Princess Anne Wears Her Favorite Diamond Festoon Tiara at State Banquet

Princess Anne took out one of her favorite tiaras for a state banquet.

Anne, 75, looked stunning at the event, welcoming German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to the United Kingdom at Windsor Castle on Thursday, December 5. For the occasion, she wore her Festoon Tiara, featuring diamonds topped with a large pearl.

According to The Royal Watcher, the tiara “originally had a base of collet diamonds, which were replaced with a base of a row of pearls by Princess Michael.” The site added, “Possibly made by Cartier around 1900, the exact origin of this Tiara is unknown, but it may have been inherited from Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.” Anne, who is the daughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, was given the tiara in May 1973, per Hello Magazine, just before she turned 23.

Anne teamed the sparkling piece with coordinating pearl earrings and a matching choker with gold hardware. She also wore a black dress featuring all-over silver crystal embellishments, a scoop neck and a floor-length skirt. Anne added layers to her ensemble with a matching short-sleeve cropped jacket. Before settling down for dinner, she kept warm in a fuzzy cardigan.

Anne opted for simple makeup for the banquet. She stunned with a touch of mascara and pink lips. As always, she rocked her signature hairstyle, the bouffant, which she’s worn for 50 years.

The royal previously opened up about the hairstyle during her 2020 documentary, Princess Royal: Anne at 70. In the movie, she shared that the updo only takes her a few minutes to master, after Erin Doherty, who plays a teenage version of Anne on Netflix’s The Crown, said that it took her stylists hours to master.

“Actually, I read an article the other day about Netflix and The Crown, but the actress was talking about how long it took them to do their hair like I did,” she recalled. 

Anne continued, “And I’m thinking, ‘How could you possibly take that long?’ I mean, it takes me 10 or 15 minutes.”

Anne isn’t the only royal who has made headlines for their gorgeous state banquet looks as of late. Princess Kate Middleton looked ethereal in a blue Jenny Packham sequin dress.

Her look featured an asymmetrical neckline that attached to a glamorous cape that cascaded to the floor, as well as a fitted bodice and a pleated skirt. Kate, 43, styled the number with a navy sash draped over her torso and a star pinned to her chest.

Kate made her look even more sparkly with Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara,
which was designed by Prince Albert in 1853. The tiara features 2,600 diamonds. It was originally made with opal details, which were later replaced with rubies. When Kate turned around, fans caught a glimpse of how she secured the tiara to her head. Her brunette hair was twisted around the back of the piece, making a tight knot. The rest of her mane was styled in neat curls.