Princess Diana’s dazzling Spencer Tiara may be one of the most recognisable royal jewels on the planet but despite its deep association with the late princess, the famed heirloom will never pass to Princess Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle.
Unlike many tiaras worn by royal brides, the Spencer Tiara has never been part of the Royal Collection. It belongs entirely to the Spencer family, where it has remained for generations and where it is expected to stay.
Royal jewellery experts told RadarOnline.com that although Diana wore the tiara on her 1981 wedding day creating one of the most iconic images in modern royal history the piece was only loaned to her by her family. A royal insider put it bluntly: “There is a common misconception that the Spencer tiara was absorbed into the royal collection because of Diana’s fame. In reality, it has always remained a Spencer family possession.”
The tiara’s significance predates Diana. Her sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, both wore it at their weddings, and its lineage stretches back nearly a century. Created in 1937 for Cynthia Spencer, Countess Spencer, the piece was crafted from 19th‑century diamond elements and is now estimated to be worth more than $500 million.
Sotheby’s describes it as a garland‑style design featuring a central heart motif, scrolls, and star‑shaped floral elements set with an array of diamonds.
After Cynthia Spencer’s death, the tiara passed to her son John Spencer, Diana’s father, and later to Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. A family source says the line of succession is “very straightforward” the tiara will eventually go to Louis Spencer, Viscount Althorp, not to any member of the Royal Family.
Despite rumours that Meghan hoped to wear the Spencer Tiara at her 2018 wedding, she instead wore Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara. Kate chose the Cartier Halo Tiara for her 2011 wedding.
Still, both women wear pieces tied to Diana’s legacy: Kate’s sapphire engagement ring and Meghan’s gold Cartier Tank Française watch remain among the most cherished items from the late princess’s personal collection.
The Spencer Tiara, however, will stay exactly where it has always belonged in the Spencer family line, untouched by royal marriage and protected as a symbol of their heritage.
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