Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte broke with tradition with touching act at huge royal event

On May 6, 2023, during the grand occasion of King Charles III’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey, Princess Kate and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, caught the public’s attention with their elegant appearance. Both royals were adorned in coordinated white dresses and bespoke floral headpieces, diverging from the royal tradition of wearing tiaras for such a historic event. Their headpieces, made from silver bullion, crystal, and silver threadwork, were the result of a collaboration between milliner Jess Collett and designer Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

This break from tradition surprised many, as members of the royal family, especially those close to the monarch, typically wear diamond-encrusted tiaras or coronets to coronation ceremonies. Kate’s choice to opt for a more subtle accessory seemed to align with King Charles’ scaled-back approach to the celebrations. This modern take on the royal dress code reflected the evolving nature of the monarchy and perhaps a desire for the ceremony to reflect the times.

Notably, there were no other tiaras worn by royal family members or guests in attendance that day. The only royals donning jewels on their heads were King Charles and Queen Camilla. Queen Camilla wore the Queen Mary Crown, which was unique in that it was not a new creation but a historical piece that had been reused, a first in recent coronation history. Originally crafted for Queen Mary in 1911 for King George V’s coronation, the crown features an astounding 2,200 diamonds. In tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla had the crown reset to include diamonds from her mother-in-law’s personal jewelry collection, including the renowned Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds.

Buckingham Palace issued a statement regarding the Queen’s decision to reuse Queen Mary’s crown, emphasizing that the choice was made in the “interest of sustainability and efficiency.” This not only honored tradition but also mirrored modern values of conservation and careful resource use, themes that have become increasingly prominent in the royal family’s public image in recent years.

On the other hand, King Charles wore the St Edward’s Crown, the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels, which dates back to 1661. This crown, created for King Charles II, is considered one of the most significant and sacred pieces of regalia. It was used during Charles’s crowning moment, placed on his head by the Archbishop of Canterbury during the investiture. Following this key moment in the ceremony, the St Edward’s Crown was replaced with the Imperial State Crown, which the King wore as he exited Westminster Abbey and made his appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The choice to scale back on opulence extended beyond the lack of tiaras and glittering headpieces among the royal guests. It signaled a shift in how the monarchy seeks to present itself in a modern, more modest light, reflecting the challenges and sensibilities of the 21st century. While previous coronations were marked by extravagant displays of wealth and power, King Charles III’s event embraced a more restrained approach, perhaps in response to changing public expectations of the royal family.

Additionally, the coronation ceremony itself featured a combination of traditional rituals and new elements, blending the monarchy’s long-standing customs with contemporary touches. The presence of Kate and Charlotte, both wearing matching floral headpieces instead of the expected tiaras, subtly highlighted this balance between honoring tradition and embracing change.

The coronation also paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II, with references to her legacy woven throughout the day. Camilla’s decision to incorporate the Queen’s diamonds into her crown was just one of the ways in which the late monarch’s memory was honored during the ceremony. It symbolized continuity and the royal family’s enduring connection to its past, even as it steps into a new era under King Charles III’s reign.