Queen vetoed Meghan's tiara dream for wedding, new book reveals
Source: dailymail.co.uk
TL;DR
- Meghan Markle wore the Queen Mary Bandeau tiara at her 2018 wedding, not the Queen's tiara as she once hoped.
- The late Queen Elizabeth II personally selected the tiara after rejecting Meghan's initial choice of Princess Margaret's Poltimore Tiara.
- A new book by royal author Robert Hardman reveals the behind-the-scenes drama over the jewellery decision.
- The story highlights tensions in royal wedding preparations, showing the Queen's firm hand.
The story at a glance
Royal author Robert Hardman uncovers in his new book how Queen Elizabeth vetoed Meghan Markle's preferred tiara for her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, opting instead for a diamond bandeau. It's reported now amid fresh insights into the late monarch's final years.
Key moments & milestones
- 2018: Meghan requests Princess Margaret's Poltimore Tiara but is turned down by the Queen.
- May 19, 2018: Queen Elizabeth lends Queen Mary Bandeau Tiara for St George's Chapel wedding.
- Post-wedding: Rumours emerge of a jewellery 'row', with palace insiders denying any drama.
- 2024: Robert Hardman's book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story details the Queen's decisive intervention.
Signature highlights
- The Queen Mary Bandeau Tiara, made in 1932 from 22-karat gold and nearly 100 diamonds, was a last-minute choice after the Poltimore Tiara - valued at £7million - was deemed unsuitable.
- Meghan had admired the Poltimore during a 2017 visit to Windsor Castle, but the Queen preferred the simpler bandeau for TV cameras.
- Palace staff described the process as 'entirely normal', with the Queen personally approving all jewels for brides since Diana's 1981 wedding.
- Hardman notes the Queen grew fond of Meghan but set firm boundaries early.
Key quotes
'The Queen said no to that one. The Queen doesn't do that sort of thing. She just says no.'
- Royal aide on the tiara rejection.
'There was no row. Jewellery is always approved by the Queen.'
- Palace source responding to rumours.
Why it matters
This anecdote reveals the Queen's unyielding control over royal traditions, even amid Meghan's integration into the family, foreshadowing later rifts. It humanises palace protocols while fuelling interest in Hardman's book on the monarchy's evolution. Watch for more excerpts challenging Sussex narratives as the Charles III era scrutiny intensifies.