Fortunately, the Queen more than made up for it with the rare demi-parure on display at her neck and ears. Queen Camilla made her debut in the jewels known as the Kent Amethysts, which are among the oldest suite of gems currently in the hands of the Royal Family.
The demi-parure, consisting of a necklace, pair of earrings, three brooches and a pair of hair combs, originally belonged to the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria, who commissioned the pieces during the first half of the 19th century. After her death, they passed to Queen Victoria who, like she did with the pearl earrings, designated them an heirloom of the Crown, to be passed from Queen to Queen.
Queen Elizabeth II memorably wore the necklace, earrings and brooch from the demi-parure for her state visit to Portugal in 1985. She also notably wore one of the brooches, featuring three pendants attached to a central stone, during a state visit to the US in 1991. However, one of the subtler brooches, a single amethyst surrounded by diamonds, was a favourite of the Queen’s for decades. She often wore it with her vibrant purple ensembles.
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