Meghan has recalled the ‘surreal’ day the Queen helped her pick out her wedding tiara at Buckingham Palace.
The Duchess of Sussex, 37, said the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau was the ‘perfect’ choice, describing how she wanted her bridal look to be ‘incredibly timeless’ yet ‘still modern’.
She spoke about picking out the tiara in a special recording for a new exhibition at Windsor Castle, where the tiara is on display alongside her stunning Givenchy wedding gown.
Meghan also revealed Prince Harry, 34, accompanied her to Buckingham Palace to pick out the tiara, although her now husband admitted ‘I should have really been there’.
Meghan (above during the carriage procession her wedding day in May) has recalled the ‘surreal’ day the Queen helped her pick out the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau for her wedding
The Queen (pictured at Princess Eugenie’s wedding) loaned the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau to the Duchess
According to Harper’s Bazaar, the Duchess said in the recording: ‘Harry and I had gone to Buckingham Palace to meet with her Majesty the Queen to select one of the options that were there which was an incredibly surreal day as you can imagine.’
Speaking about the tiara she eventually chose, she continued: ‘I think it was just perfect because it was so clean and simple – and also to that point, an extension of what Clare and I had been trying to do with the dress which was have something that could be so incredibly timeless but still feel modern.’
Harry said that ‘without question’ it was the one that looked best on Meghan, adding: ‘I shouldn’t have really been there – but an incredible loan by my grandmother. Very sweet.’
Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau went on display at Windsor Castle today as part of the A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex exhibition, which will run into January.
Meghan’s wedding day tiara is now on display alongside her stunning Givenchy wedding gown as part of a new exhibition at Windsor Castle
The dress and tiara are on show at Windsor Castle alongside a replica of the frock coat that Prince Harry wore at the wedding in May
In a recording made for visitors to the exhibition, the Duke and Duchess also discuss the amount of planning that went into the May 19 wedding.
Meghan said: ‘A great level of detail went into the planning of our wedding day. We knew how large the scale of the event would be, so in making choices that were really personal and meaningful, it could make the whole experience feel intimate.
Harry added: ‘I chose the frock coat as a uniform, with permission from my grandmother, because I think it’s one of the smartest Household Cavalry uniforms. It’s one of my favourites, and I was very fortunate to be able to wear that on the day.’
Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s royal wedding outfits go on display today as part of the new Windsor Castle exhibition, along with a replica of Harry’s frock coat.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s royal wedding outfits also go on display today as part of the new Windsor Castle exhibition
Pageboy George, five, sported a miniature version of the Blues and Royals frockcoat worn by his uncle Harry, 34, while Charlotte, three, donned an ivory bridesmaid dress by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller, who designed Meghan’s £20,000 dress
Members of the public will be given a closer view of George’s mini version of the coat, created by Savile Row tailors Dege & Skinner, which has his initials embroidered in gold thread on the shoulder straps.
Meanwhile Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress by Givenchy features short puff sleeves and a double silk ribbon at the waist, tied in a bow at the back.
Her white leather shoes were made by Aquazurra and embroidered with her initials and the wedding date.
A replica of The Duchess of Sussex’s bridal bouquet made from artificial flowers has been created for the exhibition. The bouquet was designed by florist Philippa Craddock and included sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine, astrantia, sprigs of myrtle and forget-me-nots, the favourite flower of Diana, Princess of Wales
Meghan’s something borrowed: Which tiara did she wear?
Meghan’s sparkling tiara is Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau, which has been loaned to her by Harry’s grandmother the Queen.
Royal brides are traditionally loaned priceless heirlooms to wear on their wedding day.
Meghan could have chosen the Spencer tiara – famously worn by Harry’s later mother Diana, Princess of Wales when she married the Prince of Wales in 1981.
But Meghan has instead selected this little known piece, which features a magnificent floral-shaped suspended brooch in the centre made of a large round diamond surrounded by nine smaller circular diamonds.
It was specifically made for the Queen’s grandmother Queen Mary in 1932 to accommodate the detachable brooch, which was given to Mary as a wedding present in 1893 by the County of Lincoln.
The bandeau is a flexible band of 11 intricate glittering sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pave set with large and small brilliant diamonds.
The bandeau and the brooch were bequeathed by Queen Mary to her granddaughter the Queen on her death in 1953.
Meghan Markle wore a diamond tiara belonging to the Queen’s grandmother Queen Mary (LEFT). The stunning piece was designer for Queen Mary (right) in 1932 and features a diamond brooch she received as a wedding present in 1893
The bandeau, chosen from Her Majesty’s collection, is formed as a flexible band of eleven sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavÈ set with large and small brilliant diamonds
Meghan’s sparkling tiara is Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau, which has been loaned to her by Harry’s grandmother the Queen