Princess Diana wore such a heavy tiara on her wedding day that is said to have given her a headache.
The former Princess of Wales – who died 25 years ago on August 31 1997 – became known for her eye-catching jewellery during her lifetime, including her sapphire engagement ring that is now proudly worn by Kate Middleton.
As part of her fairytale wedding ceremony when she tied the knot with Prince Charles in 1981, Diana wore a famous Spencer tiara.
Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, later recalled how the sparkling jewellery gave Diana a splitting headache on the day of her nuptials because she was not used to wearing the heavy set of jewels.
The death of Diana in 1997 saw the 36-year-old’s personal and royal jewellery either given to others or handed back to the original collections.
Personal pieces of Diana’s rings, necklaces and other items have been inherited by her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
Being born into an aristocratic family meant she owned some high-quality jewellery even before her marriage to Charles.
After the wedding, she was known to wear items from the Queen’s collection, which is said to contain more than 300 pieces.
Since her sons have married, their wives have since gone on to wear various pieces from Diana’s collection.
Does Kate Middleton wear Diana’s ring?
Yes, the Duchess of Cambridge was given Diana’s engagement ring when Prince William proposed.
The blingy engagement ring consists of 14 diamonds surrounding a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire set in 18-karat white gold. It was created by then-crown jeweller Garrard.
Prince Harry is said to have chosen the engagement ring as a memento after his mother’s passing but later decided to give it to his older brother as he reportedly wanted the ring to one day “be sat on the throne of England”.
Harry’s wife Meghan Markle has two of Diana’s diamonds in her engagement ring and wore an aquamarine cocktail ring that had belonged to her mother-in-law to the evening reception of their Windsor wedding.
Prince Charles ’ second wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall – whose relationship with the heir apparent during his marriage to Diana is said to have helped break the royal couple apart – has not been shy at adapting pieces previously worn by Diana.
Diana famously wore a green emerald and diamond 19th century necklace that had been gifted to her by the Queen Mother on her wedding day at St Paul’s Cathedral.
However, after Diana’s death, it was restored to the royal collection and Camilla, who will become Queen Consort when Charles takes the throne, has been spotted frequently wearing it as a brooch.
The item has remained in the Spencer collection and was recently available to be seen as part of a display of the UK’s largest exhibition of tiaras in 20 years.
Earl Spencer loaned the priceless family heirloom to Sotheby’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations – the first time the piece was exhibited in London since the 1960s.
Diana wore the elaborate garland tiara – which has a central heart-shaped motif set with diamonds flanked by continuous running scrolls, interspersed with star and trumpet-shaped flowers – on many occasions after her wedding, including at state dinners on royal overseas tours.
