Princess Kate brought a piece of royal history out of the vault this week, wearing the Queen Mother's Amethyst Sautoir Necklace for the first time in public as she and Prince William joined Tom Cruise at the London premiere of his new film, "Digger," on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The 103-year-old necklace - a heart-shaped amethyst pendant framed in diamonds and suspended from strands of pearls - hadn't been seen publicly since 2012, when Queen Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, wore it to the London premiere of the James Bond film "Skyfall." The piece was originally gifted to the Queen Mother by her future mother-in-law, Queen Alexandra, back in 1923, and has passed through several hands within the royal family since.
Kate paired the necklace with a billowing, deep-purple gown by Jenny Packham and the Collingwood pearl drop earrings, a piece with personal significance as an engagement gift Princess Diana received from Prince Charles in 1981. The choice to pair Diana's earrings with a jewel tied to the Queen Mother felt, to royal watchers, like a deliberate bridge between generations rather than a simple fashion pick - the kind of quiet symbolism that has long been part of how the British monarchy, which still holds a formal constitutional role within the Church of England, marks its public moments.
William and Kate were reunited with Cruise for the first time at a film premiere since 2022's "Top Gun: Maverick." Cruise, who arrived early to greet fans, told reporters of the royal couple: "I just love them. They are lovely people and I have great respect for them."
The premiere, hosted in support of the Film and TV Charity, drew the couple back into the spotlight for a rare glamorous night out together.
