Queen Letizia of Spain stuns in incredible diamond tiara – but it is actually British

Queen Letizia looked stunning tonight in a ballgown for a Spanish state dinner.

The mother-of-two and wife of King Felipe dazzled in a glorious tiara.

It once belonged to her mother-in-law but now the tiara is often worn by Queen Letizia.

Rendered in diamonds, the piece is designed to replicate pretty flowers.

The piece was purchased as an antique by King Franco for his wife Sofia.

Spanish court confirmed the piece is actually British.

It was made by British jewellery firm, J.P. Collins in 1879 for Spanish king Alfonso XIII. He gave it to his wife Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria.

The tiara does not just function as a headpiece, it can be worn as a necklace too.

It now appears to be a favourite of Letizia.

Stunning diamond earrings hung from Letizia’s ears, and she wore a huge diamond bracelet.

Letizia wore a lovely dusky lavender ballgown with the piece.

The dress had a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt.

Floral appliqué covered the skirt and bodice of the dress.

King Felipe and Letizia were welcoming Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra and his wife Maribel Diaz during an official dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

Recently Queen Letizia of Spain’s style was revealed as she wore a snake skin dress with a cream coat. 

Queen Letizia of Spain: Five facts about the Spanish royal

Career

Letizia was already famous in her native Spain thanks to a career as a TV presenter and journalist.

She even won an award for best Spanish journalist under 30 in 2002, just before she met King Felipe.

Wedding

Felipe and Letizia Ortiz, as she was called then, wed in 2004.

She wore a long-sleeved wedding dress with a 15 foot train by Manuel Pertegaz.

As is custom with royal weddings, Letizia wore a tiara. Her diamond and platinum Prussian tiara is a German imperial heirloom created in 1913 by Koch for Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia’s wedding to Prince Ernst August.

Family

Letizia is the eldest of three daughters, with her middle sister tragically taking her own life in 2007.

Now, Letizia has two daughters, Leonor, Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia of Spain. She is a hands on mum, taking the children to school and enjoying countless family holidays with them.

Divorce

Letizia has been married before, wedding Alfonso Guerrero, a teacher, in 1998.

However she did not require an annulment before her roman-catholic marriage to then Prince Felipe in 2004 as her marriage to Guerrero was a civil ceremony.

Plastic surgery

In 2008, Letizia underwent surgery on her nose to correct a respiratory problem, the Spanish palace confirmed at the time.

source: express.co.uk