When she entered Westminster Abbey on 23rd July, 1986, Sarah Ferguson had a crown of gardenias perched on her flame-coloured locks – reportedly chosen as they were Prince Andrew’s favourite flower. When she emerged an hour later, the flowers were gone, removed shortly after the register was signed, and a brand-new tiara was unveiled. It marked the moment Sarah’s life as a ‘commoner’ was left behind, and she officially became of a member of the British royal family.
The York Tiara, as it came to be known, is made of platinum and features delicate scrollwork in a floral motif, with a large 5-carat diamond set atop. At the time of the wedding, the papers reported it had been borrowed from a friend, but this later changed, and it was said to be a gift to the bride from her new in-laws, purchased, along with a diamond demi-parure, from the royal jewellers, Garrard. However, it isn’t clear if it was commissioned specifically for the new Duchess of York, or if it was an existing piece that was purchased for her.
Traditionally, women marrying into the royal family were either from royalty themselves, or from the aristocracy, so would have their own family tiara to wear – like Princess Diana with the Spencer tiara. However, although the Ferguson family had close ties with the Windsors, Sarah’s father wasn’t a peer of the realm, and no family diadem was to be had. So it makes sense that the Queen would gift her daughter-in-law with a tiara of her own – as she went on to do for the bride of her youngest son, Sophie Rhys-Jones (now the Duchess of Edinburgh).
Unlike today’s royal brides, the Duchess of York went on to wear her bridal tiara many times during the course of her marriage.
The next time it was seen was at a banquet during a state visit by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia on 26th March, 1987. On the third evening, the king hosted a ‘return’ dinner at Claridge’s Hotel in London, which was attended by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, along with other senior royals.
The duchess work a black and white satin dress, with oversized collar. She also wore the necklace and earrings from her wedding parure.
The following year, the Duke and Duchess of York made a twelve day official visit to Canada, celebrating their first wedding anniversary during the trip. In those days it was much more common to see tiaras come out during a royal tour, and this one was no exception. The York Tiara made an appearance during their stop in Toronto, worn with ruby necklace and earrings, and again during a stop in Edmonton, where Sarah opted to wear her wedding necklace and earrings again.
In 1988, just two months after the birth of Princess Beatrice, the royal couple made another commonwealth visit, this time to Australia for the country’s bi-centennial celebrations. On 2nd October, they attended a fireworks display and dinner in Canberra, giving ‘Fergie’ and excuse to don the York Tiara once more.
1989 saw them head back to Canada. This visit was the last time the tiara was seen before the breakdown of the York’s marriage in 1992. However, as the tiara had been a gift, and was Sarah’s personal property, she retained it after their 1996 divorce.
It was almost 12 years before the York Tiara was seen in public again, in 2001. This time, worn at Elton John’s legendary White Tie & Tiara ball, held at his home in Old Windsor:
The tiara seems to have been packed away again after this event, as it was the last time that the duchess was seen wearing it, in public at least – there’s always the chance she’s pottering around Royal Lodge with it perched on her head! It didn’t see the light of day again for 22 years, as neither York daughter opted to wear it for their wedding. This time it was Princess Beatrice who wore it, during Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa’s wedding reception in Jordan on 1st June, 2023.
It was lovely to see it again – it’s such a shame when beautiful pieces of jewellery are hidden away unused. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait so long before we see it again. With the number of working royals greatly reduced and with an average age of 69, it would be a wonderful opportunity for one, if not both of the York sisters to take up royal duties and inject some younger blood!
Mistress of the Robes 