Every element of Princess Diana‘s wedding to then-Prince Charles became iconic. From her voluminous dress with its 25-foot train to her hairstyle, bridal bouquet, and tiara, brides copied her look for decades. However, Diana’s bridal fashion wasn’t mimicked by the women who married her sons.
But there’s good reason why Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle didn’t have one of the most memorable elements of their late mother-in-law’s bridal look on their wedding days.
Why didn’t Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle wear Princess Diana’s tiara on their wedding days?
Princess Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, each married strong and determined women who brought their unique qualities to the royal family. However, they chose to blaze their own path when it came to their weddings.
For her 2011 wedding to William, Kate Middleton did not utilize any style elements from Princess Diana’s wedding. Instead of the Spencer tiara, Kate wore the Cartier Halo tiara on loan from Queen Elizabeth, comprised of 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette diamonds.
Meghan Markle also didn’t wear Diana’s tiara for her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Instead, she wore the Queen Mary Bandeau Tiara, handpicked by the queen for her nuptials.
So why didn’t either woman wear the infamous Spencer tiara? Simply because it wasn’t a royal tiara. However, Diana could wear it because it was a Spencer family heirloom.
Lady Jane Spencer’s sister was the first to wear it in 1978. Two years later, Diana’s sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, wore the diamond-studded tiara when she “I do.” Finally, Sarah’s daughter, Celia, was the last to wear it in 2018.
What Princess Diana elements were present at Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding ceremony?<
Kate Middleton and Prince William paid homage to Princess Diana at their wedding ceremony. Some aspects of the ceremony and bridal style represented the late Princess of Wales.
Just as Diana did in 1981, Kate had a small blue bow sewn into her wedding dress for good luck. Diana’s sisters and brother were seated up front, and her sister Sarah McCorquodale wore the Spencer family heirloom earrings Diana donned during her wedding to then-Prince Charles.
William and Kate chose the hymn “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer”—the final selection sung at Diana’s funeral, as part of their ceremony. The couple also invited representatives from organizations important to Diana to the royal family event.
How did Prince Harry and Meghan Markle honor the late Princess of Wales?<
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018. As soon as guests entered the venue, nods to Princess Diana were apparent.
Upon entering the chapel, an elaborate archway of white peonies and garden roses was visible. These same flowers are also planted in Kensington Palace’s White Garden to honor the Princess of Wales. Harry picked flowers from that garden to insert into Meghan’s wedding bouquet.
Princess Diana’s family members attended Harry’s wedding, just as they did seven years prior for William. Lady Sara McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes, and Earl Charles Spencer were all witnesses. As William before him, Harry also used the hymn “Guide Me, O Thy Great Redeemer” in the service.
Princess Diana died in 1997 in a car accident in Paris, France. The Spencer family tiara remains as part of the family’s estate.
News
Why Kelly Clarkson Covered ‘My Heart Will Go On’ Even Though ‘There’s Some Songs You Don’t Want to Go Near as a Vocalist’
Kelly Clarkson may be in a league of her own as a vocalist, but even she’s nervous to follow in Céline Dion‘s footsteps. On Friday’s The Kelly Clarkson Show, the…
Maggie Smith’s Most Iconic Roles, from Sexy ’60s Dramas to the Funniest Films of the ’90s
Maggie Smith in “Hot Millions”. Photo: Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Dame Maggie Smith’s career on stage, film and TV spanned seven decades. The actress, who died on Sept. 27, 2024 at…
Daniel Radcliffe mourns “Harry Potter” costar Maggie Smith: ‘She could intimidate and charm in the same instant’
Daniel Radcliffe is mourning Dame Maggie Smith. The Harry Potter star, who acted alongside the two-time Oscar winner in seven installments of the wizarding series as well as BBC’s David Copperfield, shared…
Essential Maggie Smith movies to stream this weekend
Celebrate the late, great doyenne of stage and screen with these films, many of which you can watch for free Dame Maggie Smith attends the premiere of…
Meryl Streep to Star in The Corrections Series Adaptation in Works at CBS Studios
Christopher Polk/Getty Images for TNT (inset: Farrar, Straus and Giroux) Jonathan Franzen’s popular novel The Corrections could be getting the TV treatment, with an assist from a showbiz legend….
Maggie Smith’s 3rd Act Made Her One of the Grand Dames of TV
Her scene-stealing role in “Downton Abbey” made Maggie Smith a TV mega-star in the final decades of her career Maggie Smith in “Downton Abbey” (PBS) Dame Maggie…
End of content
No more pages to load