Catherine Wears Diana's Historic Brooch at Oman State Visit

A historic royal heirloom took center stage in Catherine's wardrobe as the Princess of Wales joined King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Prince William to welcome Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said to Windsor Castle on October 20, 2026. Catherine wore the Queen Alexandra Three Feathers brooch, a diamond-and-emerald piece associated with generations of women who have held the title of Princess of Wales, including her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Catherine paired the brooch with a dark green coat dress and a matching fascinator for the official reception.

The jewelry dates to 1863, when it was presented to Princess Alexandra of Denmark on her marriage to the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII, according to Tatler. The brooch features the three ostrich feathers used in the Prince of Wales' heraldic badge, surrounded by diamonds and emeralds. Its history connects several generations of the royal family, making it a notable part of Catherine's attire for the diplomatic occasion.

Princess Diana received the heirloom when she married Prince Charles, then Prince of Wales. King Charles subsequently passed the jewelry to Catherine when she became Princess of Wales in 2022, continuing its association with the title.

The brooch also features a detachable emerald drop that can be worn as part of the piece or removed to alter its appearance. Catherine has previously worn it without the drop, including at a Commonwealth Day service in 2023, while Diana also varied the way she styled the jewel to complement her outfits. Queen Camilla has worn the brooch as well, during her time as the wife of the Prince of Wales. For the Omani state visit, Catherine's choice complemented her all-green ensemble as the royal family carried out the official welcoming ceremony.

The evening's state banquet at Windsor Castle was expected to bring another significant royal jewelry appearance. Catherine was anticipated to attend alongside Princess Anne, the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester as King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the Omani ruler. One possible choice was the Lover's Knot tiara, a piece Catherine has worn at several diplomatic dinners. Garrard created the tiara for Queen Mary in 1914, drawing inspiration from a similar headpiece owned by her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse.

Queen Mary bequeathed the tiara to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, after her death in 1953. The late queen is said to have loaned it to Diana as a wedding present in 1981, although Diana chose to wear the Spencer Tiara, which belonged to her own family, for her wedding. Catherine has worn the Lover's Knot at diplomatic events, including the 2017 state banquet for King Felipe and Queen Letizia, the 2019 dinner for King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, and the 2025 dinner for President Macron.

She also wore it during the 2022 state banquet for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Nigerian state banquet in 2026. Other options in Catherine's collection include the Queen Victoria Oriental Circlet tiara, worn for the German state banquet in December 2025, and the Strathmore Rose tiara, which she wore for a dinner honoring the South Korean president in 2023. For her first state banquet, she chose the Lotus Flower tiara.

The Omani state visit began with Sultan Haitham's arrival at Stansted Airport on October 19. On October 20, Prince William welcomed the sultan at an Omani residence in London before the ruler traveled to Windsor, where King Charles and Queen Camilla received him with a ceremonial Royal Salute.