Meghan Markle tiara vs Kate Middleton: Actress wore Queen Mary’s Bandeau for Royal Wedding

Meghan Markle’s Queen Mary’s Lozenge Bandeau

This tiara originally belonged to Queen Mary, the wife of King George V.

It has not been seen in public since 1965 when it was worn by Princess Anne.

In Leslie Field’s book The Queen’s Jewels she wrote: “When she was eighteen Princess Margaret borrowed a tiara from her grandmother Queen Mary.

“In September 1948 the eighteen-year-old Princess wore it when on one of her first official engagements she represented King George VI at the Inauguration of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in Amsterdam, the Dutch equivalent of a coronation.”

The tiara originally had large spikes on it with enormous pearls, but these were taken off by 1949 for a more fashionable and modest tiara.

The art deco diamond piece was created in the 1930s.

Kensington Palace confirmed the tiara is the Queen Mary’s Lozenge Bandeau tiara earlier today.

It tweeted: “The veil is held in place by Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Ms. Markle by The Queen.

“The diamond bandeau is English and was made in 1932, with the entre brooch dating from 1893.”

Kate Middleton’s Cartier Halo Tiara

The Duchess of Cambridge is a big fan of Cartier, and has a number of pieces by the brand.

For her wedding she chose this piece, beforehand referred to as the Scroll Tiara, for her wedding.

This piece was also made in the 1930s, in 1936.

It was worn by the Queen Mother after it was purchased for her by the then Duke of York, who would later be King George VI.

It was was handed down to the Queen – who has notable never worn it in public – but the monarch leant the piece to her sister Princess Margaret, who wore the tiara often.

Grant Mobley, a gemologist and Director at Pluczenik, one of the world’s leading diamantaires told Express.co.uk: “The Cartier Halo Tiara that The Duchess of Cambridge wore on her wedding day is (…) a magnificent piece.

“The tiara is encrusted with nearly 1,000 diamonds and was as an anniversary gift from King George VI to his wife, Queen Elizabeth I (the Queen’s mother).

“It was then re-gifted to Queen Elizabeth II on her 18th birthday.”