Her Majesty The Queen is seen here wearing the lovely Queen Mary’s Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara, which is thought to have been one of her favorites, passed down from her grandmother and lovingly referred to within the family as “Granny’s tiara.” It was a gift to Queen Mary from her ladies-in-waiting on her wedding day to King George V.
A sparkly diamond tiara! Who wouldn’t want to wear one?!
A tiara is often considered the most prized jewelry piece in a ladies’ jewelry repertoire. Its noble history and elegant sparkle lend a stunning aura to any lady who wears it. There is something magical, majestic, and tres grand that a tiara represents. So, if you are tempted to wear one, you may want to be privy to the appropriate protocol:
~ Tiaras are reserved for formal events: a White-tie ball, an occasion of state, coronations, royal dinners, and for a bride to wear at her wedding.
~ According to English protocol, diamond tiaras are only worn by married women or members of the royal family. (Most royals wear their first tiara on their wedding day.) An unmarried woman does not wear a tiara. Hence, a diamond tiara brilliantly serves as a status symbol for a married woman, equivalent to a wedding ring. It is an outward display that she is married and, hence, not looking for a husband.
Kate Middleton, on her wedding day in 2011, was lent the Cartier Halo tiara by The Queen. It was originally bought by The Duke of York for The Queen Mother, and then given to The Queen on her 18th birthday.
~Traditionally, a bride will wear her first tiara on her wedding day, which comes from her family’s collection. Lady Diana wore her Spencer family tiara on her wedding day. (Quite often, the tiara is given as an 18th birthday present but not worn until her wedding day.) Nowadays, however, it is acceptable to wear the future husband’s family’s tiara. The bride will change over to her husband’s family’s tiara, if there is one, once she is married. A long-established tradition is to have a diamond tiara passed down through one's family.
~ Like the old-school “no diamond jewelry while the sun is up” rule, tiaras are reserved for events after five in the evening or after sunset. (The exception is that a bride may wear a tiara at a daytime wedding.)
~ Conventionally, tiaras were worn only in private residences (not in a hotel or public space), except for a bride’s wedding day. This rule has become more relaxed, and tiaras are acceptable at formal events outside of a private residence.
~ A tiara is supported by a metal frame that is covered in velvet. The velvet should be the same color as the lady’s hair, to blend in inconspicuously. Often, an additional braid of hair is added so that the metal frame can be sewn onto the braid to secure it.
~A tiara only covers half of the head because it is semi-circular, whereas a crown is circular and covers the whole head.
As an interesting aside, Meghan Markle can no longer wear a tiara for diplomatic and royal functions since she’s relinquished her royal duties and no longer has the HRH title. And, I read that Queen Mary wore a tiara when she dined in private with her husband, George V. While candlelight enhances the dinner table, I imagine dinner tastes even better with diamonds overhead!
Grandmillennial Tip:
If you do not own a tiara and are attending a formal event, consider using your diamond brooch to pull back your hair or embellish an updo, but ensure the jewels are well secured into your hair, so they do not fall out while dancing!
Xx
Holly