Everyone is excited about the Duchess of Cambridge's first Buckingham Palace state banquet on October 20 because this means she gets a chance to play dress up much to the delight of the female eyes who will be watching Kate Middleton's every fashion move. The question on everyone's mind now is, will she wear a Spencer Tiara from Lady Diana or will she borrow one from the Queen?
Australian Women's Weekly reports that this event will only be the third time that Kate Middleton will wear a tiara in her life. The first time was during her very own royal wedding in 2011 when she sported the Cartier Halo Tiara atop her brown locks. The second time was when she wore Princess Margaret's Papyrus Tiara during the Queen's annual diplomatic reception in 2013. The Papyrus Tiara was previously also worn by Queen Elizabeth and the Queen Mother.
This is all standard protocol for Kate Middleton. As befitting a member of the royal family, Kate is expected to follow protocol - which means that placing a bejeweled crown on her head is standard for such events, the Daily Mail reports. Usually, such a jeweled crown is loaned by the Queen herself.
This inaugural appearance is an event that will have the Duchess in an evening gown and a tiara, and dining at the grand horseshoe-shaped table in the company of170 guests. The event will take place at the palace ballroom and is reportedly in honor of visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Other jeweled choices are the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, which was once Diana's, and the Queen Alexandra's Russian Kokoshnik Tiara. It is unlikely that Kate will wear the Queen Mary's Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which is popularly identified with the Queen herself. The Australian Women's Weekly bets on the Strathmore Rose Tiara because of its demure design, a crown once handed down to the Queen Mother from her parents in 1923.
But the tiara is not the only jeweled accessory that many royal watchers are putting an eye out for. The Daily Mail further reports that it is possible that four years on after joining the Firm, Kate may have well earned the Elizabeth II family order - a jewel encased image of the Queen on a chartreuse yellow ribbon.
This jewel has already been seen proudly displayed on the garb of the likes of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Princess Royal and the Countess of Wessex. Princess Diana herself received it early in her marriage. However Sarah, the Duchess of York, did not get one.
