Kate Middleton’s favorite jewel for big royal moments
When Catherine, Princess of Wales steps into a state banquet or a glittering diplomatic reception, one jewel keeps returning to the spotlight: Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara. From Buckingham Palace to international royal gatherings, this diamond and pearl diadem has become her signature choice for the largest stages, the piece she trusts when every camera is trained on her.
The pattern is clear. After debuting a tiara at her 2011 wedding, Catherine later embraced the Lover’s Knot for heavy-hitting occasions, including the state banquet for King Felipe VI of Spain on 12 July 2017 and the visit of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on 22 November 2022. The message reads instantly to royal-watchers and casual readers alike, this is the jewel she saves for moments that matter.
Why Kate Middleton keeps choosing the Lover’s Knot
The tiara carries history and emotion. Commissioned for Queen Mary in 1913 to 1914 by Garrard, the London jeweller founded in 1735, it mirrors an earlier family design and frames baroque pearl drops with diamond bows. Princess Diana wore it through the 1980s and 1990s, which adds a layer of continuity that Catherine honors while still making the look her own.
It also photographs beautifully. The height sits cleanly above an updo, the pearls draw light to the face, and the diamond lattice reads crisply under ballroom chandeliers. Paired with a streamlined gown, the tiara does the talking without shouting, a balance that solves a classic red carpet problem: presence without fuss.
There is variety in her vault, of course. Catherine wore the Cartier Halo tiara on 29 April 2011, a piece set with 739 brilliant cut diamonds and 149 baguette cut diamonds, and the Lotus Flower tiara at the October 2015 state banquet for the Chinese state visit. In a surprise turn on 21 November 2023, she revived the Strathmore Rose tiara for the South Korea state banquet. Still, when stakes rise, she often returns to the Lover’s Knot.
Moments that sealed the tiara’s status
Diplomatic Corps Reception, December 2016, Buckingham Palace, the first high profile outing of the Lover’s Knot for Catherine after her wedding years, anchoring a new era of formal dressing for the then Duchess of Cambridge.
State Banquet for King Felipe VI, 12 July 2017, Buckingham Palace, the Lover’s Knot paired with the Queen’s order and diamond earrings, signaling that this tiara had become her default for full gala dress.
State Banquet for President Cyril Ramaphosa, 22 November 2022, Buckingham Palace, a return to pearls and diamonds that reaffirmed continuity in the first state visit of the reign of King Charles III.
Royal wedding banquet in Amman, 1 June 2023, the Jordan celebration brought the tiara into an international spotlight again, a reminder that the piece travels well beyond London ballrooms.
The craftsmanship and how to channel the look at home
Garrard’s original build for Queen Mary combined a romantic bow motif with articulated pearl drops. Early versions included upright pearls on the top line that were later removed, leaving the recognisable silhouette we see today. After Queen Mary, the piece passed within the royal collection, was worn by Princess Diana from the early 1980s, then seen again on Catherine from the mid 2010s as her public role expanded.
The choice sits alongside other royal benchmarks. The Cartier Halo for the 2011 wedding tied Catherine to twentieth century Cartier traditions, while the 2015 Lotus Flower appearance nodded to a 1920s design often associated with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Together, the timeline explains her strategy: different stories, different tiaras, one clear favorite when ceremony peaks.
For readers who want the vibe without a royal vault, think shape, light and restraint, not replicas. Pearls close to the face, clean lines at the neckline, and a confident updo do much of the work. One detail to borrow from Catherine, she rarely stacks competing statements, the tiara, earrings and an order sash usually carry the look by themselves.
Try these easy style moves inspired by the Princess of Wales:
- Choose pearl drop earrings with a simple diamond or crystal stud, a subtle echo of the Lover’s Knot balance of sparkle and movement.
- Keep the gown or blazer minimal so the jewellery breathes, think satin, column silhouettes, or tailored crepe.
- Pull hair off the face to let light hit the cheekbones, a soft chignon or sleek pony works on busy nights.
- Limit wrist and neck pieces when earrings are doing the lifting, the overall effect feels considered, not crowded.
A last note on why this resonates. Royal jewels tell stories across decades. When Catherine reaches for the Lover’s Knot, she taps a line that runs from 1914 workshop benches to modern state rooms. That continuity, supported by clear dates and appearances, explains why a single tiara reads like her favorite for the grandest occasions. It looks timeles, and it feels familiar.