By Her Ladyship, Admirer of Jewels and Judgment
Oh, the English tiara. It is more than a diadem, dear reader. It is a glittering testament to dynastic power, impeccable taste, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing one’s hairstyle will be photographed for centuries to come. Tiaras have graced the brows of queens, princesses, duchesses, and occasionally, Hollywood ingenues pretending to be royalty. They are worn sparingly—but remembered always.
So come, pour yourself a cup of something suitably regal (may I suggest Earl Grey in a cup you wouldn’t mind smashing in the event of an uprising?), and let us take a tour through ten of the most dazzling tiaras ever to grace the House of Windsor.
- The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara
Let’s begin with a classic. This diamond confection was a wedding gift to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (later Queen Mary) in 1893. It was passed on to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, who wore it so often it became affectionately known as “Granny’s tiara.” Light, elegant, and versatile, it’s the little black dress of the royal vault—and is perhaps the most frequently seen of the Queen’s headpieces on stamps and currency.
- The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara
If this tiara looks suspiciously like it could slice a cake or defend a citadel, that’s because it could. Made in 1919 from a dismantled necklace (how deliciously decadent), this piece features diamond bars arranged in a sharp, sunburst design. It was worn by Queen Elizabeth II on her wedding day in 1947 and by Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice at theirs. If tiaras could speak, this one would say: “I was forged in elegance and war.”
- The Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara
Ah, the stuff of legends and headaches. Originally created for Queen Mary and modeled on a design worn by her maternal grandmother, the Duchess of Cambridge, this tiara is positively dripping with diamond arches and swinging pearl drops. Princess Diana made it iconic—and reportedly found it heavy and headache-inducing. It now graces the head of Catherine, Princess of Wales, and still carries a whisper of romantic tragedy.
- The Cartier Halo Tiara
This art deco beauty was crafted in 1936 and given to the future Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) by her husband. It’s a smaller, subtler tiara—if a diamond tiara can ever be called “subtle.” It famously crowned Catherine Middleton’s head on her wedding day in 2011, prompting a thousand breathless headlines. It is delicate, refined, and would look magnificent with a cashmere sweater in a rebellious moment.
- The Vladimir Tiara
If tiaras could tell spy stories, this would be the one. Originally belonging to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, it was smuggled out of revolutionary Petrograd by a British diplomat disguised as a friend of the family (with a hatbox, no less). Later acquired by Queen Mary, it can be worn with pearls, emeralds, or simply as a diamond circle tiara. It remains one of the most versatile—and storied—pieces in the collection.
- The Burmese Ruby Tiara
This is no heirloom but a modern (relatively speaking) commission made for Queen Elizabeth II in 1973 using rubies gifted from Burma and diamonds from her private collection. The design is unapologetically bold—a wreath of roses, no less—and meant to symbolize protection from evil. Whether it works or not is up for debate, but it certainly protected Her Majesty from looking under-accessorized.
- Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara
A tiara inspired by a Russian peasant headdress, made entirely of diamonds—because nothing says “solidarity with the common folk” like 61 platinum bars. Given to Queen Alexandra for her silver wedding anniversary in 1888, this tiara is a favorite among royal ladies for its elegant simplicity and astonishing shimmer. It’s less “Look at me!” and more “I am inevitable.”
- The Strathmore Rose Tiara
Romantic and delicate, this floral diamond tiara was a gift to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (later the Queen Mother) from her parents on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York in 1923. It can be worn atop the head or across the forehead in 1920s flapper fashion—one imagines it was accompanied by champagne and a very good jazz band.
- The Delhi Durbar Tiara
Commissioned for Queen Mary to wear at the Delhi Durbar in 1911 (a coronation celebration for the Emperor and Empress of India), this is one of the grandest tiaras in existence. It once held the Cullinan III and IV diamonds (so large they might legally be considered small house pets) and now resides quietly in the royal vault, too large and ornate for modern tastes—but no less magnificent.
- The Spencer Tiara
Though not technically part of the royal collection, this tiara deserves a place of honor. Worn by Lady Diana Spencer on her wedding day in 1981, it became instantly iconic. It’s been worn by multiple women in the Spencer family and was recently seen again atop the head of Diana’s niece, Lady Celia McCorquodale. A family heirloom with art nouveau lines, it’s a reminder that sometimes the most poignant tiaras are not royal, but deeply personal.
Final Thoughts from Under a (Metaphorical) Tiara
The tiara is not merely an ornament; it is a symbol of continuity, power, and extraordinary millinery engineering. Whether worn by queens in waiting, queens in mourning, or queens simply waiting for the next diplomatic dinner, each piece tells a story in gold, diamonds, and the occasional political statement.
And if one must carry the weight of empire, expectation, and history—one may as well do it with a tiara balanced just so.
Please feel free to print or download the tiara graphic below.
Toodle-oo,
Lady E
