Historic Diamonds / Royal Stories
Princess Anne Just Marked Her 75th Birthday in Her Most Iconic Diamond Tiara
For half a century, the diamond Festoon Tiara has reigned as one of Princess Anne’s most treasured jewels.
Published: August 18, 2025
Written by: Hannah Militano
On August 15, Princess Anne marked her 75th birthday in style, unveiling three official birthday portraits, that spotlighted her most beloved diamond tiara.
Buckingham Palace released the images, captured by royal photographer Chris Jackson at Windsor Castle. In one photo, Anne posed alongside her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, during the Windsor Castle state banquet honoring the French State Visit, hosting France’s President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron in July.
Welcomed by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the occasion marked France’s first State Visit to the U.K. in 17 years. During their stay, the Macrons visited Imperial College, and President Macron addressed Parliament.
Meet the Author
- Hannah Militano covers diamond jewelry trends, the fashion industry, pop culture, and celebrity news.
- She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.
- As a journalist, her work has been featured in publications such as Editorialist, Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book, L’Officiel USA, Grazia USA, Coveteur, and more.
Princess Anne’s Official 75th Birthday Portrait
In her official portrait, Princess Anne donned an ivory lace and chiffon gown and a matching bolero on top with the Royal Family Order of King III and Queen Elizabeth II pinned to her jacket, along with the Order of the Garter brooch. Her diamond bow brooch with two diamond tassel pendants was pinned to her blue sash. Along with the rest of her natural diamond assortment, Anne wore her Festoon necklace, first given to her on her 18th birthday by her parents, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, according to Leslie Field in The Queen’s Jewels.
Princess Anne wore one of her favorite headpieces, the Festoon Tiara. A prized piece in her collection, the tiara sat atop her first hairdo change in about 50 years. Typically seen with her signature bouffant, Anne switched things up with an elegant chignon.
The diamond Festoon Tiara is estimated to be worth $4 million and has been heavily incorporated into her tiara rotation over the last five decades. As one of the hardest-working members of the royal family, Anne has amassed quite an impressive jewelry collection.
When Princess Anne Received the Festoon Tiara
The magnificent antique diamond Festoon Tiara was gifted to Princess Anne in 1973 by the World Wide Shipping Group of Hong Kong to commemorate her launching of the tanker World Unicorn. That same year, Queen Elizabeth II’s only daughter wore the glittering tiara in a series of official portraits by Lord Lichfield, released in celebration of her 23rd birthday.
She later donned the tiara in another portrait session—this time by renowned photographer Norman Parkinson—alongside her then-fiancé, Captain Mark Phillips, at Windsor Castle ahead of their royal wedding. Over the decades, the Festoon Tiara has remained one of Princess Anne’s most-worn pieces, making regular appearances at state banquets and formal royal occasions.
Crafted in platinum, the Festoon tiara is set with a myriad of natural diamonds, featuring round and cushion-cut diamonds in an openwork design. The headpiece includes seven scalloped diamond swag motifs.
Who Else Has Worn the Diamond Festoon Tiara?
In 2008, Autumn Kelly wore Princess Anne’s Festoon Tiara for her wedding to Peter Phillips at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The couple reportedly met at the 2003 Montreal Grand Prix, but Kelly didn’t realize Peter’s royal status until she later saw him on television with his family.
As the son of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, Peter became the first of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandchildren to marry. For the occasion, Kelly wore a custom gown by British designer Sassi Holford and borrowed the elegant diamond Festoon Tiara from her new mother-in-law, Princess Anne.
All the Tiaras Princess Anne Has Worn Over the Years
When Princess Anne married Mark Phillips at Buckingham Palace in 1973, she followed in her mother’s footsteps by wearing Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara with her Tudor-style wedding gown. The tiara stayed firmly in place, perfectly complementing her sleek center-parted updo and no-fuss bridal style.
In her youth, the Princess was known to wear Kate Middleton’s wedding tiara, the Cartier Halo Scroll, as well as Princess Andrew’s Meander Bandeau Tiara, which her daughter, Zara Tindall, chose for her wedding day in 2011. She’s also worn the Cartier-created Aquamarine Pineflower tiara, which she received as a wedding present from her mother, Queen Elizabeth.
