While these gems are undoubtedly impressive, it was the rare demi-parure on display at her neck and ears that grabbed the most attention. 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 designated them an heirloom of the Crown, to be passed from Queen to Queen.
However Queen Elizabeth II did wear one of the brooches from the parure on a number of occasions often using it as a finishing touch for her vibrant purple ensembles
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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.