Photo: Getty
It was a dazzling display of diamonds as queens and princesses from around the world donned their finest tiaras for the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa of Jordan. Following a reception in the garden of Zahran Palace, in Amman, the newlyweds celebrated their nuptials with a white tie reception at Al Husseiniya Palace. The dress code required gowns and tiaras for women, and white tie and medals for men.
The lavish occasion presented a rare opportunity for royal watchers and jewellery aficionados to lay eyes on more than a dozen tiaras in a single room. Typically these royal jewels are only brought out on select formal occasions like a state banquet, or, in the UK, for the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace. They have also been worn for banquets and balls celebrating weddings, milestone birthdays and anniversaries (like Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway’s 18th last year), as well as coronations, although King Charles III and Queen Camilla chose to forgo this formality.
The bride, Princess Rajwa, dazzled in a newly commissioned tiara, while Queen Máxima of the Netherlands wore a treasure that dates back centuries. The Princess of Wales opted for her favourite Lover’s Knot Tiara, which she wore with a new Jenny Packham dress. Princess Beatrice was seen for only the second time in a tiara, wearing the York Tiara commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II for Sarah, Duchess of York to wear at her wedding to Prince Andrew. Here, Tatler takes a look at some of the most dazzling diadems on display.
Princess Rajwa of Jordan in a new Arabic Scroll Tiara
Photo: Getty
Princess Rajwa wore a new tiara for her wedding, which was reportedly created by FRED and has Arabic writing on the side which reads ‘Rajwatum min Allah’. Rajwa means hope and the entire message translates to ‘Hope from God/Allah’.
The Princess of Wales in the Lover’s Knot Tiara
Photo: Instagram.com
The Lover’s Knot Tiara was commissioned by Queen Mary in the early 1900s, using pearls from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. It was gifted to Princess Diana upon her wedding to Prince Charles (now King Charles III) in 1981, but she returned it to Queen Elizabeth II after they divorced. The pretty headpiece features 19 baroque pearls and rose-cut diamonds which are set in heart-shaped knots. It is a favourite of the Princess of Wales.
Princess Amalia of the Netherlands in the Ruby Peacock Tiara
Photo: Instagram.com
The Ruby Peacock tiara was made in 1897 by Schürmann during the reign of Queen Wilhelmina, though the rubies in the piece were apparently owned by Queen Sophie, who died in 1877, according to The Court Jeweller. The central peacock element is detachable and can be worn separately.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in the Stuart Tiara
Photo: Instagram.com
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands opted for the Stuart Tiara for the banquet. It dates back to Queen Mary II of England, wife and co-regnant of King William III, who was born William of Orange. The central diamond alone weighs 40 carats.
Princess Beatrice of York in the York Tiara
Photo: Royal Hashemite Court
Princess Beatrice dazzled in the York Tiara, which was commissioned by the late Queen Elizabeth II for Sarah Ferguson ahead of her marriage to Prince Andrew in 1986. Crafted by royal jewellers Garrard, the York Tiara features whirls of foliate diamond scrolls, which are punctuated by round white diamonds before rising to a peak at the centre.
Queen Rania of Jordan in the Arabic Scroll Tiara
Photo: Royal Hashemite Court
The Arabic Scroll Tiara features the prayer ‘Allah is Great’ in Arabic lettering. Larger pear-shaped diamonds are also incorporated in the piece, which was made by Yan Sicard in 2005. The tiara was reportedly a gift to Rania from her husband.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium in the Vestey Tiara
Photo: Instagram.com
Princess Elisabeth wore the Vestey Tiara, which she first debuted at the 18th birthday party of Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway in 2022. The diamond floral festoon tiara is an antique piece that her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, bought for her 18th birthday in 2019 and features design elements popular during the late 19th-century. It is thought to be the Vestey Tiara, once owned by a British aristocrat, although this has not been confirmed.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark in the Edwardian Tiara
Photo: Instagram.com
Crown Princess Mary’s tiara is also able to be worn as a necklace. It was first worn by the Crown Princess in April 2015 at a concert celebrating her mother-in-law’s 75th birthday in Aarhus.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in the Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara
Photo: Instagram.com
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden opted for a tiara from her mother Queen Silvia of Sweden’s personal jewellery collection. With a classic laurel leaf design, the tiara dates from the early 1900s and has been worn by many Swedish royals, including Princess Margaret of Sweden, and Princess Lilian of Sweden.
Queen Sofía of Spain in the Niarchos Rubies
Photo: Instagram.com
Queen Sofía opted for rubies, made by Van Cleef and Arpels, which were given as a wedding gift to her in 1962 by Stavros Niarchos, the famous Greek shipping magnate.
The Queen of Bhutan in a sleek band of diamonds
Photo: Instagram.com
The Queen of Bhutan opted for a sleek row of diamonds in her hair, as opposed to a more traditional tiara.
Originally published in Tatler.com
