Queen Camilla's Best Tiara Moments

When the late Diana Spencer and then-Prince Charles got married all the way back in 1981, it was simply assumed that Diana would become queen when Charles eventually assumed the throne. However, as everyone knows — whether you're a fan of the royal family or not — Diana and Charles ultimately went their separate ways.

The two split in 1992 and finalized their divorce in 1996. During that time, Diana famously said that there were three people in their marriage. That third person was, of course, Charles' longtime lover then known as Camilla Parker Bowles. Charles and Camilla's relationship was even stronger than it was controversial — years after Diana's tragic death in 1997, Charles and Camilla finally tied the knot. It took a while for the public to come around to Camilla. Diana was universally adored, whereas Camilla was once named "the most hated woman in Britain." Still, her persistence, consistency, and down-to-Earth demeanor helped her win over at least a portion of Britain's citizens.

Naturally, wearing tiaras has become a fairly common practice for Camilla since marrying into the firm, and as the queen consort, she has access to the extensive royal jewelry collection, which according to the palace, features 100 pieces and more than 23,000 gemstones. Sticking with favorites and varying her choices on occasion, Camilla has had some stunning tiara moments throughout her life as a royal.

The late Queen Elizabeth lent Camilla multiple tiaras

One of the first tiara moments for many royal women — those who marry into the family, at least — comes amid the royal wedding. Princess Catherine wore her first tiara when she married Prince William, as did Meghan Markle when she and Prince Harry tied the knot. However, Camilla, Queen Consort, chose not to wear a sparkling headpiece when she and then-Prince Charles got married in 2005, and it all had to do with the nature of the event.

As they had both been married and divorced before, Charles and Camilla had a civil wedding ceremony instead of a wedding held in a church. As such, Camilla decided to forgo a tiara and instead wore two different headpieces throughout the wedding proceedings. For the actual ceremony, Camilla opted for a white hat from designer Philip Treacy; for the blessing, she chose an opulent headpiece with feathered detailing.

Camilla's lack of a tiara wasn't the only royal element missing. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip declined to attend given the queen's role as the Church of England's leader — divorce is not supported by the church and its teachings. Nevertheless, after Camilla and Charles married, Elizabeth lent her daughter-in-law three tiaras on a semi-permanent loan, which we've loved getting to see Camilla wear over the years.

Camilla chose an ornate tiara for a state banquet back in 2005

It goes without saying that tiaras worn by members of the royal family are incredibly ornate, but Camilla, Queen Consort, took things to the next level in 2005.

Shortly after she and King Charles III tied the knot, Camilla donned an impressive headpiece while attending a state banquet in London. Honoring the Norwegian royal family, Camilla stepped out at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Norway's independence while wearing the Delhi Durbar Tiara.

Camilla looked radiant in matching earrings, a statement necklace, and a black evening gown. No one could ignore the enormous tiara, which was very on-brand for the then-Duchess of Cornwall, who has often opted for large statement pieces. The tiara was originally commissioned by Queen Mary, who later gave it to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on a permanent loan. A favorite of hers, the late royal wore the Delhi Durbar tiara on numerous occasions, including on the royal family's tour of South Africa in 1947. The tiara was in her possession until her death, when it was then placed in the care of Queen Elizabeth II and later lent to Camilla. Surprisingly, however, the late monarch never wore the Delhi Durbar tiara, at least not publicly, throughout her time on the throne.

The queen consort looked the part during a 2013 international visit

Being a senior member of the royal family means making appearance after appearance, both close to home and abroad. Back in 2013, the then-Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles traveled to Sri Lanka on behalf of the crown and attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. While in the country, Charles and Camilla attended the Commonwealth government's dinner held at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, and Camilla brought out a dazzling tiara for the occasion.

Donning a beautiful mint evening gown, Camilla opted for a favorite and wore the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara for the event. She paired it with drop-down earrings and a swept-back hairstyle, letting the tiara stand out at the dinner in question.

The Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara — the star of the show — didn't always look as opulent as it does now. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother thought it needed a little more pizzaz, and as such sought Cartier's help in order to add the diamond clusters at the top of the headpiece. A favorite of the Queen Mother's, the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara was one she wore publicly up until her death in 2002. The late Queen Elizabeth II, however, never wore this exact headpiece in public. Given the tiara's rich history and connection to a past consort, though, it's no wonder Camilla became so fond of it.

Camilla chose a sentimental tiara for an appearance in 2015

If you think that tiaras are solely reserved for the royal family, think again. Britain is home to a number of aristocrats and titleholders who rub shoulders with the royals on many occasions. In fact, Camilla, Queen Consort, had a tiara prior to becoming royalty. Camilla has kept a hold of her family's headpiece and donned it back in 2015 while attending a dinner held by the Royal Academy of Arts to mark the opening of its summer exhibition. 

Called the Cubitt Tiara – or sometimes the Cubitt-Shand Tiara, bearing the family name — the headpiece originally was made for Camilla's grandmother, Sonia Keppel. Like many other heirlooms, it has been passed down throughout the family. Camilla first wore the tiara as a royal in 2005, when she attended a state reception held at Buckingham Palace. She dusted it off again for a state event in 2014, and later for the 2015 dinner celebrating the Royal Academy of Arts. It may not be as opulent as Delhi Durbar Tiara or the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara, but the Cubitt Tiara has a heartfelt tie to Camilla's family.

Camilla dazzled at the State Opening of Parliament in 2016

Although she has undoubtedly access to a large amount of jewelry, Camilla seems partial to the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara. Interestingly, the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara was not a royal piece when it was designed. However, high society regular Margaret Greville, for whom the tiara was made, eventually gifted the piece to King George VI and The Queen Mother. 

Camilla has worn it several times over the years, including at the State Opening of Parliament in 2016. One of the most formal events of the parliamentary year, the opening of Parliament is marked by a speech from the monarch (then Queen Elizabeth II) and gives the public an opportunity to see royals and politicians mingle (something that doesn't happen all too often). During her speech, Elizabeth noted the governing body's agenda for the forthcoming year, highlighting prison reform, education fees, and other important topics.

Camilla pulled out all the stops during the King and Queen of Spain's visit in 2017

It's only fitting that when wearing a tiara, you go all out with your other jewelry, right? The controversial royal has often pulled out all the stops when it comes to dressing for an occasion, and that was certainly her approach in 2017.

Welcoming King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain to Buckingham Palace, Camilla was pictured on her way to the state banquet absolutely dripping in jewels. She chose the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara for the occasion and paired it with bold, diamond drop-down earrings, ornate strands of pearls, and a diamond bracelet. Given that it was the first time a current king and queen from Spain had visited the United Kingdom since 1986, it seems as if Camilla wanted to make sure they knew just how impressive the crown jewels really are.

The queen consort donned a cream evening gown by Bruce Oldfield — a go-to designer of hers. She also accompanied the look with her Dame Grand Cross of the Victorian Order sash and the Queen's Family Order brooch, which was given to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II to mark her 60th birthday.

Camilla's tiara helped her make a splash when hosting Donald Trump

Given that she was such a prominent figure, it's not surprising that the late Queen Elizabeth II rubbed shoulders with U.S. presidents. Nevertheless, all eyes were on her and other royals in a heightened capacity when former president Donald Trump and Melania Trump traveled to the United Kingdom for a state visit in 2019. Camilla, Queen Consort, dazzled during the state banquet and had everyone talking.

For the event, Camilla wore a familiar silhouette — a cream evening gown, a bold string of pearls, and the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara. She carried a small evening bag posed next to then-Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, and the Trumps. The facial expressions were, as pictured, quite hilarious. Camilla's strained look was just the beginning — not even a dazzling tiara could cover up the strained body language.

The day after the state banquet, Camilla welcomed the Trumps once again — this time sans tiara. When the then-president's back was turned, Camilla winked at the dozens of cameras, seemingly poking some fun. "In that one wink Camilla has redeemed herself entirely to me. All is forgiven!" one person tweeted. "Camilla's face is the look your mum gives you when you say you want to go home," another joked. It seems Camilla knows how to command attention whether or not she's wearing crown jewels.

The queen consort looked radiant in diamonds during the opening of Parliament in 2019

In October 2019, Camilla, Queen Consort, served us a stunning look thanks in large part to the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara. Camilla arrived at the Houses of Parliament that month to witness Queen Elizabeth II's speech, marking the political moment. Camilla wore a pair of simple drop-down pearl earrings, a three-strand necklace of pearls, her Dame Grand Cross of the Victorian Order sash, and the Queen's Family Order brooch. Choosing a sleek, cream gown for the event, the look was classic Camilla at her finest.

The appearance of the royals at the Opening of Parliament was certainly strained, despite the opulent show they put on courtesy of the crown jewels. The queen directly addressed the strains Brexit was forcing onto the British public — a surprising move given that the royals tend to stay apolitical. Camilla and then-Prince Charles also advocated for a smooth transition away from the European Union and even traveled to Germany earlier in the year to assist. No tiara could truly distract from such an important conversation, but the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara definitely tried its best on opening day.

Camilla brought the dazzling sapphire tiara out of lockdown

When the pandemic first hit, many of us were under the impression that lockdown would last a couple of weeks and then everything would go back to normal. The reality, as we all have experienced, was far from that. The world was forced into a prolonged stay-at-home order that became the norm. The royal family, naturally, was also impacted by lockdown protocols and continued their charity work via video appearances, phone calls, and home-based events. However, when they did finally get to step back into the spotlight and celebrate, the royals pulled out all the stops — Camilla, Queen Consort, was no exception.

As the first time a reception for the members of the Diplomatic Corps had been held since 2019, the reception was a homecoming in a way, and Camilla selected the Belgian Sapphire Tiara for the occasion.

Sparkling in the stunning option, Camilla was seen waving from the backseat of her vehicle, looking radiant in the tiara and coordinating necklace and earrings. The royal paired the tiara with an evening gown by Anna Valentine — a modest black option that didn't compete with her dazzling headpiece. What a way to make an entrance, right?

Camilla made a grand entrance as queen consort with the Belgian Sapphire Tiara

Immediately following Queen Elizabeth II's death in September 2022, Prince Charles became King Charles III and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, became the queen consort. Charles, of course, finally fulfilled the role that he has been preparing for his entire life and Camilla stepped into a heightened position of importance that few could've predicted back in the day.

Clearly understanding the gravity of her royal promotion, Camilla went all out for her first state banquet held at Buckingham Palace in November 2022. Honoring Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, the royal affair was a show-stopping event, full of incredible looks and stunning jewels.

Princess Catherine wore the Lover's Knot Tiara for the event, whereas Camilla paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth by donning the Belgian Sapphire Tiara. A favorite of the late monarch's, the dazzling tiara contrasted with Camilla's light blonde hair, making her stand out among the crowd. The queen consort additionally chose to wear the matching bracelet and necklace, completing her sapphire-dripped look in a way only a royal could get away with.

Camilla kept the rest of her look rather simple, donning a Bruce Oldfield evening gown. Additionally, she wore her royal regalia, which is made up of the Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order star and sash as well as her Order of the Garter sash.

The queen consort chose a favorite sparkly tiara while on an international trip

In April 2023, King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, traveled to Berlin, Germany, on an official overseas state visit — their first as king and queen. Honored at a state banquet held at The Bellevue Palace, Charles and Camilla posed for the camera, each looking incredibly regal and dressed to the nines. Unsurprisingly, Camilla chose to wear a familiar favorite headpiece, the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara. This tiara is also known as the Greville Tiara, as it is named after its first owner, Dame Margaret Greville.

In addition to wearing this treasured diamond piece, Camilla rounded out her ensemble with the late Queen Elizabeth II's fringe necklace and wore a black and silver evening gown by treasured designer Bruce Oldfield, as People magazine reported. Clearly, Camilla knows what works for her — and likes to stick with it.

You will likely never see Camilla wearing the Lover's Knot Tiara

The royal jewels range in opulence, age, and significance, and are often intrinsically tied to a particular royal. When Diana Spencer was a working royal, she became partial to the Lover's Knot Tiara, a gorgeous piece that was designed for Queen Mary. Diana always sparkled while wearing the 38-pearl adorned headpiece, and donned it for the last time in 1991.

When Diana and then-Prince Charles got divorced, Diana had to return the Lover's Knot Tiara back to the royal vault. Despite it no longer being in her possession, the particular headpiece became so intrinsically tied to Diana that it wasn't seen again until 2015, when Princess Catherine wore it publicly for the first time. Though Camilla, Queen Consort, has access to the tiara, she has never been seen in it — no doubt due to Diana's ever-present influence over the royals and their decisions.

Not wearing the Lover's Knot Tiara isn't the only move Camilla has taken in order to remain respectful of Diana's legacy. Though she was technically named the Princess of Wales when she married Charles, Camilla never used the title publicly out of deference for the late royal. The title now belongs to, and is publicly used by, Princess Catherine.