For the royal family, there exists an abundance of traditions regarding headwear that can be highly controversial. There are certain events and particular headpieces that are acceptable. It would be viewed as a social gaffe to don the wrong one at a given occasion, especially during a wedding. Therefore, it may not be surprising to learn that the tiara Meghan Markle wore on her wedding day was not her first choice of headwear.
The royal family has a specific set of rules for when and where women are allowed to wear tiaras. Women in the royal family can wear tiaras to formal events that occur after 6:00 p.m. However, for any event prior to that time, a hat is required. On the most significant day of a female royal family member’s life, her wedding day, she is allowed to wear a tiara.
When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, she wore a dazzling diamond tiara. However, reports have surfaced suggesting that Markle’s stunning choice was not her initial selection. Instead, the Duchess of Sussex had her heart set on an alluring emerald tiara.
The problem is that controversy surrounds the emerald tiara. For some of the royal family, certain family heirlooms are somewhat tainted. The emerald tiara is one of those pieces.
Richard Eden, the Daily Mail’s diary editor, mentioned, “There was one tiara that, I think, Meghan had expressed an interest in wearing. Then it was pointed out that there were Russian connections, which were all a bit awkward. Then it was decided that she wouldn’t wear that one.”
Robert Lacey, a royal historian, corroborated that Markle desired the controversial emerald tiara. According to Lacey, “Unconfirmed by the palace—but not denied—we were told that [Queen Elizabeth II] felt that she had to say ‘no’ to Meghan’s first choice.” Because the “beautiful emerald headdress” supposedly came “from Russia,” Markle was not permitted to wear it.
Lacey also mentioned, “The treasure was one of those that had found its way into Windsors’ hands through ‘undefined’ not to say dodgy channels—and for an undisclosed price—in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution.”
It turns out that Queen Consort Camilla is presently in the same predicament. The Queen Consort desires to wear the renowned Koh-i-Noor 105.6-carat diamond tiara to the upcoming coronation. However, there are tensions surrounding the tiara since it was last worn in 1937 by the Queen Mother.
The controversial diamond tiara was given to Queen Victoria by the 11-year-old Maharaja Duleep Singh in 1849, as part of the Treaty of Lahore. Due to the colonial history of the treaty, the royal family may be accused of cultural insensitivity if the piece is worn.
King Charles III may prohibit Camilla from donning the similarly controversial diamond tiara since Markle did not wear the emerald tiara due to its Russian connections.
