Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton sparkled as she posed alongside the Queen and the most senior members of the royal family as they posed for an a unique photograph last night for the annual Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace.
Kate is seen to be wearing Princess Diana's crown .
The diamond and pearl crown was once owned by Princess Diana, second from right wearing it in 2007, - and was kept in a safe at Buckingham Palace after her death before it was handed to Kate, right, wearing it last night. The tiara was made by Royal jewellers Garrard in 1914 to Queen Mary's personal design, left, from pearls and diamonds already in her family's possession. It was a copy of one owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse, who married the first Duke of Cambridge, seventh son of King George III, in 1818.
In her will Queen Mary left the tiara to to the Queen, who wore it frequently, including at an evening event in 1955, second from left. In 1981 she gave it as a wedding present to Prince William's mother, Diana, who wore it for the first time at the state opening of parliament that November. The tiara is fairly heavy even by royal standards and was said to have given Diana headaches when she wore it.
The historic image, which includes the monarch and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, her direct heir, Prince Charles with his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, and, of course, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was taken at Buckingham Palace just before the annual Diplomatic Reception earlier this evening.
