The Spencer Tiara will forever be one of the most iconic tiaras in England. Its association with Princess Diana is something that will never be forgotten. However, did you know that the Spencer had a second tiara? The Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara was one that Diana never wore in her lifetime. Most people didn’t know it existed until an exhibition in Pennsylvania called Diana: A Celebration had the tiara on display.
As per Royal Watcher Blog, the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara was worn largely by Cynthia Spencer. She was the paternal grandmother of Princess Diana and her siblings. Countess Spencer was a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Ruth, Baroness Fermoy, who served as a lady-in-waiting, was the maternal grandmother of Princess Diana. Imagine if Princess Charlotte or Lilibet wore it rather than the usual Spencer Tiara.
The Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara History
Countess Spencer wore the Spencer Honeysuckle tiara during the 1938 Royal Visit To Paris and the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The next woman to wear the tiara was Raine Spencer, the stepmother of Princess Diana, during Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ Wedding Ball in 1981.
Some might say that a “a photo” of Diana wearing the Honeysuckle exists, but it doesn’t. The photo created before Photoshop existed for the full explanation; please see the comments of the Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara on the Royal Watch blog page (linked above).
To end this post, let’s jump back in time. The Spencer Honeysuckle Tiara is believed to have entered into the hands of the 5th Countess Spencer in 1858 as a wedding gift. She later wore the piece to the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863 at Windsor Castle.
