The long-awaited state visit from Japan to Britain took place this summer after years of delay. The fourth spot on our countdown of the best royal jewelry moments of the year goes to Empress Masako, who made her first appearance in a special imperial tiara at the state banquet.
On the first day of the Japanese state visit in June, King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a state banquet at Buckingham Palace in honor of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan. The white-tie dress code called for gala gowns and tiaras, and the Queen and the Empress did not disappoint.
Empress Masako pulled off the biggest royal jewelry moment of the evening, making her debut public appearance in the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara. The all-diamond jewel has a low, almost bandeau-like profile, and it has been worn by the Empresses of Japan for several generations.
In April 1959, Empress Nagako chose the Chrysanthemum Tiara to wear for part of the celebrations of the marriage of Crown Prince Akihito and Michiko Shoda in Tokyo. The floral symbolism of the tiara made it perfect for the wedding of a future Emperor who would sit on the Chrysanthemum Throne.
Four decades later, the now Empress Michiko wore the Chrysanthemum Tiara for a pair of tiara occasions during the Japanese state visit to Britain in 1998. Here, she’s pictured wearing the tiara during the state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
And now, the tiara has passed into Masako’s hands. For the state banquet in June, she paired the tiara with diamond earrings, two diamond necklaces, and a diamond bracelet. It’s often said that the Chrysanthemum Tiara is a lighter and easier-to-wear alternative to the large Meiji Tiara. Perhaps the Empress wanted something comfortable for such a high profile moment.
We’ve got even more sparkling royal jewelry moments coming up next! Stay tuned for the third-place winner in this year’s countdown of the best royal jewelry moments of 2024, published here later this afternoon.
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