When Princess Diana married Prince Charles in 1981 [1], she completed her bridal look with the Spencer tiara, a piece of jewellery that has since become almost as iconic as her dress [2]. Made from a mishmash of assorted headpieces that the Spencer family had owned, it hadn't been worn since Diana's tragic death in 1997. However, this recently changed when it was borrowed by her niece for her own wedding [3].
On June 16, Celia McCorquodale — the daughter of Diana's oldest sister — accessorised her lace gown with the stunning piece and pendant pearl earrings for her wedding to George Woodhouse. While the piece had not be used for over 20 years, it wasn't surprising to see it as part of Celia's bridal look: the family heirloom has also been used by Diana's sisters — Lady Sarah and Jane, Baroness Fellowes — on their wedding days, as well as by Victoria Lockwood, the first wife of Diana's brother Charles.
Earlier in the year, it had been thought that the Spencer tiara might be worn by Meghan Markle [4] on her own wedding day. However, the Duchess of Sussex ended up wearing Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara [5], which perfectly complemented her gorgeous Givenchy gown [6], sparkling jewels [7], and cathedral-length veil [8]. Ahead, Diana wearing the tiara on her wedding days, as well as all the other times she wore it.
Princess Diana
For her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, Princess Diana wore the Spencer tiara.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana
Princess Diana
In 1983, two years after her wedding, Princess Diana wore the family tiara when she attended a reception in Australia.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana wore it a second time a few days later when she attended a banquet in Brisbane, Australia. She wore it with a pink dress designed by Victor Edelstein and finished her look with diamond and sapphire jewels, which were given to her by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
Princess Diana
In 1992, she accessorised her Catherine Walker gown with the Spencer family tiara when she attended a banquet held in her honour in Delhi, India.
Princess Diana
When she attended a banquet in Bonn, Germany, in 1987, Princess Diana wore a dress designed by Victor Edelstein, which she accessorised with the Spencer family tiara and diamond and sapphire jewels that given to her by the Sultan of Oman.
Princess Diana
She also wore the tiara during a visit to Bahrain in November 1986.