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The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, donned a siren-red dress at the Diplomatic Corps event this week at Buckingham Palace. The long-sleeved dress was designed by Jenny Packham and included shimmering floral embroidery, a royal blue ribbon over her breast with the Royal Victorian Order emblem, a white enamel Maltese cross with a Tudor crown, and a yellow Family Order. The Princess of Wales’s outfit was impressive overall, but it wasn’t necessarily her dress; rather, it was the Lotus Flower Tiara she wore with it.
The royal family has a unique history with the diamond piece. The necklace that was first handed to the late Queen Mother by her husband, George VI, in April of 1923 as a wedding gift formed the basis for the Lotus Flower Tiara. Garrard, a well-known jeweler of the royal family, made the necklace. There are other royals besides the Duchess and the Queen Mother who have worn the diamonds. On several occasions spanning decades, Princess Margaret also donned the tiara.
