Will we ever see Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in a tiara again? Now that she has stepped back from her life as a senior royal, she is unlikely to be borrowing Queen Elizabeth's tiaras. Because as it turns out, there are very strict royal rules that the women in the royal family have to follow when it comes to their headwear. Here are five important rules you need to know…
When can women wear a tiara?
It has been tradition for numerous years that only a married woman, or bride, can wear a tiara. The rule has been stretched to women on their wedding day. For the Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie, their wedding days marked the first time they ever wore a tiara.
Etiquette expert, Grant Harrold, previously told the BBC: 'For married ladies it was a sign of status and would show you were taken and not looking for a husband. For the gentleman it was a clear sign not to make advances toward the lady in question.'
Time restrictions
Some may think once married, a woman can wear a tiara whenever they choose. But it is not as simple as that. As Marie Claire previously reported, a tiara or crown cannot be worn before 6pm because diamond headwear is considered formal attire. However, there is an exception to the rule. When royal guests are required to attend a special royal engagement they can then break the rule, for example at the royal weddings, which take place earlier in the day.
Choosing the tiara
When a woman finally gets to wear a tiara, there are traditions to follow. It is usually expected that brides-to-be will choose a headpiece from their family collection on their wedding day, but following their special day the bride will then get to select their headwear from their husband’s family’s variety, Bustle has previously reported. However, Kate and Meghan were unable to follow this protocol as they were not part of the royal family, and instead the pair borrowed elaborate accessories from the British monarch.
Tiara's placement
There's a specific method to follow when placing a crown on your head. According to Tatler, the wearer should abide by the following procedure to get the correct position: place the thumb on the middle of the chin and the index finger in the gap between eyebrow, then simply move the fingers up until the thumb ends up where the index finger was, and that is where the base of the tiara must sit.
When to wear a tiara?
Once married women are allowed to wear a tiara to most formal occasions, but the decision to don the expensive headpiece, which has been in the royal family for decades, is based on the dress code as well as the wearer's personal preference, a source told Hello!. For example, in 2018, Meghan Markle attended a black tie reception in Fiji, and, though she could have worn a tiara, she refrained from doing so.
SEE: The Most Beautiful Royal Wedding Tiaras
1 of 19Queen Elizabeth II, 1947
The Queen Mary Fringed tiara, crafted by House of Garrard in 1919, was worn by Queen Elizabeth for her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947. Just hours before the ceremony, the tiara snapped, causing chaos. But thankfully, the tiara was mended by a court jeweller in the nick of time, leaving a slight gap between the middle spike and the one to its right.
2 of 19Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 2020
This tiara was later borrowed by Princess Beatrice in 2020 for her marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, for which the princess also wore a wedding gown borrowed from Queen Elizabeth.
3 of 19Princess Eugenie, 2018
Princess Eugenie did not follow suit when it came to her tiara. Everyone was certain she would wear the York family tiara, but she opted instead for the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara, her 'something borrowed' from the Queen.
4 of 19The Duchess of Cambridge, 2011
On her wedding day, Kate Middleton wore the Cartier Halo tiara. It was lent to her by the Queen and was originally bought by the Duke of York for the Queen Mother and handed down to the Queen on her 18th birthday.
5 of 19Meghan Markle, 2018
All eyes were on Meghan Markle as she approached St George's Chapel wearing Queen Mary's tiara from 1932. It was last worn by Princess Margaret in 1965 so the tiara had a 53-year wait before having its time to shine again.
6 of 19Lady Gabriella Windsor, 2019
Lady Gabriella Windsor kept it in the family when choosing her tiara. The Kent City of London Fringe tiara, was also worn by her mother, Princess Michael of Kent, her auntie, Princess Alexandra of Kent, and her grandmother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent.
7 of 19Zara Philips, 2011
Zara Phillips, granddaughter to the queen, married England rugby captain Mike Tindall a little after Kate Middleton and Prince William's ceremony. She wore the Meander tiara, which originally belonged to Princess Andrew of Greece.
8 of 19Lady Rose Windsor, 2008
For her wedding to George Gilman, Lady Rose Windsor wore the Iveagh tiara, also sometimes known as the Gloucester Leafage.
9 of 19Autumn Kelly, 2008
Autumn married Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, wearing the Festoon tiara. Anne, who was given the tiara by the World Wide Shipping Group back in the '70s, lent the tiara to Autumn specially for the wedding.
10 of 19Sophie Rhys Jones, 1999
Sophie wore a newly modeled tiara for her wedding to Prince Edward. It was a gift from the Queen and was apparently made from four pieces of a crown that was once owned by Queen Victoria.
11 of 19Lady Sarah Chatto, 1994
The three brooches that Princess Margaret was given as wedding gifts in 1960 were turned into a tiara - the Snowdon Floral tiara - for her daughter's wedding to Daniel Chatto.
12 of 19Lady Helen Taylor, 1992
The Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe tiara was the item of choice for Lady Helen's wedding to Timothy Verner Taylor.
13 of 19Sarah Ferguson, 1986
When Sarah Ferguson married Prince Andrew, she wore the tiara often known as the York Diamond tiara. It's a combination of platinum and diamond that also comprises parts of a necklace, bracelet and earring trio that was given to her as a wedding gift from the Queen.
14 of 19Princess Diana, 1981
Of all the royal tiaras, you're probably most familiar with the iconic Spencer tiara that Diana (formerly Diana Spencer) wore on her wedding day. It was a family heirloom that had been passed down between the Spencers since the 1930s.
15 of 19Princess Michael of Kent, 1978
Marie-Christine only actually wore a tiara for the ball that followed her wedding to Prince Michael, and went without for the ceremony. The tiara she did eventually wear was the Kent City of London Fringe tiara which was given to her by her mother-in-law, Princess Marina.
16 of 19Princess Anne, 1973
The Queen's only daughter Princess Anne had the honour of wearing the Russian Fringe tiara - a particularly special piece that her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, wore on her wedding day.
17 of 19Princess Alexandra of Kent, 1963
The Kent City of London Fringe tiara was also worn by Princess Alexandra of Kent on her wedding day. It was borrowed from her mother, Princess Marina, before Princess Alexandra passed it down to Princess Michael of Kent for her wedding 15 years later.
18 of 19Katherine Worsley, 1961
The Kent Diamond and Pearl Fringe tiara was Katharine's tiara of choice for her wedding to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.
19 of 19Princess Margaret, 1960
The Poltimore tiara was worn by Princess Margaret for her wedding. Apparently it can be broken down into eleven individual brooches as well as a tiara. After Margaret's death in 2002, the tiara was later auctioned at Christie's for $1.7million.
READ MORE: Is Meghan's Dressed-Down Pragmatism A Sign Of Things To Come?