Princess Kate’s Favorite Tiara Has a Painful Side Effect
Heavy is the head that wears the crown.


The Princess of Wales had a tiara first last week, wearing a crown outside of the U.K. for the very first time at the Jordanian royal wedding last Thursday. She opted to go with her favorite tiara, the Queen Mary Lover’s Knot Tiara, one also worn numerous times by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, The Mirror reports. The diamond-and-pearl headpiece dates back to 1914 and was made for Queen Mary by royal jeweler Garrard.
And, as beautiful as it is, royal fashion expert and celebrity stylist Miranda Holder says that the crown is so heavy it can be a painful experience to wear—as it was for Diana: “Apparently because it was so heavy, she used to get terrible headaches from wearing it,” Holder said.
The Queen Mary Lover’s Knot Tiara is the tiara Kate most gravitates towards, but she also sports the Lotus Flower Tiara from time to time. She also wore Queen Elizabeth’s Cartier Halo Tiara for her wedding day, when she married Prince William on April 29, 2011.
And speaking of Kate, while heavy may be the head that wears the crown for work engagements, she’s got a new hobby she’s obsessed with in her personal life, apparently. She and William reportedly get “fiercely competitive” with one another playing padel tennis, according to The Mirror. Padel tennis—billed as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports—is a cross between traditional tennis and squash, played on a small court and using a solid padel rather than a racquet made of strings. The Sun reports that William and Kate have been seen having regular doubles matches with friends, although the couple is on opposing teams.
“I had to look twice as it seemed surreal, but they were having a great time,” a witness says. “William was on one team with a male friend and Kate was on the other team with a male friend and there was lots of banter and a lot of laughing, but both sides fought every point. They looked good at it and did not come across as beginners.”
From tiaras to tennis—Kate runs the gamut!
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.
-
Why One Former Queen Was Held "Prisoner" at Kensington Palace
She was forbidden "from reading popular books" or walking "downstairs without holding someone's hand."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Dua Lipa Pairs Her Snakeskin Trench With a Chanel Bag
The pop star's new rules scream loud luxury.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Refused to Abide by a 350-Year-Old Royal Tradition
She insisted on doing this one very important thing her way, according to a royal expert.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
The Surprising Detail About Princess Diana's Earrings You Probably Missed at Kate Middleton's Latest Appearance
The Princess of Wales wore her late-mother-in-law's pearl drops for Commonwealth Day 2025.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
7 Times the Royal Family Broke Queen Elizabeth's More Understated "Rule"
These royal women are doing it their way.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Americans Have a Surprising Favorite Member of the Royal Family, Per Latest Poll—and It Isn't Princess Kate
The rankings are wildly different than the same U.K. survey.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Inside Princess Diana's Secret Island Getaways—And How They Differed From William and Kate's
The late royal enjoyed (mostly) private vacations thanks to one man's help.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana's Former Lover Speaks Out on Harry and William "Rift" in Rare Interview
James Hewitt shared his thoughts on how Diana would've handled the situation.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Sarah Ferguson Reflects on Her \201cMuch Loved Sister-in-Law\201d Princess Diana in New Message
The Duchess of York opened up about Diana's legacy on Instagram.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Meghan Markle Debuts a New Instagram Strategy in Diana-Approved Weekend Wear
The duchess soaked up some sun in a series of posts that departed from her usual content.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana "Destroyed" Prince Charles's Belongings During Their Doomed Honeymoon
The couple had "blazing rows" throughout their trip on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
By Kristin Contino Published