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The politics of tiaras, much like royal life itself, comes with plenty of hidden clasps. For Princess Charlotte, the glitzy headpiece remains out of reach for now, though the right moment may not be too far off. Across Europe, many princesses are gifted their first tiara for their 18th birthday, but in the British monarchy, the rules around royal regalia follow a resolutely more reserved path. If tradition holds true, Charlotte may have to wait until her wedding day to sport the sparkling circlet, as they are typically reserved for taken women. As etiquette expert Grant Harrold crystallized to the BBC: “For married ladies it was a sign of status and would show you were taken and not looking for a husband. For the gentleman it was a clear sign not to make advances toward the lady in question.”
Princess Eugenie honored this tradition when she first wore a tiara on her wedding day to Jack Brooksbank. Likewise her sister, Princess Beatrice, debuted hers on her own big day in 2020. Still, the rules aren’t set in stone. The late Queen Elizabeth II received a tiara for her 18th birthday, but because of World War II, she had no public occasion to wear one until her wedding to Prince Philip, when she donned Queen Mary’s iconic Fringe tiara. There have also been a handful of other exceptions in the past. Both Princesses Margaret and Anne wore tiaras as teenagers, long before walking down the aisle. Could Charlotte be the next royal to claim her crown jewel moment sooner than expected?
Will Princess Charlotte break tradition?
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The British royal family is known to cling tightly to its customs, but there’s always a chance that Princess Charlotte could break the mold. With the diminishing size of The Firm, and fewer minor royals carrying out official duties going forward, Charlotte’s key position as a member of the direct line could see her represent the family at formal state events, where tiaras are generally expected as part of the formalwear. And while weddings, balls, and various state occasions are all traditional events to which one might reasonably don a tiara, as British auction house Christie’s pointed out, the rules governing when and where they can be worn are becoming increasingly looser and more flexible.
What’s almost certain, though, is that she won’t be getting her own, brand-new tiara. In keeping with the monarchy’s more modern approach, Charlotte will likely borrow from the existing, extensive collection of royal jewels, just like Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton did for their own wedding days. The Duchess of Sussex famously enchanted the crowds when she wore Queen Mary’s art deco-style diamond bandeau, while her long-rumored rival the Princess of Wales chose Queen Elizabeth II’s Cartier Halo tiara.
