A Royals Extra Bonus

After nearly a century, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, wore an exquisite tiara treasured by King Charles III's grandmother when she was Duchess of York

At last night’s state banquet for the President of South Korea, Catherine, the Princess of Wales stole the show by wearing the delicately beautiful Strathmore Rose tiara, which had not been worn in public since 1926, when the future Queen Elizabeth, then the Duchess of York, wore it as a bandeau—a fashionable style of the day. It has often been noted that Catherine has regarded Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mum), the wife of King George VI, as a royal role model, and she has from time to time worn her jewelry. Her selection of the tiara last night reflected that special meaning.

The Prince of Wales and the Princess of Wales wearing the Strathmore Rose tiara at the state banquet honoring Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on November 21, 2023

Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, the future Queen Elizabeth, wearing the Strathmore Rose tiara as a bandeau in 1926, with Prince Albert, the Duke of York, the future King George VI

The tiara was a gift to Elizabeth from her father, Claude, the fourteenth Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, for her wedding to Prince Albert (known in the family as Bertie) on April 26, 1923. It was among the stunning collection of jewelry given by the Strathmores and the groom’s parents, King George V and Queen Mary. As described in my biography, George VI and Elizabeth: The Marriage That Saved the Monarchy:

“The King gave her an exquisite diamond and turquoise tiara with matching bracelet, brooch, hair ornaments, earrings, and necklace. From Queen Mary she received an intricately wrought sapphire and diamond necklace with matching bracelet, ring, brooches, and pendant. In a fitting royal gesture, the King also gave his future daughter-in-law an ermine cape.

The Strathmores gave their daughter jewelry they had purchased at Catchpole and Williams. Claude’s gifts were a diamond bandeau and a rope necklace of pearls and diamonds. From Cecilia [ the Countess of Strathmore] she received a long platinum chain of pearls and diamonds with a matching bracelet.

Bertie gave his bride-to-be a diamond and pearl necklace with a matching pendant, along with a Cartier diamond wristwatch. She gave him a platinum watch chain with pearls that they had selected together at Cartier.”

For those interested in seeing ALL the royal jewelry Elizabeth received, rare photographs are reproduced below, including a close-up of the “diamond bandeau of five roses.”