It was worn on top of her veil at St Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981, as part of one of her most photographed wedding looks. Few jewellery pieces are linked to Princess Diana more than the sparkling Spencer Tiara. However, beyond its glamour, the tale of the tiara is quite interesting and includes ownership issues, origin debates, and royal wedding rumours, as well as the fact that the jewellery was never actually the property of Diana.
Sotheby’s describes the piece as being ‘reportedly’ made in 1767 and later refurbished by Garrard in the 1930s. Because of this, the catchy statement that Diana wore a ‘250-year-old tiara’ has to be put into context. Because of that, royal brides did not automatically own or borrow Diana’s family heirloom and had to use royal family tiaras. (Image Credits: Pinterest)
The most glaring misconception about the Spencer Tiara is its association with Diana and that it isn’t technically a royal piece. It is the property of the Spencer family and was borrowed by her father, the 8th Earl Spencer, and it still belongs to the Spencers. And therein lies much of the mystery surrounding the tiara since the first time it was worn by Diana. Its elaborate design consists of graceful diamond pattern work, floral motifs, and a unique central heart shape, making it very romantic and fairy-tale-like, just perfect for Diana on her wedding day. Let’s quickly take a look at some of the controversies revolving around it. (Image Credits: Pinterest) This is one of the most captivating controversies around the tiara. The piece is composed of some older components, but the sophisticated Spencer Tiara worn by Diana was made out of different styles created over generations and later modified. (Image Credits: Pinterest) This might just be one of the most well-known falsehoods concerning the piece of jewellery. Diana had it on countless occasions, yet she didn’t actually own it. The tiara belonged to her father, the Earl Spencer, and was only loaned to Diana. Her father had received the Spencer Tiara in the 1970s and decided to share it with his daughters. Diana wore it at her wedding to Prince Charles and later at many other royal functions. After her father’s death, the tiara became the property of Diana’s brother, the Duke of Wellington. Consequently, Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, don’t have the Spencer Tiara in their mother’s heritage jewellery collection. (Image Credits: Pinterest) This subject has generated countless discussions related to royal fashion. Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan Markle are both married sons of Diana. Nevertheless, neither wore the Spencer Tiara for their wedding ceremony. The answer seems to be less inspiring than some people online may argue. The Spencer Tiara is privately owned property of the Spencer family, not a royal family jewel. Diana’s connection to it stems from her family of birth and not from her marriage to the House of Windsor.
Certain accounts trace parts of the Spencer Tiara back to the 18th century, but the design we know today was created and reconstructed a long time after.
The intriguing family history behind her iconic heirloom
Controversy 4: Who gets the Spencer Tiara next?
It will likely stay with the Spencer family and not be gifted to Diana’s heirs, according to reports. The Spencer family has specific rules of succession, and reports suggest that the tiara will be inherited according to the rules of Lord Spencer and not of Diana’s grandchildren. (Image Credits: Pinterest) This is where the drama of the family tree ensued. The tiara is still owned by the Spencer family and is now associated with Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer. This has led to speculation about whether Diana’s granddaughters could wear it, particularly Princess Charlotte or Princess Lilibet.