Princess Anne stepped out in historic royal splendor on October 20, 2026. She chose the diamond-encrusted Meander Tiara for a grand state banquet at Windsor Castle. The Princess Royal joined King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and senior members of the British royal family. They honored Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman during his three-day official visit to the United Kingdom.
The diplomatic occasion took place in St George’s Hall. The 76-year-old royal wore a structured gold-toned evening gown featuring a high collar and long bell sleeves. She paired the metallic dress with a delicate gold and diamond necklace, matching drop earrings, white opera-length evening gloves, a metallic clutch, and her vibrant blue Royal Victorian Order sash. Her signature bouffant updo completed the regal ensemble as she arrived alongside her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
A Deeply Personal Royal Heirloom
The centerpiece of the Princess Royal’s look was the Meander Tiara. It is frequently referred to as the Greek Key Tiara or Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara. The delicate diamond bandeau features an intricate geometric Greek key pattern combined with honeysuckle motifs. It is centered around a brilliant-cut diamond surrounded by a pavé laurel wreath.
Jewellery experts have estimated that the antique piece could be worth between £2 million and £4 million. However, its exact market value remains officially unconfirmed. The diadem carries immense sentimental value. It originally belonged to Anne’s paternal grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg. Princess Alice received the tiara as a wedding present upon her marriage to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, the father of Prince Philip.
In 1947, Princess Alice gifted the piece to her daughter-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, as a wedding present. Although the late monarch was never publicly photographed wearing the tiara, she eventually passed it to Princess Anne in the late 1960s. Anne has frequently worn the piece for major official engagements. These include the State Opening of Parliament in 1970 and a state banquet for the President of Nigeria in March 2026.
Connecting Three Generations of Royal Women
The Meander Tiara has also played a role in recent royal wedding history. Princess Anne famously loaned the heirloom to her daughter, Zara Tindall. It served as her “something borrowed” during her July 2011 wedding to former England rugby player Mike Tindall.
By wearing the tiara for the Omani state banquet, Princess Anne once again highlighted a piece of jewelry that connects three generations of royal women. Her appearance at Windsor Castle added to a glittering evening. Other senior royals also showcased iconic pieces, including Queen Camilla in the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and Princess Catherine in the Lover’s Knot Tiara.
The banquet marked a historic milestone for bilateral relations. It represented the first state visit by an Omani sultan in 44 years. The previous visit occurred when Sultan Qaboos bin Said was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II in March 1982. With Buckingham Palace undergoing major renovations slated for completion in 2027, Windsor Castle continues to serve as the premier backdrop for the United Kingdom’s high-profile diplomatic receptions.
