Be on the lookout for Princess Diana’s tiaras in Season 4 of The Crown.

Season 4 of the Netflix series The Crown takes us into the era of the '80s and introduces Princess Diana, played by actress Emma Corrin. Lady Diana Spencer, beloved around the world, was known as the “People’s Princess” for her humanitarian efforts and immense popularity.

Diana was well known for her style, grace, and elegant fashion sense. Whether you’ve been a Princess Diana fan since the Royal Wedding or you’ve just discovered royalty with the popular series The Crown, let’s take a look at a couple of iconic pieces of jewelry worn by the princess, most notably two of the tiaras she wore throughout her lifetime.

The Spencer Tiara

Courtesy of Vogue (Facebook)

The Spencer tiara has heart-like diamonds at the front center and is probably the one we’re most familiar with seeing in photos. This is the tiara Diana wore with her veil when she married Prince Charles in 1981 and became the Princess of Wales. Diana came from a royal background, and the Spencer Tiara had been in her family since the 18th century (in various pieces).

Spencer Tiara Timeline

• 1919 – The central part of the tiara was given as a wedding gift from Lady Sarah Spencer to Lady Cynthia Hamilton, Diana’s grandmother.
• 1930s – The tiara is constructed into the diamond floral diadem we’re familiar with today with pieces believed to be from Lady Sarah's collection.
• 1981 – Diana wears the tiara with her veil at her wedding.

Diana's sisters, Jane and Sarah, also wore the Spencer Tiara at their weddings.

The tiara had been part of a traveling display on Diana’s life, but it’s most likely now kept in the vault at Althorp House, Diana’s family estate.

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara

Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara, courtesy of Lady Diana (Facebook)

After becoming Princess of Wales, Diana was given the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, though she still continued to wear the Spencer Tiara to formal events. The Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara has a silver and gold frame with 19 pearls suspended from the “pretzel-like” knots. It was created by E. Wolff and Co. on commission from the House of Garrard and has been worn by Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II, and Kate Middleton.

Courtesy of Vanity Fair (Facebook)

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara Timeline

• 1913 – Commissioned for Queen Mary from Britain’s House of Garrard using diamonds and pearls from the family collection.
• 1953 – Bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II when her grandmother, Queen Mary, dies.
• 1981 – Presented as a gift to Diana upon marrying Prince Charles.

Queen Elizabeth has worn it multiple times over the years. It was returned to the queen after Charles and Diana’s divorce.

The Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara is sometimes confused with the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara, which it was actually made to resemble. The Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara was created in 1818 for Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel (wife of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge). In 1858, Augusta gave it to her daughter, Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her niece was the future Queen Mary, but this is not Mary's tiara. This one went to Augusta’s granddaughter.

Princess Augusta wearing the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, courtesy of RegencyHistory.com

Since Mary admired it so much, she commissioned a replica, which is the Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara that we’re all familiar with and that Princess Diana wore.

If you’re ever unsure, just remember that the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara has pearls that protrude upward, forming a higher “crown-like” effect. The Queen Mary originally had pearl toppers but they were taken off many years ago, resulting in a much more elegant look (as you can see in the photo below). The original Cambridge tiara was sold at auction at Christie’s in Geneva in 1981 to a German noble family.

Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Lady Diana, and Kate Middleton wear the Queen Mary Lover's Knot tiara, courtesy of Daily Mail (Pinterest)

Are you in the market for a tiara of your own, or just want a simple pair of sparkly earrings to feel like a princess? Give Pinetree Jewelers in Parker a call and they'll find what you're looking for!