Queen Camilla wears historic emerald tiara to Windsor Castle gala as Princess of Wales skips the event

Queen Camilla has worn a tiara from the late Queen Elizabeth II's collection that was last seen at a royal wedding nearly a decade ago.

The Queen joined King Charles and the Prince of Wales at the annual Diplomatic Corps reception on Tuesday night, held inside Windsor Castle for the first time since 2001.

But the Princess of Wales was nowhere to be seen, for the second year in a row.

King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed members of the Diplomatic Corps to the castle for the event, which is traditionally held inside Buckingham Palace.

The palace is currently closed for major functions due to an ongoing restoration, which is due to end in 2027.

The palace is nearing the end of a 10-year £369m refurbishment (approx. $714 million AUD).

Windsor Castle played host to the Diplomatic Corps reception instead, with the monarch meeting representatives from around the world.

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In a first for Queen Camilla, the 77-year-old wore the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara along with a white embroidered gown.

The diamond and emerald headpiece is most recognisable as being the tiara worn by Princess Eugenie when she married Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018.

It was originally made by famed jewellery house Boucheron for socialite Margaret Greville in 1919 and later bequeathed to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

It was never worn publicly by the Queen Mother who then passed it on to her daughter, Elizabeth II who also never wore the piece.

The tiara made its first appearance in decades at Princess Eugenie's wedding after the late Queen loaned it to her granddaughter.

Princess Eugenie, 35, and her sister Princess Beatrice, 37, have been in the headlines lately after their parents Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were stripped of their royal titles by King Charles over their past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The York sisters have retained their titles and are said to be welcome at royal family events moving forward, despite the scandal engulfing Andrew and Fergie.

Queen Camilla also wore a pair of diamond earrings and a serpent necklace made by Van Cleef & Arpels, inherited from her grandmother.

Pinned to her blue sash was the King's Royal Family Order and the Order of the Garter star.

King Charles and Prince William both wore the Windsor uniform.

The Princess of Wales was absent from the event, which was held hours after she addressed business leaders at a summit in London.

Catherine delivered her first public speech in nearly two years, using the occasion to urge companies to prioritise "time and tenderness" over money.

The summit was in support of her work with the Royal Foundation to promote the importance of early childhood.

Kate was also missing from last year's Diplomatic Corp reception.

The princess was forced to step back from her public work for part of 2024 following a cancer diagnosis early in the year.

However, she has previously attended the reception in other years.

The princess is due to be at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall, in London, on Wednesday evening.

She and Prince William will attend the event for the first time since 2023.

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