The York Diamond Tiara

Most will remember that Sarah Ferguson walked up the aisle of Westminster Abbey in 1986 wearing a massive crown of flowers. She had her tiara hidden underneath, but she wanted to emphasize her shift from commoner to member of the royal family, using the tiara to symbolize her new status.

When the new Duke and Duchess of York stepped away from the television cameras to sign the wedding register, the flowers were removed, and the new duchess returned sporting this diamond scroll tiara.

Unlike most of the tiaras worn at British royal weddings, this piece was completely new. It was purchased for Sarah by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip from Garrard. Some have suggested that Sarah first borrowed the tiara, which was then subsequently purchased for her by the Queen. I don’t believe it’s been firmly made clear exactly what the specific circumstances of the purchase were. The tiara does seem to have been borrowed initially—the palace commented on the day that it had been lent by “a family friend.” Or perhaps this was just palace code, and the “friend” was really her new in-laws?

Perhaps we’ll never really know the exact circumstances behind the tiara’s acquisition, but regardless, Sarah wore it on the day, and after that, it was hers. We saw her wear the tiara on numerous occasions throughout her marriage, including the March 1987 banquet pictured above.

The tiara has remained Sarah’s personal property even after her divorce from Prince Andrew. In the years just after the divorce, she still found occasions to pop on the sparkler for white-tie events. Above, she wears at at Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball in 2001.

For years, the tiara was apparently collecting dust in Sarah’s jewelry safe, but in June 2023, it finally saw the light of day once more. Her daughter, Princess Beatrice of York, wore it for a banquet in Amman celebrating the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and Prince Rajwa of Jordan.