Kate Middleton turned heads at the London premiere of Tom Cruise's new movie Digger, arriving in a striking purple gown that brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the royal evening. But hidden among the dazzling details was a much older royal treasure with a history stretching back more than one hundred years.
The Princess of Wales wore the Queen Mother's Amethyst Sautoir Necklace, a rare heirloom given by Queen Alexandra to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, then the future Queen Mother, as a wedding gift in 1923–a piece of royal jewellery that has only made rare public appearances since.
Middleton made a striking entrance alongside Prince William at the ODEON Luxe in Leicester Square last 22 September, where the couple joined a star-studded crowd for the Royal Film Performance.
The Royal Heirloom
The necklace itself features an elaborate design of pearls, diamonds, and amethysts, centred around a distinctive heart-shaped pendant. Queen Alexandra presented the piece to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon ahead of her marriage to the Duke of York, who became King George VI in 1936.
Previously, Queen Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, wore it to the London premiere of Skyfall in 2012.
The jewel's deep purple tones complemented Kate's gown, creating a carefully curated red carpet look that blended royal heritage with modern fashion.
She paired the necklace with pearl-drop earrings previously worn by Princess Diana, adding another connection to the royal family's past.
Her gown was equally dramatic, featuring long sleeves, a plunging neckline, elaborate detailing, and a sweeping skirt. Its rich plum shade matched the amethysts in the necklace, giving the ensemble a distinctive monochromatic finish.
Kate and Williams' Star-Studded Evening
The fashion statement was only part of the evening's royal appeal, as the event brought together some of Britain's most recognisable celebrities. The royal couple reunited with Tom Cruise, who had previously welcomed them to the London premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
David Beckham and his family were also among the high-profile guests. The Beckhams have long-standing links with Kate and William, having attended their royal wedding in 2011.
Watch Princess Catherine remain perfectly poised even after a near dress mishap pic.twitter.com/st5BsaL3tm
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Kate Laughs off Red Carpet Mishap
As Kate arrived, a quick fashion mishap happened when the train of her gown was accidentally stepped on, briefly throwing her off-balance, but the Princess of Wales merely laughed as she recovered before continuing into the event.
The moment offered a glimpse of a more relaxed side to the otherwise highly polished appearance. Kate continued greeting guests and posing for photographs, with the incident quickly becoming a minor footnote to one of her more recent public appearances.
Apart from the mishap, the most memorable element of the evening is still Kate's choice of jewellery. By pairing a historic royal necklace with earrings linked to the late Princess Diana, she was able to fashion a red carpet look that connected several generations of the royal family's history.
The result was a striking combination of Hollywood glamour, contemporary British fashion, and more than a century of royal heritage. More than a century after the necklace was first gifted as a wedding gift, its latest appearance ensured that one of the Queen Mother's most distinctive jewels once again became part of a major royal fashion moment.
