< Historic Diamonds / Royal Stories
The Top 5 Royal Tiara Rules You’ve Never Heard Of
Learn all about the who, what, where, when, and why behind the different protocols and etiquette that go into wearing these fabulous diamond-encrusted toppers.
Princess Eugenie of York wore the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara for her wedding day at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on October 12, 2018. (Getty Images)
Queen Camilla sparked some debate among royal watchers this November when she attended the reception for the Diplomatic Corps at Windsor Castle, wearing none other than the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara. The prized jewel was last seen on Princess Eugenie of York when we married Jack Brooksbank at St. George’s Chapel in 2018. It’s not often we see a tiara repurposed after a royal wedding, by anyone other than the bride. So, what are the royal rules of etiquette for wearing a tiara?
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.
That question has only grown more intriguing in recent years. Since Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from her role as a senior royal, many have wondered whether she will ever wear a tiara again. There are strict, traditional rules that the women of the Royal Family must follow regarding their regal headwear. Here, learn all about the protocols that go into wearing a diamond diadem from the Royal Collection.
1. For Many Royals, Their First Tiara Is Worn on Their Wedding Day
Traditionally, tiaras are only worn by brides on their wedding day or by married women. This rule of thumb took hold in classical antiquity, when the jewel was seen as a crowning of love. Etiquette expert, Grant Harrold, once told the BBC, “For married ladies, it was a sign of status and would show you were taken and not looking for a husband. For the gentleman, it was a clear sign not to make advances toward the lady in question.”
Royals like Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie wore tiaras for the first time on their wedding days. Some European royal families are given the green light to wear a headpiece beginning on their 18th birthday.
The Cartier Halo tiara that Middleton wore on her wedding day used to be considered a strong “starter tiara,” best fit for younger members of the family due to its dainty and delicate design, along with its smaller stature. Both Princess Margaret and Princess Anne were known to wear the piece frequently in their youth. But the rules might be different if you are the little sister or daughter of the Queen of England.
2. How Royals Choose a Tiara
It’s typically expected that a royal will choose a diadem from their family collection on their wedding day. Even Princess Diana allegedly denied an offer from the Queen to wear a headpiece from the royal vaults for her wedding when she opted for her own family heirloom. However, following the nuptials, the bride is allowed to choose from their husband’s family assortment.
But exceptions are made when necessary. Neither Kate Middleton nor Meghan Markle was able to follow this protocol, as they weren’t members of a royal family. Instead, they borrowed pieces from the Queen. However, ladies can’t just pick any tiara they please. Normally, the Queen will either pick a headpiece for the borrower or give them a small selection to pick from.
3. How to Properly Wear a Tiara
Wearing a tiara correctly isn’t as easy as you might imagine. The last thing anyone needs is for a historic diamond headpiece to slip right off the head. To prevent this, women often have their hair braided and sewn into the base of the tiara for added security. The diadem itself is supported by a frame made of base metal, typically bound in velvet to match the wearer’s hair color, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the hairstyle.
There’s a specific method behind the perfect placement of the headpiece. According to Tatler, the wearer is to place the thumb in the middle of the chin and the index finger right in between the eyebrows. Keeping the fingers’ measurement, they are to move the hand until the thumb is where the index was, between the brows. That is where the base of the tiara should sit – an inch and a half from your hairline at maximum.
While the modern style permits a tiara be worn atop the head, the preferred placement used to be worn across the forehead, just above the brow in the 1920s. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was known to wear her tiaras, like the Lotus Flower and the Strathmore Rose, very low on her forehead in her youth.
Even Princess Diana dabbled with the nostalgic style, transforming Queen Mary’s natural diamond and emerald choker into a headband during her Royal tour of Australia in 1985.
4. When Is It Appropriate to Wear a Tiara?
However, the decision to wear a historic headpiece is governed less by marital status alone and more by the event’s dress code. They are typically reserved for white-tie or full-dress events, where orders, sashes, and formal gowns are required. Even then, the choice of tiara is carefully considered, taking into account the scale of the occasion, the wearer’s rank, and the formality of the setting. More subdued engagements may call for minimal jewelry—or none at all—reinforcing that these lavish headpieces are symbols of ceremony rather than everyday adornment.
5. When a Tiara Can—and Cannot—Be Worn
A tiara or crown cannot traditionally be worn before 5 p.m., as diamond headwear is reserved for formal evening attire. This long-standing rule dates back to court etiquette, when jewels of this caliber were considered inappropriate for daytime wear. The only exceptions occur during major ceremonial occasions—such as royal weddings, coronations, or jubilees—when protocol allows tiaras to be worn earlier in the day due to the event’s significance and formal dress code. Outside of these rare moments, tiaras remain strictly an after-dark adornment, reserved for state banquets, diplomatic receptions, and white-tie affairs.
