Kate Middleton once again showed that a historic piece of jewelry can completely transform an outfit. For a premiere alongside Tom Cruise, the Princess of Wales chose a plum-colored silk dress by Jenny Packham, paired with shoes and a clutch by Jimmy Choo. But the piece that ultimately drew much of the attention was the Queen Mother’s spectacular amethyst necklace, a jewel that had remained out of the public eye for nearly 90 years.
The necklace’s story dates back to 1923, when Queen Alexandra gave it to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on the occasion of her marriage to the then Duke of York. The piece was displayed among her wedding gifts at St. James’s Palace, along with a note addressed to her future granddaughter.
Interestingly, there are no images of Elizabeth wearing it afterward—neither as the Duchess of York, nor as the Queen Consort, nor as the Queen Mother. For decades, that enormous amethyst heart, encircled by pearls, seemed to remain tucked away in the royal jewel boxes.
Who wore the amethyst necklace before Kate Middleton?
The first known public appearance came in 2012, when Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, brought the piece out for the premiere of Skyfall. And there’s a rather striking coincidence. She also chose a purple dress, though on that occasion, the necklace ended up stealing the show. Kate has now brought it back into the spotlight, pairing it with Collingwood earrings and an outfit in the same color palette.
Amethysts also have a special connection to Victorian jewelry, as they were associated with what was known as half-mourning. That’s why they appear in several pieces from that era, although not all of them were frequently seen at public events. In Kate’s case, the necklace did more than just add sparkle to the dress.