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Princess Kate Just Wore a Magnificent Tiara the Public Hasn’t Seen for Almost a Century

britains prince william, prince of wales l and britains catherine, princess of wales arrive for a a state banquet at buckingham palace in central london on november 21, 2023, for south koreas president yoon suk yeol and his wife kim keon hee on their first day of a three day state visit to the uk south korean president yoon suk yeol and first lady kim keon hee began a three day trip to the uk on tuesday, with king charles iiis hosting his first state visitors since his coronation photo by yui mok pool afp photo by yui mokpoolafp via getty images
Every Time Princess Kate Has Worn a TiaraYUI MOK - Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales, boasts her generous share of acquired jewels as a royal—but saves the tiara for only her most exclusive engagements.

The senior royal has been seen donning multiple meaningful tiaras at a handful of special occasions, namely at state banquets, annual diplomatic receptions, and on her wedding day. She was expected to also wear one to King Charles III's coronation, per royal etiquette—but opted to wear a laurel headpiece for the occasion instead.

Barring on wedding days, the tiara can only be worn on evenings after 5 p.m. And it is loaned for a lifetime to a royal, who is granted exclusive access to one or several tiaras, based on the monarch's selection.

Thanks to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who owned a total of 20 tiaras, Kate currently has three tiaras on loan: the Cartier Scroll, the Cambridge Lover's Knot, and the Lotus Flower. She has worn these three bejeweled headpieces for her most formal royal engagements, pairing them with equally glamorous gowns and accessories.

Ahead, see all of Princess Kate's tiara moments through the years.

April 29, 2011

Per royal custom, Princess Kate wore a tiara for the first time at her wedding to Prince William. She paired the Cartier Halo Tiara with her angelic Alexandra McQueen bridal gown for her ceremony, which was held at Westminster Abbey.

london, england april 29 trh prince william, duke of cambridge and catherine, duchess of cambridge smile following their marriage at westminster abbey on april 29, 2011 in london, england the marriage of the second in line to the british throne was led by the archbishop of canterbury and was attended by 1900 guests, including foreign royal family members and heads of state thousands of well wishers from around the world have also flocked to london to witness the spectacle and pageantry of the royal wedding photo by chris jacksongetty images
Chris Jackson - Getty Images

April 29, 2011

The occasion marked the first and only time the royal wore the headpiece.

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Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

October 20, 2015

For her first official state banquet at Buckingham Palace, Kate opted for the Lotus Flower tiara, paired with a red Jenny Packham dress. At the event, she welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan.

state visit of the president of the people's republic of china day 2
WPA Pool - Getty Images

December 8, 2015

For the annual diplomatic reception, the largest annual reception held at Buckingham Palace, Kate opted for the Lover's Knot Tiara—a favorite of Princess Diana's. She paired the jewel with an icy-blue lace gown by Alexander McQueen.

Also known as the Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara, the piece was originally commissioned by Queen Mary in the early 20th century to replicate the design of the 200-year-old Gothic Revival, which was owned by the monarch's grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse.

the annual diplomatic reception at buckingham palace
Mark Cuthbert - Getty Images

December 8, 2016

For the annual diplomatic reception the following year, Kate also wore the Lover's Knot Tiara, this time paired with a red lace gown.

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Dominic Lipinski - Getty Images

July 12, 2017

The princess was spotted wearing the Lover's Knot Tiara again while on her way back from a state banquet at Buckingham Palace amid the Spanish State Visit of King Felipe and Queen Letizia.

And later in December, she also wore the jewel for the year's diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace.

On both occasions, she wore the tiara with an elegant updo and paired it with a diamond necklace and the same pair of diamond-and-pearl drop earrings.

state visit of the king and queen of spain day 1
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

October 23, 2018

The royal paired Lover's Knot Tiara with a powder-blue dress for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace to honor King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands during their two-day stay in London.

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JOHN STILLWELL - Getty Images

December 4, 2018

In another engagement the following month, Princess Kate wore the Lover's Knot Tiara for an evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace—this time pairing the jewel with a dazzling white gown embellished with sequins, and diamond-and-pearl drop earrings.

the duke duchess of cambridge attend evening reception for members of the diplomatic corps
WPA Pool - Getty Images

June 3, 2019

Kate opted for her go-to Lover's Knot Tiara once again for the U.S. State Banquet, where she wore the jewel alongside the Queen Mother's sapphire-and-diamond fringe earrings, and a pink-and-blue sash representing her new title as a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

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VICTORIA JONES - Getty Images

December 11, 2019

For a third consecutive year, the royal wore the Lover's Knot Tiara to the annual diplomatic reception, pairing the jewel with a black long-sleeve Alexander McQueen gown, a diamond necklace, and diamond chandelier earrings.

royals attend a reception for the diplomatic corps at buckingham palace
WPA Pool - Getty Images

November 22, 2022

The royal paired the Lover's Knot Tiara with a white Jenny Packham cape dress and pearl drop earrings for King Charles III's first state banquet as monarch. The event also honored a visit from President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, and marked the first time Kate wore a tiara since earning her title as Princess of Wales,.

the president of the republic of south africa visits the united kingdom day 1
Chris Jackson - Getty Images

December 6, 2022

The princess reintroduced the Lotus Flower for the first time since 2015 during the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace, pairing the jewel with a dazzling red Jenny Packham gown.

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VICTORIA JONES - Getty Images

November 21, 2023

Kate attended a Buckingham Palace state banquet to welcome the Republic of Korea's president and first lady while wearing the Strathmore Rose tiara, a diamond-encrusted floral diadem that once belonged to the Queen Mother. Express notes that this is the first time the piece has been worn in public in nearly a century, with the Queen Mother last wearing it out in the 1930s.

the prince and princess of wales ahead of the state banquet at buckingham palace, london, for the state visit to the uk by president of south korea yoon suk yeol and his wife kim keon hee picture date tuesday november 21, 2023 pa photo see pa story royal korea photo credit should read yui mokpa wire
YUI MOK - Getty Images

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