The Most Beautiful Tiaras Worn By Royal Women

Remember the moment in "The Princess Diaries" when Mia Thermopolis went from an average girl to a gorgeous tiara-wearing princess. Her transformation had girls everywhere lusting for tiaras of our own.

It turns out, the reality is even better than the movies. Here are five of the most beautiful tiaras worn by real-life Queens and Princesses over the years.

1. The Lover’s Knot – Lady Diana Spencer

The Lover’s Knot tiara is one of the most precious pieces owned by the British Royal Family. Made up of a sequence of diamonds and pearls taken from the "Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara," the Tiara was created in 1913 for Queen Mary.

It was passed down to Queen Elizabeth after Queen Mary passed away. Elizabeth wore it on several occasions before giving it to Lady Diana Spencer, as a wedding gift. In 1996, after her divorce from Prince Charles, Lady D returned the tiara. Now, Kate Middleton is seen wearing the tiara from time to time.

2. The Cameo Tiara – Princess Victoria of Sweden

Historians believe the cameo tiara was a gift from Napoleon Bonaparte to Joséphine de Beauharnais. It now belongs to the Swedish royal family. The tiara is one of the most unique designs worn by modern royals. Made in France during the first decade of the nineteenth century, the tiara was inherited by the Bernadottes of Sweden from the Duke of Leuchtenberg. It features a series of cameos with the central cameo depicting a scene from the myth of Cupid and Psyche.

3. The Floral Tiara – Queen Letizia of Spain

The Floral tiara is a piece owned by the Spanish Royal family. Queen Letizia, in particular, loves to wear the stunning tiara and has been doing so from the time she was a Princess. The piece was created in Russia in the 19th century. It was donated by dictator Franco to Queen Sofia as a wedding gift. The diamonds are worked into a large floral pattern. Even more impressive is that the versatile piece has a dual purpose. It can be worn as a tiara or as a necklace.

4. Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara – Queen Elizabeth

The Queen of England is most often seen wearing the crown or the “Girls of Great Britain and Ireland” Tiara. However, she also occasionally wears the Kokoshnik tiara that hails from Russia.

The tiara is designed in the shape of a Russian folk headdress called the Kokoshnik. The Princess of Wales, the future Queen Alexandra fell in love with her sister, Empress Maria's hat. In 1888, to celebrate her 25th wedding anniversary, the Queen was gifted a crown similar to the headdress by the British aristocratic ladies. It was created by court jewelers Garrard & Co. and consists of 488 diamonds set onto 61 platinum bars. The tiara was inherited by Queen Mary after the death of her mother-in-law and later passed on to Queen Elizabeth.

5. The Sapphire Tiara – Queen Maxima of Netherlands

The stunning tiara was worn by Queen Maxima on her coronation day. It was made up of 242 carats of white South African diamonds and 155 of blue Kashmir sapphires. The cushion-cut middle sapphire can be detached and worn as a brooch.