Why Kitty Spencer Didn’t Wear Diana’s Tiara To Her Wedding

The quintessential English rose Lady Kitty Spencer, niece of the late Princess Diana, wore no less than five different dresses for her lavish wedding celebration at the 17^e century Villa Aldobrandini during the weekend.

The model and socialite, 30, who married 62-year-old retail mogul Michael Lewis – a multimillionaire five years older than his father, Diana Earl Spencer’s brother – seized the opportunity to present her role as Global Brand Ambassador for Dolce & Gabbana.

Every outfit for the event, from a Victorian-style high-neck gown for the formal wedding service to a short, metallic cocktail number for the dance party, was created by Italian fashion designers.

Stefano Gabbana told Tatler that the bride’s choices were partly influenced by her love of Italy and partly because she is “a girl very attached to her origins, to England, to her heritage of great Victorian era “.

He added: “And, like all English people, she has a great passion for all kinds of flowers.”

Indeed, to complete one of her looks, Spencer placed a fresh floral garland in her hair.

But in an unusual break with a century-old family tradition, the bride decided not to wear the so-called “Spencer Tiara” – most famous worn by Lady Diana Spencer, 20, during her ill-fated marriage to Prince in 1981. Charles – at the wedding ceremony. This is remarkable because Kitty is Earl Spencer’s firstborn and is expected to carry Spencer’s flag.

The diamond encrusted headband was made by famous British jeweler Garrard in the 1930s. In addition to adorning Diana’s crown, it also provided the coronation for Diana’s older sisters, Lady Sarah Spencer and Lady Jane Spencer, the their wedding day. Lady Kitty Spencer’s mother, Victoria, carried it during her union in 1989 with Earl Spencer, which ended in a bitter divorce.

The new bride did not explain the reasons why she skipped the tiara, but some British upper class believe it was to stop the residual heartache caused by Diana’s untimely death encroaching on her big one. day. And it is possible that the dissolution of her parents’ marriage also contributed to the decision.

Another somewhat surprising element of the marriage was the absence of the father of the bride, Charles, 57. The Earl did not take his daughter down the aisle and is said to have stayed at home in England on the Spencer’s ancestral estate in Althorp.

Insiders attribute the no-show to a serious shoulder injury he recently suffered and his possible reluctance to obey Italian laws ordering visitors to the country to self-isolate for five days upon arrival.

The other big misses were Spencer’s first cousins ​​Prince William and Prince Harry, although the bride was invited to their respective weddings in 2012 and 2018 respectively. California-based Prince Harry may have had his hands full looking after his newborn baby, Lilibet, while his older brother was likely held royal duties in the UK.

Nonetheless, the bold names that made it to the high society party included British pop star Pixie Lott and Sabrina Dhowre Elba, wife of London-born actor Idris Elba.

Spencer, who was raised in relative obscurity in her mother’s native South Africa, began her modeling career in 2009 when she appeared on the cover of Tatler, making comparisons to Brigitte Bardot.

She started dating Lewis in 2018, but the couple didn’t go public until May 2019. He offered a $ 430,000 diamond ring shortly before Christmas 2019. Spencer was reportedly given instructions before their wedding. in Lewis’ Jewish faith.

She fiercely protects her privacy and relationship, refusing to speak in interviews with Lewis. But she recently revealed that she craves the simple things in life.

“I’m just looking forward to a really happy family life: a happy marriage and happy children,” she told Town & Country in May. “And I feel very much at peace with the fact that things are going the way they should.”