Sarah Ferguson Hid Her Royal Wedding Tiara Under a Crown of Flowers for a Very Symbolic Reason

You know the old wedding saying "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?" For most royal brides, the "something borrowed" is a stunning tiara. Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton both wore tiaras borrowed from Queen Elizabeth on their wedding days. Even Princess Diana wore a tiara, albeit hers was a Spencer family heirloom. But one royal broke tradition by ditching the crown entirely — well, sort of.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, walked down the aisle wearing a floral crown, rather than one made of diamonds. But Fergie's unconventional choice was actually a sweet tribute to her then-husband, Prince Andrew. Not only were gardenias the Prince's favorite flower, they also matched her bouquet — which, in another non-traditional move, was smaller than usual arrangements.

After the ceremony, Fergie removed the floral crown to reveal a stunning diamond-encrusted tiara — the York Diamond Tiara — which the Queen had specifically commissioned for the nuptials. The center stone was a breathtaking five-carat diamond, flanked by delicate floral scrollwork. According to the Express, Gemologist Grant Mobley estimates it's worth to be at least $300,000.

Even though Fergie didn't really break royal tradition (she ended up wearing a tiara after all), she did manage to make a powerful statement. When she entered the church, she adorned her head with white flowers, a symbol of purity and hope. Upon her exit, Fergie wore a tiara commissioned by the queen, a sign that she was now a committed member of the royal family both legally and spiritually.

Always the rule-breaker (like her sister-in-law Diana), Fergie managed to rebel a little bit at her 1986 wedding. For the reception, Andrew and his bride served their guests a rum cake, rather than the traditional fruit cake. (Meghan's lemon and elderflower cake was considered unorthodox, but it seems tame in comparison to a rum cake!)

This post originally appeared on our sister site, Woman's World.

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