The Princess of Wales debuted her first tiara of 2026 during the ongoing Nigerian state visit with a somewhat predictable choice.
Kate, 44, joined the Prince of Wales, King Charles, Queen Camilla, and senior royals in welcoming Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, to Windsor Castle for a glittering banquet last night.
The future Queen was impossibly regal in a flowing green evening gown by Andrew Gn, but it was her choice of royal jewels that stood out as Kate opted to wear the Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara for the occasion.
It is a stunning heirloom that’s been passed down through the royal generations, from Queen Mary to Queen Elizabeth II, to Princess Diana and, now, her daughter-in-law.
Since Kate first wore the diamond and pearl tiara in 2015, it has quickly become a favourite of the princess; she has worn the royal jewel 14 times in 10 years.
While Princess Diana once said the tiara is so heavy it gave her headaches, Kate has donned it with a somewhat surprising frequency – wearing the Lover’s Knot twice last year and in 2023.
However, this ‘repeated choice’ is far from accidental, a hair expert told the Daily Mail, adding it perfectly complements Kate’s ‘oval head shape’ as well her favourite hairstyles – loose waves or low chignons.
There’s also a surprisingly practical reason the tiara has become a ‘trusted piece’ for Kate, added Tatiana Karelina – and it has to do with making sure the jewel is securely fitted to the princess’s hair.
The Princess of Wales debuted her first tiara of 2026 during the ongoing Nigerian state visit with a somewhat predictable choice: the Cambridge Lover’s Knot
Since Kate first wore the diamond and pearl tiara in 2015, it has quickly become a favourite of the princess; she has worn the royal jewel 14 times in 10 years. She is seen here wearing the royal heirloom during Netherlands’s King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima’s state visit in 2018
The Lover’s Knot tiara was made by Royal jewellers Garrard in 1914 to Queen Mary’s personal design, using pearls and diamonds already in her possession.
It was a copy of one owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, who married the first Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of King George III, in 1818.
The tiara has a strong French influence, made to a new-classical design on 19 open-work diamond arches and enclosing an oriental pearl drop from a diamond lover’s knot bow.
Queen Mary used her existing jewels – including her dismantled Some Ladies of England Tiara, pearls from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and pearls from her favourite brooches – to create the bespoke piece.
Queen Mary later removed the top layer of pearls and returned them to her brooches.
In her will, Queen Mary left the tiara to the Queen, who wore it frequently, including at an evening event in 1955.
In 1981, she gave it as a wedding present to Prince William’s mother, Diana, who wore it for the first time at the state opening of parliament that November.
After Diana’s tragic death in 1997, the tiara was kept in a safe at Buckingham Palace before it was handed to Kate, then the Duchess of Cambridge, in 2015.
Kate first wore the family jewel on December 8, 2015, when she attended the Queen’s annual Diplomatic Reception in a touching tribute to her mother-in-law.
She also wore the tiara for the first state banquet of King Charles’s reign when he hosted the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, in 2022
Since then, the mother-of-three has worn it 14 times – including for the royal wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa in 2023, the first state banquet of King Charles’s reign in 2022, and during US president Donald Trump’s state visit last year.
‘The Princess of Wales’s repeated choice of the Lover’s Knot Tiara is far from accidental,’ said Tatiana. ‘Pieces like this are not only historic jewels, but architectural elements that must harmonise with the wearer’s natural proportions and styling preferences.’
The hair expert noted that the Lover’s Knot tiara has a ‘beautifully balanced, slightly curved structure with suspended pearls that draw the eye downward’.
‘This works perfectly with the Princess’s signature soft volume through the crown and her preference for smooth, polished waves or low chignons, which suit Kate perfectly.
‘Her oval head shape, with a refined hairline, allows the tiara to sit securely without overwhelming her features, while still creating that regal elongation through the silhouette,’ Tatiana explained.
But that’s not the only reason Kate seems to gravitate towards the stunning heirloom, as Tatiana said that ‘there’s a practical elegance at play’.
‘When a tiara consistently complements both bone structure and styling, it becomes a trusted piece.
‘Hairstylists often build discreet internal support, think subtle padding, add expertly made hair toppers, anchoring pins, and precise placement to ensure stability and comfort.
‘Once a particular tiara “fits” perfectly with these mechanics, it becomes the most reliable choice for high-profile occasions where movement and lighting all matter,’ she continued.
This might explain why Kate, who has four tiaras at her disposal, keeps coming back to the Lover’s Knot.
‘Kate’s choice reflects both aesthetic harmony and professional pragmatism. It’s not just about tradition; it’s about what photographs flawlessly, feels secure, and enhances her natural poise,’ Tatiana concluded.
Despite its weight, the piece was equally adored by Princess Diana, who wore it to the opening of parliament in 1981, shortly after marrying Charles.
Kate wearing the tiara at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan in 2023
Kate’s mother-in-law was pictured in the stunning piece several times over her lifetime, frequently wearing it to evening events.
Tiaras are usually given on loan to a royal for an entire lifetime. The other tiaras in Kate’s collection include the Lotus Flower, the Strathmore Rose and the Cartier Halo.
But while the Lovers’ Knot gets polished significantly more than the rest of the tiaras in the royal vault, one has not seen the light of day since the Princess of Wales’ wedding day in 2011 – the Cartier Halo.
Kate was the picture of elegance as she shared a toast with the Nigerian president during last night’s state banquet hosted by King Charles.
She showed the guests the best of British hospitality, smiling warmly as she took her seat between the president and another of his entourage.
The rest of the present royals added to the dazzling display, with the Prince of Wales wearing white tie with the Windsor tailcoat and his Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the ‘Lesser George’.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla sported a cream embroidered gown by Fiona Clare with a sapphire and diamond tiara with matching earrings, both belonging to Queen Elizabeth II and given to her by her late father, George VI, as a wedding gift.
The King also wore a blinding array of diamond-studded orders as he led the procession into the banquet hall and stood to give a speech.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, took their seats among the British royals for the crescendo of their two-day visit.
Running the length of St George’s Hall, a 155-foot dining table had been laden with sweet-smelling spring flowers gathered locally, bathed with the light of 143 candles.
As well as the King, Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, other royals attending included the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Notable Nigerians include author Sir Ben Okri, artist Yinka Shonibare, footballer Eniola Aluko, singer Tiwa Savage, presenter Ade Adepitan, athlete Christine Ohuruogu and Diana Awards chief Tessie Ojo.
In a speech, the King began by wishing his guests ‘peace, blessings and an abundance of joy’ during such a holy month.
He highlighted the fact that, in January, Nigeria became the UK’s biggest export market in Africa.
He also praised the UK’s large Nigerian diaspora, which he described as a ‘living bridge of over half a million people who connect our nations… and help make our cultures richer, our shared security stronger and our economies more prosperous’.
The King acknowledged that there are ‘chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks’ but said that ‘history is not merely a record of what was done to us – it is a lesson in how we go forward together to continue building a future rooted in growth and hope for all, and worthy of of those who borne the pains of the past’.
He concluded to cheers: ‘Naija No Dey Carry Last’ – Nigerians Never Come Last.
![Joseph Duggar (pictured), a married father-of-four, was arrested on Wednesday in connection with allegations that he touched a nine-year-old girl on her underwear and [private parts]. Joseph, 31, the younger brother of convicted [sexual intercourse offender Josh Duggar, was arrested in connection with lewd and lascivious behavior involving unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a statement from the Bay County Sheriff's Office in Lynn Haven, Florida , announced. On Wednesday, an investigator with the Tontitown Police Department in Tontitown, Arkansas, reached out to the BCSO 'regarding a report of past sexual abuse.' An alleged victim, identified as a 14-year-old girl, told law enforcement about a series of inappropriate incidents Joseph Duggar was involved in around five years back, police said.](https://citigist.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Reality-TV-star-accused-of-sexual-activity-with-nine-year-old-girl-260x140.jpg)
