The Cotswolds played host to a stunning royal celebration on Saturday as Peter Phillips, the late Queen’s eldest grandson, tied the knot with NHS paediatric nurse Harriet Sperling.
Harriet was an absolute vision in a sophisticated column gown by Emilia Wickstead, beautifully detailed with delicate French lace. She paired the look with a dramatic cathedral veil, classic white Jimmy Choo heels, and a sleek, polished chignon. But it was her choice of sparkling accessories that truly stole the show, and answered weeks of speculation.
In the lead-up to the big day, there were questions over whether Harriet would wear a tiara, a decision that must be approved by the royal family. As Peter’s mother, Princess Anne, famously declined royal titles for her children upon Peter’s birth in 1977, Harriet does not inherit a royal title through her marriage. However, precedent was set in 2008 when Peter’s first wife, Autumn Kelly, wore Princess Anne’s antique Festoon tiara.
With the close blessing of the Princess Royal, Harriet wore a dazzling, vintage diamond and pearl tiara loaned by Pragnell, the same British jeweller behind her stunning engagement ring and wedding earrings.
© Samir Hussein/WireImageAccording to the brand, the intricate piece is a rare design, bridging two iconic eras: “The tiara dazzles the eye by showcasing a design typical of both the Edwardian and Deco periods – which is very rare in all jewellery.”
The delicate heirloom holds an impressive history of its own, having been worn by generations of the Pragnell family, and even making appearances at the Coronations of both King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.
The jeweller also notes that with its glittering festoons of laurel leaves and articulated floral motifs, the piece bears a striking resemblance to a tiara worn by Harriet’s new mother-in-law, Princess Anne, for her 50th birthday portraits in 2000.
As both Peter and Harriet have been married previously, this also raised questions regarding royal protocol. The etiquette surrounding second marriages has evolved over the years and while marrying a divorcé was once strictly forbidden within the monarchy, the House of Windsor has gracefully modernised, allowing brides like Harriet to celebrate their big day without sartorial restrictions.
Meghan Markle also famously wore Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara despite her previous marriage to Trevor Engelson. Conversely, both Princess Anne and Queen Camilla chose a more minimalist approach for their respective second weddings, opting to forgo tiaras in favour of elegant hair accessories and chic hats.
© Getty ImagesTo understand the weight of Harriet’s bridal look, you need to take a closer look at the deep history of the accessory.
“Tiaras originated in the Ancient World as a marker of status and later, fashion,” says Hugo Strachwitz, Director of Debrett’s. “They emerged again in the 18th century to identify married women, usually of royal families, the nobility, and the aristocracy.
“By tradition, a lady would not wear a tiara until her wedding day, after which she would be expected to wear one at formal occasions held in the evening. A more arcane tradition of brides wearing a tiara from their own family jewel collection became impractical when royal and noble brides increasingly came from families without tiaras inherited from ancestors. More modern royal brides have borrowed tiaras from the family of their royal spouse, as happened at the 2008 wedding of Peter Phillips to Autumn.”
By wearing a piece from the Pragnell archives rather than borrowing one of Princess Anne’s personal tiaras, it also allowed Harriet to avoid the comparison with Peter’s first wife, and his sister, Zara Tindall (who wore Anne’s Meander tiara). It gave Harriet complete ownership of her own unique bridal look.
© Getty ImagesPragnell also holds a significant connection to the royal family, as they own the design archives of Philip Antrobus, the legendary jeweller who made Queen Elizabeth II‘s historic engagement ring. By choosing Pragnell for both her wedding tiara and her engagement ring, Harriet made a beautiful nod to Peter’s late grandmother.
With her radiant smile, glowing makeup, and a perfect blend of historic and contemporary style, Harriet’s royal bridal look will undoubtedly go down as one of the most elegant of recent years.
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