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Duchess Catherine dons tiara often worn by late Princess Diana

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the Fostering Network's Fostering Excellence Awards in London on Nov. 17.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends the Fostering Network’s Fostering Excellence Awards in London on Nov. 17.

(Ian Vogler / Getty Images)
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Kate Middleton pulled out the family jewels -- the sparkly kind -- for a glittery affair hosted by Queen Elizabeth.

The Duchess of Cambridge donned a tiara once owned and worn by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, for a diplomatic reception held at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The mum of Prince George and Princess Charlotte wore the headpiece while riding in a chauffeured Bentley with husband Prince William, the second in line to the British throne, according to photos obtained by the Daily Mail.

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No additional photos were released from the lavish event, considered to be the main ambassadorial social event of the year in London. More than 1,500 dignitaries from about 130 countries are invited, and all senior members of the royal family are expected to attend unless they have prior engagements, reports said.

The diamond-and pearl-encrusted Cambridge lover’s knot tiara was designed by royal jeweler Garrard for Queen Mary, Elizabeth II’s grandmother, in 1914. The crown passed on to Elizabeth after Mary died in 1953, and the reigning monarch wore it frequently before passing it on to the people’s princess as a wedding gift in 1981, according to the Telegraph.

Diana first wore the tiara at the state opening of parliament in November of that year, then in 1985 on an official visit to Washington with her then-husband, Prince Charles, the Daily Mail said. However, after Diana’s death in 1997, it was unclear if the tiara reverted back to Elizabeth or was passed on to Catherine, the Mail said.

Tuesday’s occasion marked only the fourth time the 33-year-old duchess has publicly displayed a tiara. Catherine first wore a regal headpiece at her 2011 wedding to Prince William, making headlines for selecting the Cartier halo tiara.

In December 2013, she wore the Lotus Flower Tiara, once owned by Elizabeth’s sister, Princess Margaret, to a white-tie diplomatic reception at Buckingham Palace.

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She donned the same bejeweled topper again last October for her first state banquet.

Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad

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