In a moment that thrilled royal watchers in 2023, Kate Middleton revived a piece of history when she wore the Strathmore Rose Tiara at a Buckingham Palace state banquet. The delicate headpiece, composed of diamonds arranged in a garland of five roses, had not been seen publicly since the 1930s.
The tiara was a wedding gift from the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne to his daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in 1923. She wore it in a series of early portraits alongside her husband, the future King George VI, but it was last photographed in her possession nearly a century ago.
Queen Elizabeth II inherited the jewel but never chose to wear it during her record-breaking reign, leaving the sparkling heirloom tucked away in the royal vault, until Kate’s appearance revived it.
“It has been said that Kate has looked for inspiration to the Queen Mother in terms of how she conducted herself, and so to have that tiara symbolizing that, in such a public moment, I think it is really significant. I think if there was anyone to wear that tiara, it was Kate; she was the woman to wear it and carry it forward,” fashion director Bethan Holt told People, calling the rare tiara a “lost treasure.”
Kate’s choice was more than a fashion statement. It was a subtle tribute to King Charles III, who shared a close bond with his grandmother. “Kate has always signaled that she'd like to emulate the Queen Mother's royal role, and wearing her jewels is an important symbol of that continuity,” Court Jeweler blogger Lauren Kiehna explained to the publication.
Before the Strathmore Rose Tiara, she had only worn three other tiaras publicly. Each appearance is a carefully orchestrated highlight of the royal calendar, but this November 2023 state banquet, honoring the visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, stood out as a special moment.
The tiara’s diamond roses threaded into her hair created a subtle homage to the Queen Mother’s early 20th-century elegance. The design of the Strathmore Rose Tiara is ingeniously versatile. While it can be worn as a full diadem, it can also be dismantled into five separate brooches, a feature that speaks to the adaptability of royal jewelry design.
The Strathmore Rose Tiara may have been dormant for decades, but its reemergence signals a renewed appreciation for pieces once considered outdated. This was, without a doubt, one of the Princess of Wales' most memorable royal moments to date.