We Got All the Details on Meghan Markle's Wedding Tiara
Our bets were originally on the Strathmore Rose, but Meghan went in a completely different direction!
Update 5/19: Meghan is wearing Queen Mary's Sapphire Bandeau. The new Duchess of Sussex was spotted in the jewel en route to the royal wedding with her mother, Doria Ragland. See how it compares to Kate Middleton and Princess Diana's here.
Original story 3/12: Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry is coming up, and chances are she'll walk down the aisle wearing a tiara (casual), as Kate Middleton did before her. Kate famously wore the Halo Tiara—given to the Queen Mother by her husband prior to his coronation—and it seems likely that Meghan will also pick a headpiece with a strong royal lineage.
The thing is, the royals have a plethora of tiaras for Meghan to choose from, so we spoke with expert Grant Mobley—renowned gemologist and Director at Pluczenik, one of the world’s leading diamantaires—to find out which piece Meghan is most likely to pick.
"Thanks to a long-time tradition, you will not see Meghan Markle wearing a diamond tiara until she is walking down the aisle to meet Prince Harry," Mobley told us. "The big question is, with such a vast assortment of stunning tiaras from the royal collection, which are we most likely to see her wearing?"
First up, Mobley's leading contender:
The Strathmore Rose Tiara
"This is my top pick for Miss Markle to wear on her big day," Mobley says of the Strathmore Rose Tiara. "Although fairly simple compared to many royal tiaras, in my eyes this is one of the most elegant and beautiful in existence, and is also very on-trend in its design."
The tiara was made in the 19th century and given to the Queen Mother by her parents as a wedding gift, before later being gifted to Queen Elizabeth II. "It has only been seen worn by the Queen Mother in her early days and has yet to be seen worn since," Mobley explains. "It would be a great choice for Meghan because it hasn’t been worn in such a long time, thus tying it to her in the modern age. Since it hasn’t been used in decades, it could be on long-term loan to her and be a staple in her collection going forward."
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
The Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara
Another possibility is the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, a piece that should be very familiar to people who love the royals. "This was a favorite of Princess Diana's and was one of the most iconic pieces she wore, thus it would mean a great deal to the couple," Mobley says. "It is made from over 100 carats of amazing white round diamonds, so it's easy to see why this might be a top contender for Meghan since diamonds have been a declaration of true love for centuries, making it a great option for what will be one of the most meaningful days of her life."
The tiara was originally made for Queen Mary by royal jewelers House of Garrard in the early 1900s before being passed to Queen Elizabeth—but it's actually a replica. "It is a remake of a much older tiara made for Queen Mary's grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, the Duchess of Cambridge," Mobley explains. "The original tiara was sold at auction at Christie’s in Geneva in 1981 for more than $747,000 in today’s dollars."
While it's true that Kate has already been seen in the tiara, that doesn't mean Meghan can't wear it for her wedding.
The Lotus Flower Tiara
Kate Middleton has also been seen wearing the Lotus Flower Tiara, which originally belonged to the Queen Mother, and was made from a necklace gifted by her husband. It's more modern style is a natural fit for Meghan:
"The design of this tiara is certainly trendier at the moment and would fit Miss Markle's style more than other options," Mobley says. "The tiara is actually quite modern in its design—it can be worn low on the forehead or high on the head similar to tiaras made today. The design was made with all-round white diamonds in bezel settings and a few white pearls. The total carat weight of the diamonds would be less than the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, but would still be of amazing quality. Although this choice may not be as sentimental as some other options, it would be on trend while still offering sheer beauty, elegance, and amazing history. That is one the many amazing attributes of diamonds—due to their resilience and hardiness , they will maintain their quality and value regardless of how old they get."
FYI, Mobley says it's also possible that Megan will get a custom tiara made for the event, which would break the royal family's tradition of "passing down valuable diamond jewelry to be worn on special occasions," but would "most certainly be a statement piece that would go down in history."
RELATED STORY
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
-
Chrishell Stause Will Play the Villain If She Needs To
The 'Selling Sunset' star has achieved what few (maybe no one) in the reality TV genre has: being a longtime fan favorite. But with her appearance on season 3 of 'Traitors,' she's ready to make enemies and get a little scrappy.
By Brian Moylan Published
-
This Unexpected Royal is Richer Than The King
The top three people on this list might surprise you.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Sydney Sweeney Winterizes a Plunging Mini Dress With a Sheer Turtleneck and a Fur-Lined Penny Lane Coat
The star layered all her favorite cold-weather trends for a night on Broadway.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Why Royal Courtiers Allegedly Gave Prince Harry and Prince Andrew Unexpected 'Dukes of Hazzard' Nicknames
A royal expert claimed the nicknames—inspired by the famous TV show—relate to King Charles.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why King Charles's Cousin Immediately Name-Dropped Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 'The Traitors'
Lord Ivar Mountbatten quickly established his connection to the Sussexes, and discussed his status as the first openly gay British royal.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why King Charles "Refuses" to Give Kate Middleton Advice About Becoming Queen
"For much of the same reason, Camilla has not felt compelled to speak with Kate about what it's like to be queen."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
How Prince Harry Honored One Man's Unexpected Request While Helping California Wildfire Victims
The Duke of Sussex reportedly went incognito to find a special item for an elderly man affected by the disaster.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Will This Major Red Carpet Moment be Princess Kate's First Appearance of 2025?
"We have been told that she wouldn't want to miss it, so she's hoping to be there with William."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Don't Expect Princess Kate to "Return to the All Trouser Suits, All the Time" Aesthetic in 2025, Per Royal Fashion Experts
Royal style gurus Christine Ross and Susan Kelley share their fashion predictions with 'Marie Claire.'
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Kate Middleton Reportedly Acts as the “Glue” When Prince William and King Charles Don’t See Eye-to-Eye
"She is solution-focused and is certainly the glue between Prince William and King Charles III."
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Meghan Markle Is Pushing the Premiere of Her Netflix Series Due to the Los Angeles Wildfires
Meghan requested that Netflix delay the release "as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California."
By Kayleigh Roberts Published