Princess Anne has a number of her tiaras in her collection, however the Meander Tiara holds more sentimental value, because it is last tiara that originally came from Prince Philip’s family.
We’ve taken a look at the origins and composition of the tiara in an in-depth explanation guide…
The Meander tiara features a geometric band of the maze-like meander pattern, between three circular intervals of motifs. The front central one comprises a large brilliant-cut diamond encircled within laurel wreaths, while two diamond honeysuckles with diamond borders flank this.
The design of the piece reflects ancient Greek art and architecture, a nod to Prince Philip’s family who were of Greek origin.
The exact origins of the tiara are unknown, however, it was given to Princess Alice (Prince Philip’s mother) as a wedding present upon her marriage to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark in 1903.
The earliest evidence we have of the existence of the tiara is in a series of portraits of Princess Alice in 1914. This was a year after the death of her father-in-law, George I of Greece, when her husband would have received an inheritance.
In 1947, Princess Alice gifted the tiara to her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth II, as a wedding gift upon her marriage to Prince Philip. Although, Elizabeth was rarely seen wearing it herself.
Instead, the tiara became closely associated with Princess Anne, who was gifted the tiara by her mother in the late 1960s, which coincided with the time that Princess Alice came to live with the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace; Philip’s mother came to London after a military coup in Greece, in her advancing age and worsening health.
Anne has worn the tiara many times since, including to the State Opening of Parliament in 1970 and the 1988 Guildhall Banquet. It also made an appearance in the official portraits to mark her 50th birthday in 2000.
In 2011, the tiara made a high-profile appearance when Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara, opted to wear the piece on her wedding day to Mike Tindall. The pair tied the knot in Edinburgh.
You can buy a replica of the tiara here.
