While bidding farewell to the Qatari royals following their two-day state visit on Wednesday, Queen Camilla took a cue from her daughter-in-law Kate Middleton and made a meaningful fashion statement with her outfit.
As the Emir of Qatar and his wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, departed London, Camilla’s ensemble not only paid tribute to the couple’s country, but also seemingly delivered a secret message about her health. For the occasion, she opted for an eggplant purple cape coat that was paired with black leather gloves and matching suede boots. As for jewelry, she added a three-strand pearl necklace with an amethyst stone in the middle.
The hue of Camilla’s outfit is representative of Qatar’s long history of purple dye production, while the pearls in her necklace are symbolic of the Middle Eastern country’s pearl diving industry. The amethyst stone, however, appeared to nod to her ongoing pneumonia battle.
According to jewelry expert Maxwell Stone of Steven Stone Jewelers, “Amethyst is known for its associations with wellness and health, making it a particularly fitting choice for Queen Camilla, who continues to carry out her royal duties while recovering from pneumonia.”
Stone added that amethyst’s “healing properties add an extra layer of meaning to the necklace, symbolizing strength and resilience during this challenging time.”
Camilla has missed several royal events due to her illness over the past month, but this week, she was back in action. Just a day earlier, the queen wore a red velvet gown with a kokoshnik tiara that featured 488 diamonds and once belonged to Queen Elizabeth who wore it for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace. She completed her look with a bright blue royal sash and a massive diamond necklace.