Meghan Markle walked down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in 2018 to marry her husband, Prince Harry. The Duchess of Sussex stepped out wearing Queen Mary’s Bandeau Tiara, which had rarely been seen in public.
Queen Mary, the paternal grandmother of the late Queen Elizabeth II, was last seen donning the diadem in 1949 to watch a pantomime in the Royal Box at the London Casino.
Many assumed Meghan would wear a tiara with a link to Princess Diana, the late mother of the Duke of Sussex. So it was a surprise to many when she wore a tiara that royal fans knew very little about and had no direct link to the man she was marrying.
Mr Venkat Bhanu Prakash Jasti, a proprietor of Ananth Diamonds, spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk to explain why Meghan chose to wear Queen Mary’s Bandeau Tiara.
He said: “In his newly released memoir, ‘Spare’, Harry recounts the moment Meghan tried on tiaras for her wedding day, (eventually picking Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau), with the words, ‘It was beautiful, seemingly made for Meg’.
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“We have to agree as we look at pictures of the blushing bride walking down the aisle. Meghan wore an A-line Givenchy gown that had simple yet elegant lines. The diamond-studded tiara that caught the light streaming into the cathedral instantly stole the show.
“Markle, a commoner, was having a royal dream wedding. Naturally, all eyes would be upon the tiara, a piece of jewellery reserved for royalty; the headdress had to be the statement piece.
“The bandeau tiara struck the perfect balance of being magnificent yet complementing the Duchess’s signature style: her clean and elegant look.”
The expert provided some historical context for the diadem which goes some way to explaining why Meghan chose this specific tiara.
Mr Jasti explained why the Duchess did not choose a tiara with any links to the late Princess of Wales.
“As deduced from ‘Spare’, the Duchess seems to have chosen the bandeau tiara – after trying on several others – as it appeared to have been perfect for her,” the expert noted.
“Although the Spencer tiara is gorgeous, the bandeau chosen by Meghan has a more modern look.
“A bandeau – as compared to a classic tiara – is lower in height and it complimented the Duchess’s face cut and veil beautifully. But Meghan did wear Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring which was spotted as she waved to the crowds.”
Mr Jasti gave a rough estimation of how much Queen Mary’s Bandeau Tiara would be worth in 2023.
He claimed: “It’s hard to put a price on something as historic as the tiara. The tiara showcases the timeless art deco style, has a fantastic brooch of diamonds, and is studded with pave-set diamonds held together in platinum. The piece is intricately crafted with attention to detail and befitting of royalty. Today, a piece like this would be worth around £3million easily.”
Mr Jasti explained whether Princess Lilibet will be allowed to wear the royal tiara when the time comes for her to marry.
He continued: “Princess Lilibet Diana has just very recently been christened. As a member of the Royal Family – even prior to the christening – she had the privilege of access to the collection of royal tiaras. Whether she chooses to wear one or not, only time will tell!”
