Kent’s collection. She reconstructed it somewhat in the 70s, updating it from a bandeau to a full-fledged tiara with a diamond fringe topped with pearls. It was later loaned to Helen Windsor to be used as a bridal crown, the last time the tiara was seen publicly.

The Cubitt-Shand Tiara

Often known simply as the Cubitt Tiara, the Cubitt-Shand is most often worn by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. The wonderfully delicate piece is adorned with flowers and vines in silver and the Duchess inherited it from her own family. It first belonged to her grandmother Sonia Keppel.

The Cubitt-Shand was designed to be worn with any hairstyle, as the elevated center-piece means the tiara can always be seen. After Sonia’s passing the tiara was passed down to Rosalind Cubitt, Camilla’s mother. Camilla then granted it to her daughter Laura on her wedding day, continuing the family tradition.

The Meander Tiara

This unique tiara is the only headpiece existing in the royal collection that was owned by Prince Philip’s family. It was gifted to the family by his mother Princess Alice, who married his father Prince Andrew of Greece in 1903. In modern times it has been most associated with Princess Anne and her daughter, Zara Philips.

It is named after the Greek meander, or meandros, a key Grecian design. A version of the motif is repeated across the tiara’s band, separated by a laurel wreath in the center of the piece and 2 honeysuckles on either side. It is rumored to have been created by Cartier.

The Five Aquamarine Tiara

This gorgeous tiara is currently a bit of a mystery to most people. It got its name from one of the few facts we actually know about the piece - that it has five aquamarine jewels set into the delicate design, all fringed with smaller diamonds. Many believe it is part of a larger aquamarine collection.

Also known as the Canadian Aquamarine tiara, this piece was taken on a trip to Canada in 1970 by Queen Elizabeth II before it disappeared into the royal vault. It was kept from the public for decades before being worn again by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. It has reportedly been on-loan to the Countess since then.

The Greville Tiara

Known as the Greville tiara by the royal family, this memorable headpiece was also known as the Boucheron Honeycomb tiara by the public. The ‘Honeycomb’ title was entirely due to the unique honeycomb-esque structure of the platinum tiara, with a detailed inlay of diamonds throughout.

Put together in 1921 from an older piece of jewelry, the Greville also had a marquise stone in the center of the piece added by Cartier, in order to give more variation to a previously more uniform and simple design. It is currently worn by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Queen Alexandra's Kokoshnik Tiara

This timeless piece was commissioned by an aristocratic committee then known as “The Ladies Society,” who raised funds in 1888 to have a unique piece of jewelry created by Garrard for Queen Alexandra’s wedding anniversary. Thus, Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik was created.

It was based on the design of a Russian Kokoshnik, similar to one worn by Russian royalty of the time. Made with a whopping 488 diamonds, the stunning piece can be worn as both a tiara and a necklace. It was last held by Queen Elizabeth II, who was seen donning the tiara as recently as 2015.

Cartier Halo Tiara

This magnificent tiara became one of the most famous pieces of royal jewelry in the 21st century, largely because it was worn by Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, during her wedding ceremony to Prince William in 2011. The tiara was crafted in 1936 and is also known as the Cartier Scroll tiara.

As gorgeous as it is, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Cartier Halo is inlaid with nearly 900 diamonds, in both brilliant-cut and baguette style. It was made by Cartier and commissioned by George VI for his wife on their wedding day. It was passed through various family members before being worn by Kate.

Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara

Kate wasn’t the only glamorous daughter-in-law to don a royal headpiece for her wedding day in recent years. That’s right, Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, was granted use of the Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau in 2017. What’s fascinating is that the bandeau, commissioned back in 1932, had not been worn for 65 years!

We’re not sure why, as the piece is clearly beautiful. Town & Country described it this way - "Formed as a flexible band of eleven sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds and a central detachable brooch of ten brilliant diamonds."

The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara

The royal website described this tiara as “made by Boucheron for Mrs. Greville in 1919 in the fashionable ‘kokoshnik’ style popularized in the Russian Imperial Court." Of course, the most noticeable aspect of this piece is the incredible emerald gem set right in the center of the piece.

It has been said that the emerald itself weighs over 93 carats! So it comes as a surprise that the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara had not been worn for more than 80 years before it was loaned to Princess Eugenie of York for her royal wedding. It has six emeralds all up and is held in Princess Eugenie’s personal collection.

The Kent City of London Fringe Tiara

While most tiara’s on this list were commissioned by royal family members or committees, this tiara had a rather unique benefactor. It was gifted to Princess Marina as a wedding present back in 1934, by none other than the City of London. It was most recently passed to Princess Beatrice in 2020, for her own wedding ceremony.

People magazine previously wrote "The Queen saved this grand tiara specifically for Beatrice. It was always reserved for her as they were exceptionally close. "[It is] arguably the most sentimental [piece] lent from the Queen yet." It now belongs to Marie Christine, wife of Prince Michael.

The Teck Turquoise Tiara

We’re starting to think Queen Mary of Teck was the official royal jeweler. One of the pieces on this list is even named after her! The Teck Turquoise tiara was made in 1850, as part of a more extensive turquoise collection. It is currently part of the stunning Gloucester collection and is often worn by the Duchess of Gloucester.

The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor reports that "The Gloucesters own this piece privately, and will presumably pass it on to one of their three children someday." Their jewelry collection is extensive, and includes 6 tiaras that “could rival the collections of some entire royal countries."

The Ogilvy Tiara

The Ogilvy is a sweet, delicate tiara inspired by natural designs, particularly floral patterning. It was originally made in 1963 by Collingwood Jewellers, and gifted to Princess Alexandra of Kent. She was also known as Lady Ogilvy, hence the tiara’s name.

Inspired by the Princess’ own set of diamond flowers, the piece was made as a convertible tiara that could be changed to hold various jewels such as a turquoise option, a pearl, and a sapphire in the center. Each jewel came with a matching necklace, making it a very versatile piece.

The Brazilian Aquamarine Parure Tiara

Gifted by the then-President of Brazil himself, these jaw-dropping diamond and aquamarine gems were presented to Queen Elizabeth II as a coronation gift in 1953. They came in the form of a necklace and earrings, and the queen herself then commissioned Garrard to make a matching tiara to complete the set.

The necklace and earrings were also created to match each other, hence why the three pieces work so well together. The necklace is described by Leslie Field as "Nine large oblong aquamarines each in a diamond scroll setting with an even bigger oblong aquamarine pendant drop."

The Kent Festoon Tiara

Another gift for Princess Marina, this delicate piece was given to her by her own husband, the Duke of Kent, in the early 1900s. Designed with diamond scrolls and topped with pearls, the tiara was also made with a removal band of pearls attached to the base.

The Kent Festoon is part of Princess Michael of Kent’s own collection, and the tiara has since been renovated by the family. The original diamond band at the base has since been removed and replaced with a band of pearls. Originally the entire design was inlaid with diamond.

Lady Sarah's Floral Tiara

The Lady Sarah, also known as the Snowdon Floral tiara, began its life in the form of 3 diamond brooches that were gifted to Princess Margaret on her wedding day. They were commissioned by Antony Armstrong-Jones for his bride in 1960, but the tiara itself is not considered an official royal piece.

In 1994 the brooches were transformed into a diadem and presented as a gift for another wedding - that of Margaret’s daughter, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones. She wore it during her wedding to Daniel Chatto, along with a green laurel wreath that complimented the tiara beautifully.

The Persian Turquoise Tiara

Another tiara purchased by Queen Mary of Teck, she gifted the elaborate headpiece to her daughter Margaret as a birthday present in the 1950s. This beautiful piece is also referred to as the Triumph of Love tiara and was made by Garrard in the 1900;s. It was said to be a favorite royal piece of both the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

Princess Margaret passed away in 2002, and though many of her jewels were auctioned off, the Persian tiara remained untouched. It has not yet been seen in public, so there is much speculation as to who now owns the piece. It’s rumored to belong to her daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex's Wedding Tiara

The origins of this tiara are in the name - it was made for Sophie Rhys-Jones, to be worn on the day of her marriage to the Earl of Wessex. It is a mix of the royal tradition of wearing both something brand new, and something inherited. The wedding tiara was made from an older tiara, rumored to be from the royal collection.

Since her wedding, the tiara has remained in Countess Sophie’s personal collection, and she has worn it numerous times. One of the most publicized occasions where she donned the tiara was at the wedding ceremony of the Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark.

The Iveagh Tiara

The Girls of Great Britain & Ireland tiara wasn’t the only tiara given to Queen Mary of Teck on her wedding day. She was also given the intricate Iveagh tiara. What a lucky lady! It was one of the rare pieces that she didn’t change throughout her time wearing it, and it features leaves and scrolls often paired with a veil.

"In 2008, the tiara adorned the head of another Gloucester woman: Lady Rose Windsor, the daughter of the current Duke and Duchess. She wore it at her wedding to George Gilman, which took place in the Queen’s Chapel at St. James’s Palace." the Court Jeweler wrote. It is now owned by the Duchess of Gloucester.

The Festoon Tiara

The Festoon Tiara has a somewhat different origin story. Unlike many others, it is privately-owned by Princess Anne. While it was gifted to her in the year of her wedding, it was not a wedding gift. Instead, it was given to her by the World Wide Shipping Group in 1973, after she christened one of their ships.

She also loaned it to her daughter, Autumn Phillips, for her wedding ceremony. However, Anne has still worn the Festoon on the regular, often at state banquets and official events. She has most frequently worn the piece with a matching festoon necklace and brooch.

The Poltimore Tiara

The Poltimore Tiara was originally created for Lady Florence of Poltimore, in the late 19th century. But today it is better known as the tiara worn by Princess Margaret on the day of her marriage to Antony Armstrong-Jones. It was given to her as an engagement gift, which she initially wore as a fringe diamond necklace.

In 1960 it was publicly unveiled as a tiara when the princess arrived at her wedding ceremony donning the Poltimore in a circlet of diamonds pinned above her veil. After Princess Margaret passed away, the Poltimore (sometimes known as ‘Patrick’s Tiara’) was sold at auction.

Princess Alice's Crystal Headdress

This stunning headdress was worn by Princess Alice in 1935, during her and Prince Henry’s wedding ceremony. The Duchess of Gloucester chose it in place of the traditional tiara usually worn during a royal wedding. It was a sad day for her, as her father had tragically passed just a few weeks before the special event.

But this was an unusual royal wedding in more ways than one. The Duchess not only chose a unique headpiece but she also chose to marry at 34-years old, waiting longer than most royal family members. The headdress, made especially for her marriage, paired well with her pearl pink wedding gown and orange blossom detailing.

The Spencer Family Tiara

Originally owned by John Spencer, Eighth Earl of Spencer, this tiara was passed down through the Spencer family. Created by Garrard in the 1930s, the gorgeous piece gained worldwide attention when his daughter Princess Diana wore it on her wedding day in 1981. It matched her David and Elizabeth Emanuel gown perfectly.

Today the diamond tiara bears tulip and star shapes flanked by silver scrolls. It was completed in the 1930s and used by the Spencer’s from then on as a wedding tiara. Diana wasn’t the only one who wore it at her wedding - her sisters Lady Sarah and Lady Jane wore it in the same way.

Strathmore Rose Tiara

This piece was given to the Queen Mother by her father, the Earl of Strathmore, as a wedding gift in 1923. She wore it while sitting for her wedding portrait with her new husband King George VI. It is a stunning tiara, decorated with rose-cut diamonds that are shaped in the form of rose garlands.

In Hugh Roberts's book The Queen’s Diamonds, he reveals that the rose-cut diamonds can actually be removed and worn as rose broochs and could originally be replaced with sapphires. Unfortunately, this statement piece has not been worn in the public eye for some years.

The Heathcote Tiara

This tiara features a “dog rose” motif, fringed with mixed flower patterns around its center. The piece can actually be separated into two brooches which can be worn together. The asymmetrical tiara is encrusted with diamonds, on almost every part of its delicate frame.

Today the Heathcote belongs to Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, otherwise known as Lady Willoughby de Eresby. It was loaned out in 2005 by Rose Astor, a second cousin of Lady Willoughby’s, for her wedding day. It now sits in the collection of Sarah Rose Hanbury while still belonging to Lady Willoughby.

The Northumberland Tiara

This unique tiara is almost like a crown in structure and first appeared as far back as 1845. It was worn by Louisa Drummond during her wedding to Algernon Percy, the 6th Duke of Northumberland. It has been worn by the Percy’s for generations, most recently at the wedding of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee in 2013.

Just looking at the tiara, it can be hard to imagine wearing it without straining your neck! As heavy as it may be, its weight can be easily rectified as it can be taken apart and converted to 14 different brooches. Its base can even be used as a necklace, making it both the perfect tiara AND the perfect accessory set.

Hanoverian Floral Tiara

While its origin isn’t entirely clear, the Hanoverian Floral tiara is believed to date back to the 1900s. It was most recently seen in public being worn by Alessandra de Osma, a lawyer and former model who is now married to Prince Christian of Denmark, during their wedding ceremony in Peru.

This classically beautiful and ultra-feminine tiara depicts a floral spray decorated with leaves and blossoms. Sadly it had spent years stored away in the House of Hanover, but later became the go-to headpiece for new brides joining the family, donned by both Alessandra de Osma and Ekaterina Malysheva.

Teck Crescent Tiara

The Queen Mother Mary of Teck must have inherited her eye for jewelry from her mother, Princess Mary Adelaide. The Duchess of Teck brought this piece into the royal family sometime in the 19th century, and it has long been considered one of the “hidden” tiaras of the royal family. However these days we know where it lies.

Because it’s currently in the hands of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. It was one of three headpieces loaned to Camilla by Queen Elizabeth II in 2005. The tiara is incredible but for unknown reasons, she has never worn it publically. The last time it has been shown was in the book The Queen’s Diamonds.

The Oriental Circlet

The Oriental Circlet was originally commissioned by Prince Albert in 1853, for none other than his beloved wife Queen Victoria. It’s also been known as the ‘Indian Ruby Tiara’ or simply the ‘Indian Tiara.’ It depicts several arches and flowers encrusted with diamonds and rubies.

Originally the circlet consisted of an incredible 2,600 diamonds set in gold. Since 1853 the piece has typically undergone many changes. For instance, after receiving it Victoria initially had a set of opal jewelry to accompany the circlet, but the opals were later replaced with rubies.

Queen Mary's Boucheron Loop Tiara

In 1901, the de Beers of South Africa presented 675 diamonds to Mary of Teck as a gift, during her tour of the country. Within a year she commissioned the designer Boucheron to use these diamonds for a loop tiara that she would wear to commemorate her shift to the queenly title.

However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find pictures of the original tiara. Rather than keeping it part of her tiara collection, Mary instructed jeweler Garrard to dismantle the piece for use in other designs. The closest similar piece today would be the Delhi Durbar Tiara.