At the Royal Palace, Queen Letizia once again brought out a piece of jewelry that completely transforms the tone of a gala dinner: the Cartier tiara. I know many remembered it from afar, as it’s been seven years since we last saw it on her head.
The occasion called for it. It was the official dinner in honor of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elka Büdenbender, and Letizia chose to bring back a piece that is part of the Royal Household’s emotional history.
What does it mean that Letizia wore the Cartier tiara?
The tiara has a fascinating history. Cartier designed it for Queen Victoria Eugenia, incorporating Egyptian-inspired motifs and combining diamonds and pearls, although it originally featured emeralds. It then passed through the hands of her daughter, María Cristina, and eventually returned to the family through an agreement with King Juan Carlos I.
For decades, it was Queen Sofia’s favorite, worn on more than a dozen occasions, until Infanta Cristina wore it to the wedding of Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010. A surprising gesture for a piece that had always been reserved for queens.
Letizia didn’t wear it until 2018, and now she’s bringing it back at a significant diplomatic moment.
What else did Letizia wear besides the tiara?
The Queen kept the rest of the ensemble minimal so the Cartier could shine without competition. She only added the diamond earrings from the passing lot and her Coreterno ring. Nothing else. No brooches, no bracelets, no embellishments to disrupt the harmony of the look.
For the gala dinner, Letizia debuted a flawless black gown, a style that is distinctly her own. A square neckline, short sleeves adorned with rhinestones, and a straight silhouette embody minimalism without sacrificing the details that matter.
On the back, a V-neckline breaks the front’s sobriety with a subtle touch of femininity.