The "Markle Sparkle" could shine even brighter at the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry—thanks to the Spencer family tiara wore by Princess Diana on her wedding day to Prince Charles in 1981.
A source close to the actress told me the bride-to-be would love to wear the priceless Spencer family heirloom in tribute to the late princess at the couple's May 19th wedding at St. George's Chapel at Windsor.
The Spencer tiara is arguably the most famous "non-royal" tiara in the world with its glittering diamonds in silver settings mounted in gold adorned with various floral shapes, including stylized tulips, star-shaped flowers, and scrolling foliage. It was also worn by both of Lady Diana Spencer's older sisters, Jane and Sarah Spencer, at their weddings before Diana wore it with her cathedral length veil and her frothy wedding dress by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
"Meghan very much wants to acknowledge Princess Diana on her wedding day and this would be a perfect way to do so," said the source. "Harry loves the idea of having Meghan wear such an iconic symbol of his mother at their wedding."
The tiara is presently owned by Diana's brother Charles, the current Earl Spencer, who could loan the tiara to Harry for Meghan. The Spencer family, who can trace their aristocratic lineage back to the Tudor period, has a fascinating family history linked to the tiara. The central part of the tiara was given as a wedding present to Lady Cynthia Hamilton (aka Diana's grandmother) when she married Albert, Viscount Althorp, the future 7th Earl Spencer, in 1919. The topper was given to Cynthia by Albert's great aunt, Lady Sarah Isabella Spencer.
Meghan wearing Diana's tiara seems like the perfect choice given her engagement ring, designed by Harry with the Cleave and Company jewelers, features a new Botswana diamond flanked by two diamonds from the princess's collection.
"The little diamonds on either side are from my mother's jewelry collection to make sure that she's with us on this crazy journey together," Harry told the BBC in their first interview as a couple.
Since their engagement last November, Meghan has been embraced by the royal family and last week, made her first official appearance with the Queen on Commonwealth Day, but has also met members of the Spencer family. "Harry is keen for Meghan to get to know Diana through her family, too," said the royal insider. "It's a shame she will never meet her, but Harry, like William, want to keep their mother's memory alive—especially on a special occasion like this."
Meghan is sure to have no shortage of options when it comes to royal bling for her wedding.
Queen Elizabeth II, as is her custom may offer Meghan the use of a minor royal tiara, as she did with Kate Middleton, who chose the 1936 Cartier halo headpiece which had belonged to the Queen Mother and was given to the Queen for her 18th birthday. The Duchess of Cambridge has also worn the Lotus Flower tiara, once owned by the Queen Mother, and the Cambridge Lover's Knot tiara, a wedding present to Diana from the Queen and a favorite of the late princess which was put back into the Royal Collection after her death.
Harry could also have a tiara designed especially for Meghan, but that, said the insider, would not be the best option. "The royal family owns the most beautiful tiaras in the world and the Spencer tiara is filled with meaning," said the source. "Meghan will chose something that has family history attached to it when she makes history of her own on her wedding day." And for more on everyone's favorite couple, read up on How the Queen Really Feels About Meghan Markle.
Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and author of Imagining Diana and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.
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