Queen Camilla wore the historic Kent Amethyst Parure for the first time at the State Dinner held by the American President Trump and the First Lady at the White House. One of the oldest Heirlooms in the Royal Vaults, the Kent Amethyst Parure originates from Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent!
A demi-parure including a necklace, a pair of earrings, three brooches, and a pair of hair combs featuring large faceted and cabochon amethysts, this Parure originally belonged the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria.
The Duchess of Kent notably wore the Parure at the Wedding of her granddaughter, Victoria, Princess Royal, and Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia in 1858. After her death, Queen Victoria designated it an heirloom of the Crown to be passed from Queen to Queen, and wrote in her diary:
After luncheon went to the room where beloved Mama’s jewels were put out, & after much reflection, we began to divide the pearls & diamonds & best bracelets. The fine amethyst & diamond parure, & the miniature of George IV she always wore, I have kept & it is to be considered as an heirloom.
Queen Alexandra wore elements of the necklace on her dress at the State Opening of Parliament in 1902 (found by British Royal Jewels).
While she was not a fan of amethysts, the Queen Mother wore the version of the brooch with three pendants for a couple of occasions before during the Second World War. Amethyst is a stone of mourning, so the brooch has been used for funerals and memorial services.
The Duchess of Kent’s Amethyst Parure was inherited by the Queen in 1952, and she has only worn the necklace and earrings of the parure twice, including a State Visit to Portugal, while the brooch with three pendants has also been rarely worn, notable occasions including a State Visit to the United States in 1991 and her 40th Anniversary of Accession in 1992.
The Queen also wore the Duchess of Kent’s Amethyst Parure for the ‘Dance of the Decades’ at Buckingham Palace in 1990.
The Brooch from the Duchess of Kent’s Amethyst Parure without the pendent, had been a favourite of the Queen for decades, and was regularly among her most worn yearly brooches, often with purple outfits.
Queen Camilla wore the historic Kent Amethyst Parure for the first time for a State Dinner at the White House in 2026.
Kent Amethyst Parure
Diamond Fringe Necklace
Diamond Brooch
Imperial State Crown
George IV State Diadem
Queen Victoria’s Regal Circlet
Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Sapphire Coronet
Queen Victoria’s Emerald Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Strawberry Leaf Tiara
Queen Victoria’s Sunray Fringe Tiara
Queen Adelaide’s Fringe
Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown
Queen Charlotte’s Nuptial Crown
Coronation Necklace and Earrings
Queen Victoria’s Turkish Diamond Necklace
Prince Albert’s Sapphire Brooch
Koh-i-Noor Diamond
Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooches
Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace
Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings
Queen Victoria’s Hesse Diamond Jubilee Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Chain
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bracelet
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Wheat Ear Brooches
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Bar Brooches
Queen Victoria’s 11 Pearl Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Crown Ruby Brooch
Queen Victoria’s Gold Brooch
Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
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A demi-parure including a necklace, a pair of earrings, three brooches, and a pair of hair combs featuring large faceted and cabochon amethysts, this Parure originally belonged the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria, who wore the Brooch for a portrait and the Parure at the Wedding of her granddaughter, Victoria, Princess Royal, and Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia in 1858. After her death, the Parure passed to Queen Victoria who designated it an heirloom of the Crown to be passed from Queen to Queen.
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Queen Alexandra wore elements of the necklace on her dress at the State Opening of Parliament in 1902 (found by British Royal Jewels). While she was not a fan of amethysts, the Queen Mother wore the version of the brooch with three pendants for a couple of occasions before during the Second World War. Amethyst is a stone of mourning, so the brooch has been used for funerals and memorial services.
Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images
The Duchess of Kent’s Amethyst Parure was inherited by the Queen in 1952, and she has only worn the necklace and earrings of the parure twice, including a State Visit to Portugal, while the brooch with three pendants has also been rarely worn, notable occasions including a State Visit to the United States in 1991 and her 40th Anniversary of Accession in 1992. The Queen also wore the suite for the ‘Dance of the Decades’ at Buckingham Palace in 1990.
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However, the Brooch from the Duchess of Kent’s Amethyst Parure without the pendent, has been a favourite of the Queen for decades, and is regularly among her most worn yearly brooches, often with purple outfits. There is no doubt we will continue to see this brooch for years to come, and hopefully the full Parure will soon make a reappearance as well.
