It’s a monumental week for the Royal Family, as the King and Queen continue their historic US State Visit. Last night (Tuesday 28 April), we saw the President and First Lady host a grand State Dinner in honour of their royal guests, during which the King received a standing ovation for his dazzling speech. Meanwhile, Queen Camilla had a dazzling offering of her own, in the form of an enormous amethyst necklace, which has rarely been seen in public.
The King and Queen were met outside the White House by President Trump and First Lady Melania as they arrived for the prestigious dinner on a red carpet to military fanfare. All were dressed in their finery, with The King and the President both wearing suits, and King Charles adding a traditional blue sash and medals.
Queen Camilla and Melania were also co-ordinated in their ensembles, as both chose to wear shades of pink. The Queen’s long-sleeved, floor-length gown featured an embellished bodice and V-neckline, which allowed her grand necklace to take centre-stage. Around her neckline, Queen Camilla displayed an impressive necklace formed of star and shell-shaped pieces, which were studded with huge purple stones.
The diamond and amethyst necklace – which Queen Camilla paired with a matching set of earrings – has an intriguing history spanning hundreds of years and multiple Queens before her. According to the Court Jeweller, the pair are from one of the oldest surviving suites of jewellery belonging to the Royal Family. The collection was first owned by Queen Victoria’s mother, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, and was eventually inherited by her daughter. The jewels were then passed down through the generations, and were even worn – although very rarely – by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The pieces were a perfect choice for the grand occasion, as they hold suitably historic gravitas while also being dramatic enough to wear in lieu of a tiara, which Queen Camilla chose not to wear on the night. The choice also gave a nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II (Queen Camilla’s mother-in-law), as she also wore the same set to a State Banquet – on that occasion, in Portugal rather than the US.
Nodding to the late Queen was also a poignant move as her own State Visit to the United States has been looked back on favourably in the run-up to this week – particularly her speech to Congress.
Following in his mother’s footsteps, King Charles gave a rousing address of his own, and was praised for his well-balanced delivery which included making a quip at the president. ‘You recently commented, Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that, if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French,’ Charles said, to laughter from the room.
