W2 '11

TWO DAYS SIX HOURS AND 46 SECONDS

Tiara Gate!

Word literally on the street is that Our Miss Kate will walk down the aisle wearing this tiara borrowed from Her Majesty. Yeah, I was all about the Spencer tiara, but turns out that is just for the Spencer girls or wives ( William IS a Spencer...) BUT, this one is just lovely, and look at all the ones who have worn it!

The George III tiara (also known as the Russian Fringe Tiara) is a circlet incorporating brilliant diamonds that were formerly owned by George III. Originally commissioned in 1830, the tiara has since been worn by many Queens Consort. Originally it could be worn as a collar or necklace or mounted on a wire to form the tiara. Victoria first wore it as a tiara during a visit to the Royal Opera in 1839. In Franz Xaver Winterhalter's painting 'The First of May', made in 1851, Victoria can be seen wearing it as she holds Prince Arthur, the future Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. In a delicate veiled reference to the adoration of the Magi, The Duke of Wellington can be seen presenting the young prince with a gift, while Prince Albert looks on.[6]
When Queen Elizabeth, consort of George VI, first wore the tiara, Sir Henry "Chips" Channon called it 'an ugly spiked tiara'. Queen Elizabeth later loaned it to her daughter, Princess Elizabeth, the future Elizabeth II as "something borrowed" for her wedding in 1947. As The Princess Elizabeth was getting dressed at Buckingham Palace before leaving for Westminster Abbey the tiara snapped. Luckily the court jeweller was standing by in case of emergency. The jeweller was rushed to his work room by a police escort. Queen Elizabeth reassured her daughter that it would be fixed in time, and it was. The Queen Mother later also loaned it to her granddaughter The Princess Anne for her marriage to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973.[6] It was put on show with a number of other royal tiaras in 2001.

Victoria wearing it.

This MAJOR story broke when someone " who looked like an insider " tried to place a bet that Kate would be wearing it on Friday . ( the story )