Camilla wore ‘favourite’ £250,000 family heirloom at first wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles

Cubitt-Shand Tiara: Expert discusses Camilla's family tiara

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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall was lent the Delhi Durbar, the Greville Boucheron, and the Teck Crescent tiaras from the Queen after she married into the Royal Family in 2005. But Camilla does own a diadem of her own – the Cubitt-Shand. Originally, the tiara belonged to Camilla’s grandmother, Sonia Keppel.

This tiara has a royal connection as the Keppel’s had their own royal links.

Sonia’s mother was Alice Keppel, the last mistress of King Edward VII, Prince Charles’ great-great-grandfather.

The tiara gets its moniker from Camilla’s grandfather, the Hon. Roland Cubitt, and her father, Major Bruce Shand.

Sonia lent Camilla the tiara for her 1973 wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles, and it can be seen in photographs of the special day.

Royal fans will be able to see the tiara’s distinctively tall centre section above Camilla’s hairstyle.

The tiara was not seen in public again until another wedding, that of Camilla’s daughter Laura Lopes in 2006.

Camilla inherited the tiara after her mother Rosalind died in 1994, as Camilla was the eldest daughter.

The Duchess of Cornwall then gave it to her own daughter for her wedding attire.

Camilla continues to wear it to this day, and the whimsical floral design is notably lighter than her other three diadems.

Made completely of diamonds, this piece features flower designs nestled in a thick wreath of leaves.

It is likely to have also been worn as a necklace originally.

When Prince Charles becomes King, Camilla will have access to the entire royal jewellery collection.

This includes a number of tiaras, but it is unlikely she will stop wearing her own personal sparkler, the Cubitt-Shand.

Speaking about the piece, Deborah Papas, Gemologist at Prestige Pawnbrokers of Channel 4’s Posh Pawn, told Express.co.uk: “The floral diadem is lighter than the three others she has at her disposal from the Queen’s collection, and was the chosen piece to lend her daughter, Laura for her 2006 wedding.

“The delightful style is set with numerous diamonds of varying sizes in a flower and leaf design.

“It seems to be Camilla’s favourite go-to headpiece and likely to continue that way, albeit she will have access to any piece belonging to the Crown, once Prince Charles becomes King.

“I would estimate this tiara to be worth in excess of £250,000.”

After Camilla married Prince Charles in 2005, she wore the tiara to the annual diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace.

She wore the tiara again for the same event in 2014.

Royal fans also got a good look at the tiara at a dinner at the Royal Academy of the Arts in June 2015.

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