Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh dons Kate Middleton’s popular tiara

Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, recently made a dazzling appearance giving strong Kate Middleton vibes! The royal was part of Buckingham Palace’s state banquet to welcome Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan on June 25. The Duchess was spotted wearing a shiny tiara previously worn by the Princess of Wales.

Named the Lotus Flower Tiara, it is known for its elegant design, and for gracing important royal events. It was first worn by Kate Middleton in December 2013 for a reception at Buckingham Palace, and she wore it again for the Chinese state banquet in 2015, welcoming President Xi Jinping and his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan. Finally, the princess wore it again in 2022 at the Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace.

Similarly, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, donned the tiara with the Pear-Shaped Diamond Drop Suite, and necklace and earring set from Queen Elizabeth‘s ll vault. The Duchess had previously showcased these jewels at a state banquet honoring then-President Donald Trump in 2019.

While the Lotus Tiara seems to hold a special place both in royal history and Kate Middleton’s heart, she has not adorned her head with it in recent times. Moreover, the Princess of Wales was also absent from the Japanese state banquet, continuing her cancer recovery. She did grace the Trooping the Color event earlier this month, but this appearance was far from an actual return to her royal duties.