The Prince of Wales may not be attending the state banquet for the Chinese president at Buckingham Palace, but the Duchess of Cambridge will, and she will be wearing a tiara.
The only question is, which one?
The duchess, who will be attending her first state banquet, has plenty to choose from, ranging from the tiara that Diana, Princess of Wales, wore on her wedding day, to some of the magnificent — if uncomfortable — creations owned by the Queen.
However, royal experts are convinced that the duchess, who has been seen in a tiara only twice before, will opt for something light and discreet.
Ingrid Seward, the editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, said: “She does not like those great big tiaras.”
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She suggested that the duchess might wear either the lotus flower tiara, which she wore two years ago to the Queen’s diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace, or the Cartier halo tiara she wore on her wedding day.
“She will not want to focus too much on herself,” Ms Seward said. “If she wears a tiara she has worn before there won’t be any fuss.”
The lotus flower tiara was originally a necklace given as a wedding present to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who became Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, by her husband, the future George VI. As a tribute to her husband’s mother, the duchess could wear the Spencer tiara, an heirloom worn by Lady Diana on her wedding day.
Another possibility — as a nod to her title as the Duchess of Cambridge — is the Cambridge lover’s knot tiara. Also known as Queen Mary’s lover’s knot tiara, it was given by the Queen as a wedding gift to Diana.