The 103-year-old royal history behind Kate Middleton’s heart-shaped amethyst necklace

The London premiere of Digger got decidedly more royal last night as in attendance was none other than His Royal Highness Prince William, who cut a dashing picture with his wife, the Princess of Wales, Catherine Middleton by his side. Kate made a regal statement at the star-studded event, which also had Tom Cruise, Salma Hayek, Hannah Waddingham and more of Hollywood royalty in attendance. She wore a rich violet-toned Jenny Packham gown with a voluminous pleated body and gigot sleeves. But it was the historic piece of royal jewellery around her neck that commanded all the attention. The princess completed her evening look with the Queen Mother’s 103-year-old Amethyst Sautoir necklace, which brought a century of royal history to the red carpet.

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The striking necklace, which combines purple amethysts with a multi-tiered diamond chain and a heart-shaped amethyst pendant, dates back to 1923, when it was gifted to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon by Queen Alexandra as a wedding present. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was marrying the Duke of York, who was the future King George VI. She thus became the Duchess of York and post her husband’s accession to the throne; she was then officially titled as Queen Elizabeth i.e. the Queen Mother.

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The legendary Sautoir necklace became part of her jewellery collection and was worn on a number of significant occasions throughout her life. However, she was never publicly photographed wearing it, and it was stored in the royal vaults for nearly a century. Despite its long absence from the public eye, its distinctive design and unique amethyst stones have since made it one of the more recognisable pieces associated with the Queen Mother.

Following the Queen Mother’s death in 2002, the necklace remained within the royal collection and has only occasionally emerged for public appearances, such as when Queen Camilla wore it in 2012. Kate has previously drawn from the royal jewellery vaults for major occasions, often choosing historic pieces that connect her wardrobe to generations of royal history.

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