Most brides dream of their wedding day, when they get to be a “princess for a day,” complete with a ballgown and tiara. When it comes to the royal wedding, Meghan actually gets to be a princess forever*. We can’t wait to see which tiara she chooses for such an important day.
Although some speculate Meghan may wear flowers, or eschew any sort of hair adornment, due to her more modern, relaxed style, we still wanted to make predictions (because who doesn’t love talking about tiaras?!). We spoke with the editor of the fantastic Order of Splendor on some options for Meghan Markle’s tiara at the royal wedding. If you’re looking for a one-stop resource for everything tiara, you should definitely bookmark their excellent site. They provided us with some of their thoughts on Meghan’s tiara options as well as some great history on the tiaras.
Here are our top guesses:
The Strathmore Rose Tiara
Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (the future Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) received it as a gift from her father, the Earl of Strathmore, for her wedding in 1923, although the piece itself dates from before that. The tiara features a garland of wild roses in diamonds mounted in silver and gold. The individual elements can be dismantled and worn as brooches, and according to Hugh Roberts were originally able to be substituted by single sapphires.
The Strathmore Rose Tiara is one of the top guesses for Meghan’s tiara. We love the unusual floral designs, which might tap into Meghan’s bohemian upbringing. The editors at Order of Splendor think its a good choice, too: “Sure, that’s one of my top guesses for Meghan. It is with QEII and was photographed a few years ago looking good.”
The Queen Mother’s Cartier Bracelet Bandeau
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had a set of bracelets made by Cartier. There’s a quintet of these bracelets, featuring three different colors of stones as the baguette center in a diamond bracelet: one ruby, one emerald, one sapphire, and two with all diamonds. In 1925, Cartier supplied mounts allowing any three of the bracelets to be worn together as a bandeau tiara. The young Duchess of York did this through the early 1930s, in an era when a bandeau would have been a particularly fashionable choice.
The Queen Mother’s Cartier Bracelet Bandeau would be an unusual choice for Meghan, but still a possibility. “People don’t really wear bandeau tiaras like this anymore, but it does exist,” Order of Splendor says. We love this design – a midway point before a headband and a tiara, this style would be a great choice for Meghan’s modern aesthetic.
The Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara
Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara is probably the most famous British fringe, thanks to its use as Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding tiara in 1947. Queen Mary had the tiara created after another diamond fringe in the collection apparently didn’t suit her needs. The two fringes are still regularly confused.
The Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara features clean lines, but it is massive! “I’m biased because I love it; others think it’s too significant a piece for Meghan. Definitely don’t expect to see it on the wedding day, though,” says Order of Splendor.
The Spencer Tiara
The Spencer Heirloom tiara includes diamonds in silver settings mounted in gold in various floral shapes: stylized tulips, star-shaped flowers, and scrolling foliage. It was worn by both of Lady Diana Spencer’s older sisters, Jane and Sarah, at their weddings before it made its infamous debut at Diana’s wedding to Charles, the Prince of Wales in 1981.
It was speculated recently in the press that Meghan might choose to wear the Spencer family tiara in honour of her late mother-in-law. While she certainly could have access to it, we don’t see this as a highly likely possibility. In 2011 at the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, it was thought that choosing the Spencer Tiara would be a huge slight to the royal family. While tensions have certainly settled, this is the most unlikely choice due to the family ties. Even royalty has to navigate tricky family politics!
A Bespoke Tiara
If you can’t find a tiara that works… Create your own!
The other option is for Meghan to create a bespoke piece. Pippa Middleton recently wore a delicate, bespoke Robinson Pelham tiara to her 2017 wedding. “Something newly purchased or newly made: Sarah Ferguson received a newly purchased tiara. The Countess of Wessex received a tiara created from other pieces in the collection. The creation of a new tiara from an existing jewel is another of my top guesses for Meghan,” says Order of Splendor.
Any guesses? We would love to hear your thoughts… And don’t forget to enter your royal wedding predictions in the Meghan’s Mirror Royal Wedding Prediction Pool!
* Upon her marriage, Meghan will have the title “Princess Henry of Wales,” making her a princess by marriage, if she chooses to use that title. So yes, she will be a princess. Technically.
I think that Meghan will wear the Strathmore Rose tiara, the Lozenge Bandeau tiara, or a brand new tiara for the wedding. I envision her with her hair in a romantic yet classic updo, with the veil either attached to the tiara or attached to her hairstyle.
I can definitely see her wearing Queen Mary’s Fringe tiara later on at State Banquets and Diplomatic Receptions.
I love the updo Meghan has in the photo at the top of the page. It’s feminine, romantic yet playful and not at all fussy and “done”.
I really love her playful updos! They strike me as elegant yet relaxed!
My favorite is the Strathemore but i think the bandeau is more modern
After reading different posts from that blog, I’ve decided that I’d like to see Meghan wear several tiaras that the Queen has. The Strathmore Rose, the Sapphire and Diamond Bandeau, Queen Mary’s Fringe or Queen Adelaide’s Fringe, the Papyrus Tiara (the one Kate Middleton wore to a State Banquet), and/or one of the Teck tiaras! Of course I’d love for her to be given a brand new tiara too, but maybe an antique Art Deco bandeau (newly made tiaras don’t look as good, in my opinion).
I can also see Meghan wearing her hair up in a loose style with a very thin, airy veil, similar to the one Princess Charlene of Monaco wore on her wedding day. Her gown will be simple but made of gorgeous fabric such as silk satin or duchess silk. Something with a neckline like the Prince-of-Wales plaid jacket/blouse she recently wore, and 3/4 length sleeves. Her earring will possibly be simple diamond studs, an antique pair of pearl dangles, or a pair of Diana’s.
I bet whatever she wears for the wedding will be put on display at Buckingham Palace for the Summer exhibition! 🙂
P.S. Thank you for your lovely blog! I love coming on here and reading all the different posts! Also, thank you for linking us to such a wonderful royal jewelry/fashion blog!!
Thank you so much for the kind words! It really means a lot to us. Love your thoughts on the tiaras – I agree that there is something about a vintage tiara that we just can’t recreate today!
What a fun post!! I love looking at these lovely, sparkly tiaras and imagining which one Meghan might wear on her big day!!
I’ve often thought that the Strathmore Tiara would work very well with Meghan’s style and love of flowers but seeing the Cartier Bracelet Bandeau has me wondering if this wouldn’t be a much better fit for Meghan. I could totally see her wearing it headband style, not across the forehead as the QM did. It would provide the necessary sparkle and historical value required of a royal wedding tiara but would be a fun and playful alternative to the standard tiara. Plus the connection to the QM would certainly play well with Charles and I’m sure Harry, as well as the Queen.
My only tiara request would be that Meghan doesn’t wear a tiara worn by either Diana or Kate, there are comparisons enough let’s not invite more.
My vote is for the Teck Crescent. It hasn’t been worn publicly for decades. It’s now with Camilla but feels quite possible to be loaned to Meghan.
I also really like the bandeau! It fits her aesthetic and plus bracelets! Can be worn all the time.
My one last thought…. I think the Cartier Halo (what Kate wore getting married) – long shot but it also fits her aesthetic, and would make a lovely wedding tradition.
I wish she would wear the Cartier Halo but it will be out of the country for a Cartier exhibit during the time of the wedding. :/
I think a new tiara will be purchased/made for Meghan, for the same reason as Fergie, namely that Harry and Meghan and their descendants will move out of the main line of the Royal Family, but Meghan and any future daughters/granddaughters will still need a tiara to wear to certain events (e.g. coronations, state dinners and weddings).
My vote goes to the Strathmore Rose as well, though I could see her going for a bandeau style as well. I think she’d shy away from anything as heavy as that fringe tiara.
Of course, a tiara is a game-changer for me. I’d been muttering about a second wedding for Meghan being a chance to break away from the standard bridal wear. My hopes have even received a small boost from Jenny Packham bridesmaids dresses in black, such a colour it seems is not impossible.
But a full-on royal tiara, borrowed or created anew, needs the full fairy tale treatment of the white – or at least ivory, white is so harsh – statement gown. And I now my head in respect to the fairy tale!
Thanks for such a great post, & how brilliant to start a dedicated wedding page. I have it bookmarked.
Thanks for the kind words, Bertie! We are glad to hear you’ve bookmarked our Royal Wedding page 🙂
I absolutely LOVE this blog…it brings me such a welcome escape at the end of a hectic day! I’m voting for the Spencer tiara. Prince Harry (and William) have been very vocal about their mother in recent years in official interviews and have seized every opportunity to mention her and keep her memory alive. The new generation of royals are more forward thinking, and after all, Prince Harry IS a member of the Spencer family. 🙂 No one mentioned anything adverse about Diana wearing it at her wedding. I’d love to see her wear it as she is being welcomed into the Spencer family as well.
Thank you so, so much for your kind words, MariaElena! I can’t wait to see how Meghan grows into her role as a royal, and I hope we see many tiaras! 🙂
Since Meghan likes sleek modern jewelry, I’m hoping that she’ll wear a small diamond fringe tiara from the existing collection. It would be very versatile to wear for a wedding and other formal “tiara wearing events” until she’s loaned another tiara. Plus, fringe tiaras look good on just about anyone as long as their hair is styled nicely in comparison to the height/shape of the tiara.
As far as other tiaras go, I could see Meghan wearing the Strathmore Rose tiara but I have a suspicion that it’s being reserved for Princess Charlotte as her first tiara. I would love to see Meghan wearing a bandeau tiara of some sort (maybe with some pearls, emeralds, other colored stones) or something more Art Deco. Maybe she’ll receive a tiara as a wedding present!
This is very fun to speculate what Meghan will be wearing for the wedding!! Thank you so much for tiding us over until the big day! 🙂
I would love to see the Meghan wearing the strathmore rose tiara on her weddingday! It would look verry beautiful on her.
I really like her! She is such a inspiration!! she is perfect for Harry, because they are both ‘normal’ (if he wasnt Royal) they could be youre friends. I hope they are having a beautiful weddingday and a happy life together.
Much love from the Netherlands.
We also love the Strathmore Rose tiara! Thanks for your sweet comment!
I have said since the beginning that I think it will be the Cartier bandeaus worn headband style! It fits her modern aesthetic but still has the uumph and royal significance necessary for a wedding of this magnitude. I think she will have a dress sans lace (my vote is Stella McCartney, I have also thought that since the beginning) with clean, modern lines and her hair will be in an updo that will compliment the bandeaus. Can’t wait to see on the day – regardless, she will be absolutely stunning!
Queen Mary’s Lozenge Bandeau- small but mighty enough to serve her well for some time. As the older members of the extended royal family retire (all 5 Kents for example) she will have more tiara-wearing opportunities as Harry and she are pressed into official service at banquets, etc. Its got history, its got sparkle power and is quite lovely, but is no showboat in the world of royal tiaras.
I find the Princess Diana’s tiaras simply beautiful, as well as the royal wedding, Meghan.
I’m in doubt which is the most beautiful tiara!
I’m voting for the Spencer tiara. This tiara is very beautiful and delicate.