Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article highlights Queen Camilla’s choice of historic British royal jewels and a custom fuchsia gown by Fiona Clare Aldridge for the state dinner in Washington, D.C., underscoring the symbolic role of royal attire in diplomatic engagements.
Queen Camilla continued to accentuate her United States tour attire with historic British royal family jewels at the state dinner in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night.
Queen Camilla and King Charles III
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The United Kingdom’s queen consort wore a fuchsia gown courtesy of British designer Fiona Clare Aldridge — one of Queen Camilla’s go-to couturiers. The floor-length dress featured a flowing skirt with slight pleating, long sleeves, accented shoulders and an embroidered bodice with botanical and star elements.
The neckline of Queen Camilla’s gown was such that it framed her suite of amethyst and diamond jewels for added emphasis. The necklace was further augmented by statement earrings featuring the same gemstones. The suite holds a deep history for the British monarchy.
Queen Camilla’s necklace and earrings hail from the Kent Amethyst Demi Parure, comprised of the necklace and earrings worn by the queen consort and a brooch that was not featured with her ensemble. The collection belonged to Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, per The Court Jeweller.
Queen Victoria inherited the jewels upon her mother’s death in 1861 and, 40 years later at her own death, subsequently bequeathed the jewelry set as heirlooms of the U.K. crown. From there, the jewels passed down through the British monarchy and were eventually worn by Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Camilla
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The late, longest-reigning monarch rarely wore the amethyst and diamond set. She did, however, incorporate the gems as part of her formal attire during a visit to Portugal in 1985. She would also wear the brooch from the suite in the early ’90s.
Along with the amethyst and diamond jewels, Queen Camilla wore the Queen Mother’s Art Deco Cartier diamond and ruby bracelets to augment the color scheme of her attire.
(L-R) Queen Camilla, King Charles III, U.S. President Donald Trump, and First Lady Melania Trump.
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This visit to the U.S. marks King Charles III’s first as the reigning British monarch. The British royal addressed a joint meeting of Congress as part of a multiday trip to the nation’s capital on Tuesday. Queen Camilla and King Charles will also travel to New York City and Virginia celebrating the United States of America’s 250th anniversary of its independence.