Even though it has been over a year since Catherine became the Princess of Wales, she rarely gets the opportunity to wear a tiara.

And who can blame her?

Tiaras can be quite heavy.

However, when the occasion calls for it, she never fails to make a statement.

Last night, at the extravagant state banquet held to welcome the President and First Lady of South Korea to the UK, the Princess of Wales chose to wear the stunning Strathmore Rose Tiara.

Paired with a white Jenny Pacman gown and earrings that once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth, the Princess truly dazzled.

The floral tiara, which hadn’t been seen in almost a century, stole the spotlight.

However, not everyone was pleased with how Princess Catherine wore the tiara.

A debate ensued, with some claiming that she didn’t wear it correctly.

Royal experts were quick to offer reasonable explanations for the Princess’s choice.

The Strathmore Rose Tiara was originally a wedding gift to the Queen Mother from her parents in 1923.

It was purchased from Catchpole and Williams and was made in the 19th century.

Interestingly, the flowers on the tiara can be removed and worn as brooches.

Originally, the tiara was worn lower on the forehead, resembling a flower crown.

But this time, the Princess positioned the floral diamond design two inches back from her hairline, a departure from tradition.

According to jewelry editor Carol Wilton, this change was primarily for comfort.

The tiara’s heavy materials can cause headaches, so it’s only natural that members of the royal family would wear them in a way that feels comfortable.

Josie Goodbody, another expert, explained that in the 1920s, wearing a head ornament as a bandeau was the most fashionable style.

The fact that the Duchess of York was photographed wearing the Strathmore Rose Tiara low on her forehead as a bandeau confirms this.

At that time, the tiara would have been modified to complement the Duchess’s bobbed haircut and to keep up with the Art Deco trends of the era.

Bandeaus were often characterized by geometric shapes, such as honeycomb and lozenge motifs, and symmetrical settings of large round roses, as seen in the Strathmore Tiara, and lotus flowers, as seen in the Lotus Flower Tiara.

It is worth noting that Catherine has only been seen wearing three tiaras since joining the Royal Family 12 years ago.

Apart from the Strathmore Rose Tiara, she has worn the Cambridge Lover’s Knot Tiara on multiple occasions, the Cartier Halo Tiara on her wedding day, and the Lotus Flower Tiara for diplomatic receptions and the China State Banquet in 2015.

Interestingly, she wears the Lotus Flower Tiara in a different way than its original owner, the Queen Mother.

This tiara was created in 1925 by Gerard using diamonds and pearls from a necklace that Elizabeth received as a wedding gift from her husband, the future George VI.

The decision to showcase the Strathmore Rose Tiara holds great significance, as it highlights the enduring beauty of antique jewelry worn in new and innovative ways across generations.

Princess Catherine’s choice to wear the tiara two inches back from her hairline demonstrates her personal style and adaptability.

It is clear that she values both tradition and individuality when it comes to her royal accessories.