The Queen, 93, had the Burmese Ruby tiara made in the early 70s – and her decision to do so was for an unusual reason. The large diamond and ruby diadem has also caused controversy, both for its design and its meaning, over the years.
When Elizabeth ascended to the throne in 1953, she took possession of all of the jewels designated as “heirlooms of the crown” by previous monarchs & their spouses.
This would have included the Oriental Circlet tiara, another ruby diadem.
But the circlet was well loved by the Queen Mother, so Elizabeth let her continue to wear it – however she still needed a ruby tiara of her own, in particular to wear with the host of ruby jewellery she owned.
And so Her Majesty turned her eye to design – leading to one of the most modern tiaras in her possession.
READ MORE: Lover’s Knot Tiara: History behind Kate Middleton & Princess Diana’s favourite diadem
This caused a stir in 2019 when the Queen welcomed President Donald Trump for a state visit to the UK, as many wondered if she was trying to “shade” him by wearing a piece designed to ward off evil.
However, it is highly unlikely offence was meant, as Her Majesty is used to years of diplomacy and seemed to enjoy Trump’s visit in general.
Back to the design though, and the rubies and diamonds, set in gold and silver, are in a series of rose motifs – a heraldic rose combining white and red petals, which is the Tudor rose.
Speaking about the piece, Alexandra Michell, Gemologist Prestige Pawnbrokers Hatton Garden said: “The Burmese Tiara is a fairly modern addition to the Crown Jewels, in comparison to the extensive royal collection. The estimated value of this symbolic piece is £7,000,000.”
Some tiaras have formed part of iconic moments in the history of the Royal Family. The Cartier Halo for instance, was worn by Kate Middleton on her wedding day to Prince William in 2011.
Similarly, the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau was admired around the world thanks to it being the choice of Meghan Markle for her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.
And it is the Lover’s Knot that is most often seen today, as it is a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge.
It was closely associated with Diana, Princess of Wales during her marriage to Prince Charles, so holds special significance for Kate.