Countdown: Four days to go
MEGHAN Markle will have a priceless collection of jewelled headwear to choose from to complete her wedding day outfit. Ms Markle could pay a poignant tribute to Prince Harry’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales by wearing the famous Spencer Tiara.
The Spencer tiara
The princess wore the family heirloom for her wedding to the Prince of Wales in 1981. The piece has an elaborate design of stylised flowers decorated with diamonds in silver settings. William and Harry inherited it when they both turned 30.
Grand Duchess Vladimir’s tiara
This imposing tiara features 15 interlaced diamond circles with large pearl droplets. Tsar Nicholas II’s aunt, the Grand Duchess, hid the piece in the vault at Vladimir Palace in 1918 when she fled St Petersburg after the revolution. It was later sold to Elizabeth II’s grandmother, Queen Mary, and inherited by the Queen.
The Indian tiara
The large but delicatelooking piece features diamond lotus flowers and arches, and wraps nearly all the way around the wearer’s head. Prince Albert had it made as an opal tiara for Queen Victoria in 1853. But Queen Alexandra later replaced the opals, which were thought unlucky, with rubies.
Queen Mary’s Fringe tiara
The Queen wore Queen Mary’s Fringe tiara when she married the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.
Queen Alexandra’s Russian Kokoshnik tiara
Formed of 61 platinum bars and bejewelled with 488 diamonds, it was a gift to Alexandra on her silver wedding anniversary in 1888. It is based on a Russian peasant girl’s headwear, then in fashion. — BPA