Princess Beatrice's wedding tiara caused the Queen serious upset and stress

14 October 2023 , 13:31

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Princess Beatrice wore two borrowed items from the late Queen (Image: PA)

The national celebration during a royal wedding is a tradition we Brits know all too well - the atmospheric buzz lining up on The Mall, the regal carriage processions, and anticipation surrounding the royal bride's dress. Princess Beatrice chose a more intimate approach, however, for her secret ceremony in Windsor.

Due to lockdown restrictions at the time only a small number of guests attended the matromony between Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi including the late Prince Phillip and Queen Elizabeth II, so fans had to wait to catch a glimpse of the look. Photos published after the big day show off Beatrice's stunning ivory dress, previously worn by the late Her Majesty.

The dress featured distinct drop sparkle embellishing which Beatrice chose to compliment with a fringe tiara to hold up her veil. It was a sentimentally put-together look marking the special bond between grandmother and granddaughter. Beatrice followed in the tradition of adding the tiara as her 'something borrowed' item, which the late Her Majesty did too for her wedding to Prince Phillip after it was gifted to the Queen Mother in 1936.

Although the tiara once caused the late Queen a serious amount of stress on her own wedding day and a disaster on the morning of the late Queen's wedding nearly caused her from not wearing it all. Just two hours before the ceremony was about to start the headpiece snapped in half as a hairdresser was adding finishing touches to the Queen's veil.

This accident in the rush of the day reportedly left the Queen distraught as the Queen Mother was heard saying "There are still two hours and there are other tiaras", as she tried to calm the situation. Luckily everyone was on call on one of the biggest days in the Royal calendar which meant the family jeweller was able to rush to his worktop under police escort to fix the snapped tiara.

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There was huge sentimental meaning behind Princess Beatrice's wedding dress and tiara (PA)

Both the late Her Majesty and Princess Beatrice wore the fringe tiara on their wedding day (PA)

And he did it, amazingly fixing the piece and returning back in time for the bride to walk down Westminster Abbey, 73 years before Princess Beatrice added wore it, luckily without any reported hiccups. Beatrice's wedding dress was also borrowed by the late Her Majesty, a Peau De Soie taffeta gown created by designer Norman Hartnell.

Although not worn for the Queen's own big day Her Majesty wore it to the State Opening of Parliament and famously, the star-studded Lawrence of Arabia film premiere in 1962. Diamantés and a bodice were added for Beatrice's day, which was remodelled and fitted by Angella Kelly and Stewart Parvin.

While it's usual to see keepsakes re-worn by various members of the royal family, commentators have since said that it was such a huge honour for Beatrice to don two huge items belonging to the Queen. Royal writer Penny Junor said it 'spoke volumes' of the Queen's solidarity with Beatrice.

Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, added: "I think it's a tremendous compliment to Beatrice and the whole York family that the Queen would lend one of her vintage dresses."

Jennifer Newton