The Duchess of diamonds! Kate Middleton dons Diana’s glittering headpiece as she joins Prince William for the Queen’s Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace
- Kate made her way to the Queen’s Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday night
- Duchess of Cambridge, 37, paired sparkling silver earrings with the stunning Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara
- Prince Charles, 71, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, will also attend the lavish white tie reception tonight
- Royals will greet some of the 1,000 guests, including ambassadors and high commissioners posted to the UK
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The Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning in the Lover’s Knot Tiara, as she made her way to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday night for the Queen’s Diplomatic Reception.
Kate, 37, joined husband Prince William as they drove to the annual white tie affair, which is one of the highlights of the royal calendar.
They will join the Queen, 93, and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall for the Diplomatic Reception, and greet some of the 1,000 guests in attendance for the lavish event.
The duchess paired sparkling silver drop earrings and one of the Queen’s silver necklaces, with the stunning Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara – a piece that she has worn on a number of previous occasions.
The white tie Diplomatic Reception is the main social event of the year in London for the diplomatic community and reflects the Queen’s importance in terms of the UK’s international relations.
Kate, 37, joined husband Prince William as the drove to the annual white tie affair, which is one of the highlights of the royal calendar
The duchess paired sparkling silver drop earrings and a lavish necklace with the stunning Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara – a piece that she has worn on a number of previous occasions
As Kate arrived at the Palace she was dressed in a dark blue number, which she teamed with the striking Nizam of Hyderabad necklace – a piece of jewellery owned by the Queen.
It was given to the Queen as a gift when she married in November 1947. Kate last borrowed the diamond stunner to attend a black tie Portrait Gala in 2014 at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The duchess also seemed to be wearing the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on her blue sash, which she wore for the first time in June at The Queen’s State Banquet. The honour was given to her by the Queen in April for her services to the sovereign.
William looked relaxed as he sat next to his wife, dressed for the occasion in a black blazer and white shirt – pairing it with a white bow tie.
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall also made their way to join The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace
Later on Prince Charles and Camilla were pictured arriving at the event, dressed formally for the occasion too. Camilla was wearing a gold number, pairing it with elegant silver earring.
She selected one of her own favourite tiaras, the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara for the event, which had belonged to Queen Elizabeth (the future Queen Mother).
Queen Elizabeth took the piece to Cartier, and in 1953 had it made even bigger by adding to the top line and finishing it off with a marquis-shaped diamond in the centre.
The Boucheron soon became one of her favourites and when she died it was passed along with the rest of her collection to her daughter, the present Queen.
As Kate arrived at the Palace, with William, she was dressed in a dark blue number, which she teamed with the striking Nizam of Hyderabad necklace – a piece of jewellery owned by the Queen
They will join the Queen, 93 ,and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall for the Diplomatic Reception, and greet some of the 1,000 guests in attendance for the lavish event
Charles will no doubt be particularly touched at the significance: he adored his late grandmother and loves to see his wife in her jewellery.
The royal event is the largest reception held at Buckingham Palace, requiring hours of intricate planning by the Master of the Household and the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, as well as the commandeering of almost every member of waiting staff.
More than 1,000 people from around 130 countries, including members of the British government, past Prime Ministers and the Archbishops of Canterbury and York attend the gathering.
Most notable, however, are the many hundreds of ambassadors and embassy staff officially accredited to the Court of St James, often in brilliantly coloured and eye-catching national dress.
KATE’S TIARA TRIBUTE TO HER LATE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Diana in the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara in Hong Kong in 1989
The Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara is the one worn by the Duchess of Cambridge most frequently – and for very sentimental reasons.
The tiara was made by Royal jewellers Garrard in 1914 to Queen Mary’s personal design, from pearls and diamonds already in her family’s possession.
It was a copy of one owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, who married the first Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of King George III, in 1818.
In her will Queen Mary left the tiara to to the Queen who wore it frequently, including at an evening event in 1955.
In 1981 she gave it as a wedding present to Prince William’s mother, Diana, who wore it for the first time at the state opening of parliament that November.
Diana also wore the tiara in 1985 on an official visit to Washington with Prince Charles.
And since her death the glistening head piece has been worn by the Duchess of Cambridge who was most recently spotted wearing it at the state dinner during Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI’s visit in 2017.
It was also seen on Kate at last year’s Diplomatic Reception.
The Duchess of Cambridge most recently wore the Lover’s Knot Tiara to the state banquet held in honour of Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands in October 2018, pictured. Right, Kate with Rear Admiral Ludger Brummelaar
Kate wore the tiara for the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2016, left, and in 2015, right