Queen Camilla State Opening Parliament: George IV Diadem Has 1,333 Diamonds
queen camilla state opening parliament took a familiar royal jewel back into view on May 13, 2026, when Queen Camilla wore the George IV State Diadem at the State Opening of Parliament in London. The piece carries 1,333 diamonds and dates to 1820.
Camilla exited the Palace of Westminster after King Charles delivered his speech in the House of Lords, wearing a high-caliber white gown with the diadem. The setting placed the jewel in one of the monarchy’s main state ceremonies, alongside the king’s arrival and departure from the Sovereign’s Entrance.
George IV State Diadem
King George IV commissioned the tiara from Rundell, Bridge & Rundell for his coronation, and he wore it in 1821 with a huge velvet hat. The design includes a four-carat yellow diamond on the cross in front, along with stylized symbols of England, Scotland and Ireland.
After George IV died in 1830, the tiara passed to William IV and then to Queen Adelaide. It entered Queen Victoria’s collection in 1838, and Victoria made the crown an heirloom to be handed down from queen to queen.
Queen Elizabeth’s Use
Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth later used the diadem for coronation and private events. Elizabeth first wore it on November 4, 1952, for the opening ceremony of Parliament that year, and she used it only for state ceremonies and official portraits.
That history left Camilla’s choice tied to a specific line of use rather than a one-off appearance. The tiara’s link to state occasions, rather than private settings, makes its return at Parliament opening the clearest signal in the day’s dress choices.
Camilla’s 2023 and 2025 Looks
Camilla’s appearance also followed two recent openings of Parliament in different looks. In 2023, she wore the dress designed by Bruce Oldfield for her May 6 coronation, and in 2025 she wore a cream-colored creation by Fiona Clare.
Those earlier choices show how the same ceremony has drawn different outfits, while the diadem keeps the focus on the crown’s ceremonial jewelry. On May 13, 2026, the question was not whether Camilla would attend, but which piece would carry the older state symbolism.
