Kate Middleton Honors Princess Diana With Shared Favorite Accessory

Laura Rizzo ChaganiThu, March 26, 2026 at 2:53 AM UTC

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Kate Middleton and Princess Diana are tied together for many reasons, including their shared love of one specific tiara.

Kate has worn the Queen Mary Lover’s Knot tiara a total of 15 times since becoming a member of the royal family, most recently during the Nigerian state banquet on March 18. The stunning diamond and pearl headpiece, which features 19 interlocking diamond arches, lover's knot bows, and 19 dangling pear-shaped baroque pearls, was one of Diana’s go-to accessories during her royal tenure while married to King Charles.

Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales arrives to attend a State Banquet in in St George's Hall, at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on March 18, 2026, on the first day of a two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom by Nigeria's President. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images (Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Former royal butler Grant Harrold told InStyle he believes Diana is behind the “emotional reason” Kate opts to wear the Lover’s Knot tiara so frequently.

"It’s very much a tribute to Diana, as it was one of her favorite pieces,” Harrold said. “I believe Kate wears this [tiara] to keep her late mother-in-law’s memory alive … There are obviously many comparisons between the two royal women, and this is a way Kate can ensure people continue to talk about and remember Diana. I think it’s very clever and special and shows how thoughtful Kate is.”

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In addition to honoring Diana’s legacy, the tiara most likely holds a special place in Prince William’s heart, as well.

“Kate will know how much William misses his mother, so I think she makes a conscious effort to incorporate elements of her during her time as Princess of Wales,” Harrold continued. “I’m sure [William] will remember his mum wearing the tiara, and I imagine it will mean a lot to him when he sees Kate in the piece.”

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 29: Diana, Princess of Wales wears the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara (Queen Mary's Tiara) and diamond earrings during a banquet on April 29, 1983 in Auckland, New Zealand. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge wore the same tiara at a diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace in December 2015. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)Anwar Hussein/Getty Images (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)

After receiving the iconic accessory as a gift from Queen Elizabeth II in 1981, Diana wore the Lover’s Knot tiara at several high-profile events, despite it being “so heavy to wear that it is said to have given her headaches,” per Tatler. The tiara went back to the Buckingham Palace vaults after Diana and Charles’ divorce in 1996, where it stayed out of the public eye for nearly 20 years. In 2015, Kate, who was then the Duchess of Cambridge, re-debuted the Lover’s Knot tiara for the first time during an annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace.

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The Lover’s Knot was commissioned from Garrard, which served as the official Crown Jeweller to the British monarchy for 164 years, for Queen Mary in 1913. It was inherited by her granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II, who also wore the piece for many years before gifting it to Diana after her wedding to Charles.

While Kate has been a working royal for nearly two decades, she has only sported a small, curated collection of tiaras. The Lover’s Knot has made the most appearances by far, followed by the Lotus Flower Tiara, worn by the Princess of Wales three times. Kate also wore the Cartier Halo Tiara during her 2011 wedding to William, the Strathmore Rose Tiara, and Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara.

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”