Queen Camilla brought a touch of royal history to the White House state dinner on 28 April, as she joined King Charles for the official engagement. She chose to wear a centuries-old diamond and amethyst necklace, giving a modern styling to one of the royal collection’s most historic jewellery sets.

For the state dinner, Queen Camilla wore a striking fuchsia pink evening gown by Fiona Clare. The beaded design featured an embroidered bodice and puff sleeves, creating a bold yet elegant silhouette for the high-profile occasion.

To complement the vivid dress, she paired the outfit with large purple gemstones from a historic royal jewellery set, adding a traditional contrast to the modern gown.

The Kent Amethyst Demi-Parure

The necklace worn by Queen Camilla is part of the Kent Amethyst Demi-Parure, which includes a necklace, earrings and a brooch. The set dates back to 1818 and originally belonged to Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess of Kent and mother of Queen Victoria.

Over time, the jewellery became part of the royal collection and was later inherited and worn by Queen Victoria herself. Queen Elizabeth II also wore the set on several occasions during her reign, continuing its royal legacy.

Queen Camilla added her own touch to the heirloom piece by removing a few of the dangling amethysts from the necklace. The re-styled collar has previously been worn by both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, making it one of the more recognisable royal jewellery pieces in the collection.

The ensemble also included matching earrings from the same set, completing the historic look with a coordinated finish.

Another antique piece earlier in the day

Earlier on the same day, Queen Camilla wore another historic item from the royal collection while attending King Charles’s congressional address. She chose a rock crystal and diamond brooch that once belonged to the King’s grandmother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, widely known as the Queen Mother.

She displayed the Art Deco-style brooch prominently on an ivory coatdress with black topstitching. The piece features a rock crystal base with a diamond centre and smaller stones along its trim.

The brooch carries historical significance, as King Charles’s grandparents were the first British monarchs to visit the United States in 1939. Records suggest the Queen Mother was seen wearing the piece as early as the 1920s, although its exact origins remain unclear.

She also wore the brooch during a 1927 visit to Australia alongside King George VI, pinning it to the front of her cloche hat, further adding to its long royal association.