Donna Paola did not have a tiara she could wear. Im not sure her mother owned one either. Paola's first tiara was the Art Deco bandeau of Queen Elisabeth. When Paola married into the Belgian Royal Family the first lady was her husband's grandmother Queen Elisabeth. She did not have many jewels. The jewels from her mother-in-law the countess of Flanders went directly to princess Marie-José and Elisabeth had given her smaller tiara to her daughter-in-law Astrid. A third smaller tiara went unworn directly to her younger son Charles, count of Flanders. So Elisabeth only had her large Cartier tiara, more apropriate for a Queen than a young princess. Paola's sister-in-law Joséphine-Charlotte had some tiara's but they were all linked to her as they were made for her. The jewels of Albert's mother were with his father Leopold III who had given his second wife full use of those pieces. Possibly the family relations were not that good for Lilian to loan Paola a tiara. Paola was welcomed with open arms by the Belgians (especially in Liège, where voters had chosen to sent Leopold III packing because of his marriage to Lilian).
--Previous Message-- : It is pretty strange that Astrid, a royalborn : Princess in a reigning royal family did not : wear a diadem. Both her own family as well : the groom's family have nice jewels. : : It is also strange that Donna Paola of the : princes Ruffo di Calabria wore no diadem. We : are speaking about the 1950's, still a time : where grand gifts in jewels were common. : Strange that she wore no diadem from the : groom's family, nor was given jewels by the : Belgian society, aristocracy or industry : (diamond-rich Congo was still Belgian). : : Anyway, good chance that Donna Elisabetta : Rosboch von Wolkenstein will wear her : mother-in-law's Savoia-Aosta diadem. :