Something old, something new, borrowed and blue

KATE Middleton confounded expectations that she would shun the traditional tiara and opt for a head-dress of flowers, stepping out in a sparkling diamond number.

The tiara, the little known 1936 Cartier “halo”, was her “something borrowed” and was loaned to her by the queen — a tradition for royal weddings.

The little known “halo” tiara was made by Cartier in 1936 and bought by the queen’s father, then the Duke of York, for the queen mother, then the Duchess of York, St James’s Palace said.

Kate used the loan of the tiara, a tradition at royal weddings, to signify “something borrowed” on her wedding day.

The bride’s earrings were a wedding-day gift from her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

Created by Robinson Pelham, they were diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond-set drop and a pave set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.

They were inspired by the Middleton family’s new coat of arms.

The earrings were the bride’s “something new”.

For her “something blue”, a blue ribbon was sewn into the interior of her dress, while her “something old” was the traditional Carrickmacross craftsmanship used to create the bridal gown.