At the banquet in honor of Haitham Bin Tariq, the sultan and prime minister of Oman, Queen Letizia of Spain looked like something out of a painting. The sovereign paired a dreamy cobalt blue gown with a tiara made of platinum, pearls, and diamonds that has been in the royal family for generations.
Last time Queen Letizia had worn a tiara at home in the Royal Palace was back in 2023. The Queen and King Felipe welcomed Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and for the traditional banquet the sovereign favored the a red Carolina Herrera dress and the gracefulness of the floral tiara that belonged to Maria Christina of Spain. In that same jewel collection resides Queen Letizia’s latest “Russian tiara” she wore for the Sultan of Oman’s state visit to Spain.
Queen Letizia’ Cartier Loop Tiara is thought to have first belonged to Queen Maria Christina of Habsburg-Lorraine, created in 1886. She held regency over Spain from the death of her husband, King Alfonso XII, until the accession of her son, Alfonso XIII, in 1902. The style, which features pearls set in a series of diamond loops has been handed down through generations of Spanish royals, and was a favorite of Letizia’s mother-in-law, Queen Sofía.
Some jewelry experts believe that the tiara was a gift to then-Archduchess Maria Christina of Habsburg-Lorraine for her wedding to King Alfonso XII of Spain. In reality, historians now seem to agree, it would be a personal commission from Maria Christina who became regent after the death of her husband since her son, Alfonso XIII, had not yet been born when his father passed away.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia with the Sultan of Oman, Haitham Bin Tarik, during the gala dinner in his honor at the Royal Palace, November 4, 2025, in Madrid, Spain.Europa Press Entertainment/Getty Images
