There’s a flurry of media buzz suggesting that Princess Charlotte will inherit Princess Diana’s iconic Spencer Tiara, but here’s what the evidence actually shows:
- Crafted in the 1930s from older Spencer family jewels (originally dating to the 1700s), it features diamonds arranged in a heart‑centre and floral garland motif—famously worn by Diana at her 1981 wedding
- The tiara remains a Spencer family heirloom, passed down from Diana’s father John Spencer to her brother Charles, the current 9th Earl Spencer
- It has been publicly worn occasionally by Spencer relatives (e.g., Diana’s niece Celia McCorquodale in 2018) and featured in exhibitions
- A long-standing claim: royal sources like GoodToKnow, Hello!, Express, and Cosmopolitan reported the tiara is “set to be inherited” by Charlotte, as the first granddaughter
- Stories even suggest William personally asked Charles Spencer if Charlotte could have it one day
- Jewelry analysts and The Court Jeweller say those reports are incorrect: the tiara remains in Spencer hands and will pass to Charles Spencer’s son, Louis (Viscount Althorp)—not to Charlotte or any of Diana’s grandchildren
- The piece is not part of the Crown Jewels, and royal women like Kate and Meghan used official tiaras (e.g. Cartier Halo, Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot) for their weddings instead .
- Charlotte might one day borrow the Spencer Tiara for her wedding or formal occasions—especially with William’s connections to his uncle—but she won’t “inherit” it as her own.
- Legally and traditionally, it’s set to stay with the Spencer lineage and ultimately go to Louis Spencer.
If you’re wondering whether “this means Charlotte “blows Lilibet out of the water” — it’s more a romanticized media narrative than a fact. In truth, both girls are unlikely to gain permanent ownership of this heirloom.
Let me know if you want a deep dive into tiara etiquette, other royal headpieces linked to Diana, or what pieces the royals favor today!
