Queen Mary Styles Tiara With Winter's Most Regal Cape Dress

Queen Mary in a maroon gown and tiara standing with King Frederik in a military uniform and bow tie

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Let's face it, the end of January isn't the ideal time to dress for a formal occasion (take it from someone about to attend a wedding in Michigan). Eveningwear that's at least slightly warm but still chic is tough to find. For Queen Mary of Denmark, she found the perfect combination of elegant and cozy when she attended a state banquet with King Frederik on Wednesday, January 28.

The Danish king and queen just wrapped up a visit to Estonia earlier this week and are now visiting Lithuania, with the couple attending an elegant banquet hosted by the country's president and first lady on Wednesday night. Queen Mary debuted a long-sleeved burgundy gown by Elie Saab for the occasion, with the belted dress including a dramatic cape that sweeps across the front of the design.

She paired the gown with her royal orders and one of her most cherished tiaras, known as the Edwardian Tiara or Diamond Necklace Tiara. The diamond headpiece is unusual for a modern royal collection as she purchased it herself at a 2012 auction, per royal jewelry blog The Court Jeweller.

Queen Mary wearing a maroon gown posing with King Frederik and leaders of Lithuania at a banquet — King Frederik (second from right), Queen Mary (second from left), Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda (right) and his wife Diana Nausediene (left) pose as they welcome guests for a state banquet at the Presidential Palace in Vilnius, Lithuania.

King Frederik X (C), Queen Mary of Denmark (2nd L), Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda (2nd R) and his wife Diana Nausediene (L) welcome Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen (R) at a state banquet — The group greets Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen at the state banquet.

Elie Saab

Cape-Detail Belted Gown in Burgundy

Gianvito Rossi

105mm Suede Pointed-Toe Heeled Pumps

The tiara came as part of a set including "a pair of later ear screws set with numerous rose and old mine-cut diamonds, circular-cut rubies and spinels, mounted in 14k gold and silver," per The Court Jeweller.

Mary's Edwardian design can also be converted to a necklace, although she typically wears the diamond and ruby piece as a tiara. She used to wear the original diamond drop earrings that came with the set, but had a new, much larger pair created to match the tiara/necklace's design in 2017.

Queen Mary chose the bolder drop earrings for her banquet in Lithuania, finishing off her look with a pair of burgundy suede Gianvito Rossi pumps—a favorite of Princess Kate's, too.

This isn't the first time Mary has worn a tiara this week. Just a day before her elegant evening in Lithuania, the Danish queen attended a state banquet in Estonia while wearing her diamond wedding tiara and a custom navy Prada gown.

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Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.