Why Kate Middleton won’t inherit iconic £400k heirloom Princess Diana wore on her wedding day
Princess Diana wore the Spencer Tiara on her wedding day to Prince Charles in 1981 when she was just 19 years old.
With the exception of a few exhibition appearances, the diamond-encrusted relic has remained in the Spencer family since it was made in 1937 from antique jewels.
It is reportedly valued around $400,000.
Furthermore, although it would be reasonable to believe that Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, the future queen, would inherit the tiara, this is not the case.
Rather, it will remain in the Spencer family.
Cynthia Spencer, the 7th Earl Spencer’s wife, was the initial recipient of the tiara.
read more on princess diana
The diadem was given to their son, John, who was the father of Princess Diana and the 8th Earl Spencer, after she died in 1972 and her husband died in 1975.
As Lady Jane Spencer in 1978, Lady Sarah Spencer in 1980, and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, all three of John’s daughters wore it on their wedding days.
The stunning diamonds attracted international notice after Diana married the then-Prince of Wales Charlees at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral.
But the new Princess didn’t receive the tiara as a gift; instead, her father lent it to her.
Charles, Diana’s only son and the 9th Earl Spencer, inherited the tiara after Diana’s father, John, passed away in March 1992 following a heart attack.
Until her death in 1997, Diana kept borrowing it from her brother for royal engagements.
The tiara was put on public display following Diana’s death as part of the exhibit dedicated to her life, Diana: A Celebration, which ran for several years.
Although it has been in numerous exhibitions over the years, Charles still owns it.
His niece Celia McCorquodale last wore it for her wedding in the spring of 2018.
Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, Charles’s son, will inherit the tiara after his death.
Who inherited Princess Diana’s jewellery?
Three-quarters of Diana’s 21 million dollar inheritance was bequeathed to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, after her death, with the remaining quarter going to her 17 godchildren.
Diana clarified in a separate “letter of wishes” that she was bequeathing her jewelry to the future wives of her boys.
“I would like you to assign all of my jewelry to my sons’ share so that their wives may eventually possess or utilize it,” the letter says.
“I leave the exact division of the jewellery to your discretion.”
While some of Diana’s most famous jewels were not part of her estate, others were borrowed from the royal collection.
Although it has never been verified, there are rumors that Diana’s eldest granddaughter, Princess Charlotte, who is nine years old, may eventually possess the diadem.
In her letter of wishes, Diana outlined her aspirations for her brilliant jewelry collection’s future before she passed away.
According to the statement, I want all of my jewelry to be divided among my boys so that their wives can eventually possess or utilize it.
I let you decide how exactly to divide up the jewelry.
Then-Lady Diana Spencer followed customary tiara protocol by refraining from borrowing from the royal vault prior of her 1981 marriage to King Charles.
Rather, she secured her 140-meter veil with a family heirloom.
Since then, the Spencer Tiara has been shown in a 46-piece exhibition by Sotheby’s and has made a few infrequent appearances at private family weddings.
Read More on The US Sun
In 2022, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was celebrated with the commissioning of the Aristocratic Jewels display.
It was thought to be the biggest headdress collection on display for decades at the time.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!