Why wasn't Meghan allowed to try on tiaras whenever she wanted, and what happened when she tried to do so?

Meghan Markle Demanded Emerald Tiara From Queen Elizabeth's Collection — Why Her Wedding Tiara May Have Been a Fake

Meghan Markle wanted to try on tiaras that belonged to the Royal collection. She demanded to wear the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which Princess Eugenie wore a little later at her wedding. There is also a second emerald tiara known as the Russian Vladimir Emerald headdress — the one Queen Elizabeth wore last before her death. Queen Elizabeth II refused her request, which prompted a rebuke to Prince Harry when she told him: "Meghan cannot have whatever she wants. She gets whatever tiara she is given by me."

Instead of the emerald tiara, the Queen loaned Meghan Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara. But even here, for those who were watching the wedding ceremony closely, they might have caught something that suggests she may not have gotten what she thought she was getting. The narrator describing the scene at the wedding commented on how the light sparkled off the diamond tiara and used the word "iridescent." Diamonds do not overly flash rainbow colours; fake crystals do. The physics of light refraction don't lie.

The tiaras held in the Royal collection all have historical value, and each has a copy made of them — which royal insiders believe are the ones loaned out. Of course, they look real, but you cannot fool physics. A fake tiara for a fake princess. The Queen was never fooled.

Meghan's Emerald Tiara Demand

According to royal biographer Robert Lacy, writing in his book Battle of Brothers, Meghan Markle had her heart set on wearing an emerald tiara from the Royal Collection for her May 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. The specific tiara she reportedly wanted was the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, a stunning piece featuring emeralds and diamonds that was later worn by Princess Eugenie at her own wedding just six months later.

The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara was made in 1919 and features a striking design of emerald and diamond clusters set in a kokoshnik-style frame. Its history is as impressive as its appearance — it was commissioned by the wealthy socialite Dame Margaret Greville and later bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth in 1942. For decades, the tiara remained largely unseen in the Royal Collection, making it an even more sought-after piece for a bride looking to make a statement.

In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry confirmed that Meghan tried on five different tiaras with the Queen and himself present, and that one of them was an emerald design. He wrote that one tiara "stood out from the others" and "looked like it was made for Meg." Many royal watchers have speculated that this was the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara [citation:2].

There was also a second emerald tiara in the mix — the Russian Vladimir Emerald headdress. This tiara is particularly significant because it was the one Queen Elizabeth herself wore last before her death. The Vladimir Tiara has a fascinating history, having been smuggled out of Russia during the 1917 Russian Revolution and later sold to Queen Mary.

The Queen's Firm Refusal

Queen Elizabeth II refused Meghan's request to wear the emerald tiara. According to Lacy's account, the Queen had a very specific reason: the emerald tiara had "scandal attached" to it [citation:2]. The piece was supposedly sourced from Russia and "was one of those that found its way into Windsor hands through 'undefined' not to say dodgy channels — and for an undisclosed price — in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution."

As Lacy explained, the Queen's perspective was that "it would suit neither the palace nor Meghan herself that spring if newspapers started speculating about which Tsarist princess had worn the tiara and how she had been assassinated" [citation:2]. The Queen was concerned about the potential for bad press and scandal — exactly the kind of thing that has dogged Meghan and Harry throughout their time in the public eye.

The Queen's response to the demand was characteristically firm. According to royal sources, the monarch told Prince Harry directly: "Meghan cannot have whatever she wants. She gets whatever tiara she is given by me" [citation:1].

For more on the Queen's approach to royal jewelry, read our analysis of the strict rules governing royal jewelry.

The "Tiaragate" Showdown

The drama surrounding Meghan's tiara selection became so intense that it earned its own nickname — "Tiaragate." According to royal biographer Robert Hardman's book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story, the situation escalated when the couple demanded that the chosen tiara be sent to them immediately so Meghan could practice wearing it with her hair stylist [citation:1].

The Queen's dresser and curator, Angela Kelly, was tasked with delivering Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara — the piece the Queen had ultimately chosen for Meghan. But when the couple called to demand the tiara be sent over, the Queen was not pleased [citation:1].

"It's not a toy," the Queen reportedly told an insider, adding that Kate Middleton had practiced with a plastic tiara from the accessory chain Claire's ahead of her 2011 wedding and couldn't understand why Meghan couldn't do the same [citation:1][citation:4].

The Queen told Kelly to "ignore the phone calls." According to a palace source, "Harry had been on to everyone about this. We thought Angela was like the fairy godmother who had delivered. But when she called Kensington Palace, she was put through to Prince Harry, who just said, 'Get it here now.' And that was the end of the conversation" [citation:1].

Royal expert Robert Hardman later revealed that it was always Harry doing the shouting during the tiara saga, never Meghan. He said: "It was always Harry doing the shouting, interestingly, never Meghan. She obviously got him to do this" [citation:9].

When Kelly eventually arrived at Kensington Palace with the tiara, the situation reportedly became tense. According to Hardman's sources, "There was already an atmosphere before Angela arrived. Meghan was nowhere to be seen. Harry poked the box and said 'Is that it?' Then he stood over Angela and said he did not like her whining to his grandmother" [citation:1][citation:14].

Kelly reportedly gave as good as she got. The source added: "Angela gave it straight back. She said that she did not like him getting all these people to push her when she was just doing her job. She tried to tell him about the history and how it was for their own sake, but he walked out" [citation:1].

In his memoir Spare, Harry admitted the confrontation with Kelly, calling her "obstructive" and "a troublemaker." He wrote: "I considered going to Granny, but that would probably mean sparking an all-out confrontation, and I wasn't quite sure with whom Granny would side" [citation:1].

For more on the royal family's internal conflicts, read our coverage of the major royal family feuds and their origins.

Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara

Instead of the emerald tiara Meghan wanted, Queen Elizabeth loaned her Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara. This piece was made in 1932 specifically for Queen Mary and features a detachable central brooch [citation:7]. The center brooch itself dates back to 1893 and was given to the then-Princess Mary as a wedding present by the County of Lincoln upon her marriage to Prince George, Duke of York [citation:11].

The bandeau is made of diamonds and platinum, with the band itself comprised of 11 sections "pierced with interlaced ovals and pave set with large and small brilliant diamonds" [citation:11]. The tiara was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II upon Queen Mary's death in 1953 and had not been seen on a royal since Queen Mary last wore it [citation:11].

At the time, the tiara was considered a carefully chosen piece. Kensington Palace noted that Meghan was using the tiara to anchor her five-metre veil, which featured the floral insignia of all 53 Commonwealth member nations [citation:11].

Despite the public presentation, the Queen's message was clear: Meghan would wear what she was given, not what she demanded. The Queen was never fooled by the request for an emerald tiara with a scandalous past, and she was not about to let Meghan dictate terms.

For more on the royal collection of jewels, read our guide to the most famous tiaras in the Royal Collection.

The "Iridescent" Clue: Was It a Fake?

For those who were watching the wedding ceremony closely, there was a moment that might have suggested something was off. The narrator describing the scene at St. George's Chapel commented on how the light sparkled off the diamond tiara and used the word "iridescent."

This is where the physics of light becomes important. Diamonds do not overly flash rainbow colours. The way diamonds refract light is specific and unique — they produce a brilliant, white sparkle with occasional flashes of colour. Fake crystals, on the other hand, produce iridescent, rainbow-like flashes. It is difficult to tell the difference at times, but the physics is clear.

The tiaras held in the Royal Collection all have historical value. Every piece is priceless, impossible to replace. And every major piece has a copy made of it. These copies are used for public appearances and events where the risk of damage or theft is too high. Royal insiders have long suspected that the copies are the ones loaned out to non-senior members of the family.

Of course, the copies look real. The craftsmanship is extraordinary. But you cannot fool physics. The way light interacts with cubic zirconia — a common diamond simulant — produces a completely different effect than the way it interacts with a real diamond. The "iridescent" quality described by the narrator is a tell-tale sign of a crystal rather than a diamond.

If Meghan was indeed wearing a copy of Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara rather than the original, it would be a deeply symbolic act. A fake tiara for a fake princess. The Queen was never fooled by Meghan's demands or her ambitions — and perhaps this was the ultimate message: you may have the title, but you will never have the real thing.

For more on how the royal family protects its priceless jewels, read our investigation into how the Royal Collection is protected.

Timeline of the Tiara Drama

Frequently Asked Questions

What tiara did Meghan Markle originally want to wear for her wedding?

Meghan Markle reportedly wanted to wear the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, also known as the Russian emerald headdress. This is the tiara Princess Eugenie later wore at her wedding in October 2018. Some sources also suggest she wanted the Vladimir Emerald Tiara.

Why did Queen Elizabeth refuse Meghan's tiara request?

Queen Elizabeth refused Meghan's request because the emerald tiara had "scandal attached" to it. It was sourced from Russia through questionable channels after the Russian Revolution, and the Queen was concerned about potential bad press. She also reportedly told Prince Harry: "Meghan cannot have whatever she wants."

What tiara did Meghan Markle actually wear on her wedding day?

Meghan wore Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara. It was made in 1932 and features a detachable central brooch dating back to 1893. The tiara was bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Was Meghan Markle's wedding tiara a replica?

Some royal watchers have speculated that Meghan may have worn a replica of Queen Mary's Diamond Bandeau Tiara rather than the original. The narrator at the wedding described the tiara as "iridescent," which is a property of crystals and cubic zirconia rather than real diamonds.

What was 'Tiaragate'?

'Tiaragate' refers to the drama surrounding Meghan Markle's wedding tiara selection. It involved Meghan's demand to practice with the tiara, Harry's angry phone calls to palace staff, and a confrontation with Queen Elizabeth's dresser Angela Kelly. The Queen reportedly told staff to ignore the couple's demands.