Princess Kate Stuns in Purple Jenny Packham Gown and Historic Amethyst Necklace at Digger Premiere
Princess Kate Middleton made a glamorous return to the red carpet on Tuesday night, stepping out with Prince William for the global premiere of Digger in London.
The Princess of Wales turned heads at the ODEON Luxe in Leicester Square in a flowing deep-purple gown by Jenny Packham, but it was the historic jewelry she chose to wear that became one of the biggest talking points of the evening.
Kate paired the dramatic gown with a striking amethyst and pearl necklace that dates back more than a century. The royal jewel, originally given to the future Queen Mother in 1923, features multiple strands of pearls, amethyst stones and a prominent heart-shaped amethyst pendant surrounded by diamonds.
The appearance marked a particularly glamorous moment for the Princess of Wales, who joined William at the charity premiere in support of the Film and TV Charity.
Kate’s dramatic purple gown
For the occasion, Kate selected a custom Jenny Packham creation in a rich royal-purple shade. The floor-length dress featured long, sheer sleeves, a plunging neckline, a pleated bodice and a flowing silhouette that moved dramatically as she walked the red carpet.
The jewel-toned color complemented the amethyst necklace almost perfectly, creating a coordinated look that placed the historic piece of royal jewelry firmly at the center of attention.
Kate kept the rest of her styling relatively refined. Her hair was worn in a softly waved half-up, half-down style, allowing the necklace and earrings to remain visible. She completed the look with a smoky eye and glossy pink-toned lips.
The overall effect combined modern red-carpet glamour with pieces carrying decades of royal history.
A 103-year-old royal necklace
The centerpiece of Kate’s ensemble was the Queen Mother’s amethyst sautoir necklace.
The necklace was presented to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who would later become Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, by Queen Alexandra. The gift marked Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon’s 1923 marriage to the Duke of York, who later became King George VI.
The design reflects the jewelry styles of the 1920s. Three strands of pearls are combined with amethyst stones, while the large heart-shaped pendant provides the most distinctive element of the piece.
Although the necklace is more than 100 years old, its bold design made it appear remarkably suited to a modern film premiere.
The jewel has also appeared at another high-profile movie event. Queen Camilla wore the necklace to the 2012 premiere of Skyfall, another major James Bond red-carpet occasion. She paired it with a purple dress, creating a memorable combination similar to Kate’s choice more than a decade later.
Princess Diana’s earrings complete the look
Kate also incorporated another important piece of royal jewelry into her outfit.
She wore Princess Diana’s Collingwood pearl drop earrings, which feature pearls and diamonds. The earrings were given to Diana as a wedding gift in 1981 by Collingwood Jewelers, a company with longstanding connections to the Spencer family.
The decision to wear both the Queen Mother’s necklace and Diana’s earrings gave the outfit an added historical connection.
Rather than relying entirely on new fashion pieces, Kate used jewelry from previous generations of the royal family to create a look that connected different chapters of royal history.
Prince William joins Kate on the red carpet
Prince William accompanied Kate to the premiere and also embraced the evening’s formal Hollywood atmosphere.
The Prince of Wales wore a black tuxedo with a velvet double-breasted jacket and bow tie. The couple posed for photographs together before meeting guests and members of the film industry.
They were also joined at the event by Tom Cruise, who stars in Digger. The premiere brought together the film’s cast, filmmakers and other entertainment figures for the special screening in central London.
Kate and William have previously attended a premiere involving Cruise. In 2022, the couple appeared on the red carpet for Top Gun: Maverick, another major London event that attracted significant attention.
Their appearance at the Digger premiere therefore marked another connection between the Prince and Princess of Wales and Cruise’s film world.
A rare royal red-carpet appearance
While Kate regularly attends official engagements, appearances at major movie premieres remain relatively unusual, which helped make Tuesday night’s event particularly notable.
The Film and TV Charity organized the event as its Royal Film Performance, with proceeds and attention directed toward supporting people working throughout Britain’s film and television industries. The charity provides support in areas including financial assistance and other forms of help for workers in the entertainment sector.
The premiere also provided Kate with an opportunity to embrace a more overtly glamorous style than some of her recent public appearances.
The combination of the purple Jenny Packham gown, historic amethyst necklace and Princess Diana’s earrings created a look that was simultaneously contemporary and deeply connected to royal tradition.
For royal fashion watchers, however, the jewelry may ultimately prove to be the most memorable part of the evening.
The Queen Mother’s 1923 necklace has spent decades moving through the royal family’s history before appearing once again on a major London red carpet. By pairing it with Diana’s earrings and a modern purple gown, Kate created a striking bridge between the past and present.
At the Digger premiere, the Princess of Wales demonstrated once again how a modern royal appearance can carry layers of history through fashion and jewelry—turning a glamorous evening at the cinema into another chapter in the story of the royal collection.