The Cartier Halo Tiara’s most famous outing was perhaps when it was worn by the future Princess of Wales on her wedding day on 29 April 2011.
The Halo Tiara was purchased from Cartier on 18 November 1936 by the then Duke of York, just weeks before he became King George VI. His wife, then still Duchess of York, wore it for the first time just before she became Queen. The tiara consists of a band of 16 graduated scrolls, set with 739 brilliants and 149 baton diamonds. Each scroll is divided by a graduated brilliant and has a large brilliant at the centre.
It was then given to the future Queen Elizabeth II for her 18th birthday, and she loaned it to her sister Princess Margaret and later also to her daughter Princess Anne. Princess Margaret famously wore it to her sister’s coronation.
Queen Elizabeth II has never worn it in public herself. It was never one of the more frequently worn tiaras, though it was quite worthy as a wedding tiara.1
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