The British Royals' Ogilvy Tiara History, Info, Weddings, Photos

No royal wedding is complete without a jaw-dropping tiara. Flora Ogilvy, Queen Elizabeth's cousin, made that point all the more clear in wearing her family's Ogilvy tiara to her wedding celebration. Though Flora wed her husband, Timothy Vesterberg, in a private ceremony last year, the couple celebrated their nuptials in a larger, more public manner on September 10. In wearing the Ogilvy tiara, Flora paid special tribute to her grandmother, Princess Alexandra of Kent, who also attended the event.

Want to learn more about this rare, royal tiara? Here, find a history of the stunning pearl and diamond headpiece, and its unique backstory.

The Ogilvy tiara was made for Princess Alexandra.

Princess Alexandra is Queen Elizabeth's first cousin (making Flora the Queen's first cousin twice removed). Per The Court Jeweller, the Ogilvy tiara was made around the time Alexandra wed her late husband, Angus Ogilvy, a son of the 12th Earl of Airlie. The pair married in 1963. The tiara was crafted from diamond floral hair ornaments that Alexandra wore prior to her marriage.

Alexandra first wore the tiara on the night before her wedding, at a ball held at Windsor Castle. To make the tiara, diamond ribbons were added, surrounding the diamond and pearl flowers. Though Alexandra has worn multiple tiaras, this is believed to be the only one that she personally owns.

Tim Graham//Getty Images

Princess Alexandra wore the full parure to a 1982 banquet.

The tiara is convertible, making it quite versatile.

The pearls in the tiara can be swapped out for other gemstones, including sapphires and turquoise. Princess Alexandra also has a matching necklace, which, per The Court Jeweller, was modeled after Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee necklace, and a few pairs of coordinating earrings. The full parure was gifted to Alexandra by Angus Ogilvy. The necklace also allows its wearer to swap out the stones, so that they match those on the tiara.

princess alexandra at the dorchester hotel for the return ba

Tim Graham//Getty Images

In 1993, Princess Alexandra swapped out the pearls for sapphires at a London banquet.

Princess Alexandra has not worn the tiara for a while.

The princess hasn't worn the tiara in years, so Flora's decision to wear it marks a rare appearance for the historic headpiece. Alexandra has one other granddaughter, Flora's cousin, Zenouska Mowatt. Zenouska is not yet married, so we may get another glimpse at the tiara if she eventually does wed (and opts for the tiara).