Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
King Charles’s wife paid tribute to her visitors by wearing their national colours, white and red, while she also made a nod to the beloved late monarch.
Camilla previously wore the tiara in 2023 during the South Korean State Banquet at Buckingham Palace. The diadem has also been dubbed one of the most controversial pieces the late Queen wore, both for its design and its meaning.
Elizabeth commissioned the House of Garrard in 1973 to create the Burmese Ruby tiara with gems she received as a wedding present from the people of Burma.
The tiara features a total of 96 rubies and a selection of diamonds, including some from the Nizam of Hyderabad tiara, which had to be dismantled, in order for the new tiara to be made.
The Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara was a wedding gift to Elizabeth from The 7th Nizam of Hyderabad, an Indian monarch and was always considered a beautiful tiara and one of the most popular among royal fans, thus its dismantling sparked controversy.
It is believed Elizabeth was given 96 rubies as Burmese people believe that there are 96 illnesses which could afflict one’s body and thus, with rubies thought to have healing qualities, the gesture was seen as a sign of protection for the late Queen and her health.
The tiara was at the centre of discussions again in 2019, when Elizabeth wore it to welcome then-US President Donald Trump for a state visit to the UK, with some royal watchers wondering whether the late monarch was attempting to send a message by wearing a piece designed to ward off evil.
Meanwhile, Maxwell Stone, of jewellers Steven Stone, commented on the tiara’s worth: “The beautiful tiara is not only sentimental, but it’s also very valuable, as Burmese rubies are extremely precious and rare. The tiara’s jewels are set in a series of rose motifs inspired by the Tudor Rose, which pay homage to British Heritage. Considering the number of rubies and diamonds featured in this piece, we estimate it has a staggering value of around £7,000,000.”
Tonight’s glittering event will see the Japanese visitors mingle with the British royalty, including the King and Queen themselves, the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The banquet features a three-course menu which includes langoustines (Norway lobsters), turbot and peach sorbet, according to Buckingham Palace.
The attendees will be treated to three dishes, consisting of a starter, a main and a dessert and will be entertained by the Royal College of Music’s Senior Quartet, Seion Quartet”.