It could be fair to say that the City of London Fringe Necklace was a favourite of Elizabeth II, a constant feature through the early years of her reign. Remarkably, it is one of the few pieces of jewellery she wore both as a Princess and as Queen.
The necklace was given as a gift to the then Princess Elizabeth as a wedding gift from prominent City of London interests, including the Mayor in 1947. It went on display at St James’s Palace, with the other wedding gifts that she and The Duke of Edinburgh received, during the wedding celebrations before becoming a staple in her wardrobe.
Dating back to the 19th century, the necklace is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It features diamonds set in gold and silver clasps, all strung on a silk chain. Its delicate silk construction makes it unsuitable for conversion into a tiara, as is possible with some fringe necklaces. According to The Telegraph, the necklace is estimated to be worth £285,000.
A closer look at the City of London Necklace. (RCT)
Elizabeth II wore the necklace frequently in the years between her marriage and becoming Queen, and for the first three years of her reign. Most notably, she wore the necklace in her official Coronation portraits. In 1955, she wore the necklace for the Gala Performance of Smetana’s Opera ‘The Battered Bride, during the Portuguese State Visit to the UK, it would be its last public appearance for a few decades.
Elizabeth II’s official portrait commissioned by the Governor-General of New Zealand to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee. (Wikipedia)
The City of London Fringe Necklace resurfaced in 2001 when Elizabeth II wore it to a State Banquet during her visit to Norway. It made another notable appearance in 2002, during an overseas visit to Jamaica. The final time the Queen was seen wearing the necklace was in 2012, for an official portrait commissioned by the Governor-General of New Zealand to commemorate her Diamond Jubilee.
Image Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency. 03/12/2024. London, United Kingdom. King Charles III and Queen Camilla with The Amir of Qatar and Sheikha Jawaher at a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in London, on the first day of their State Visit to the UK. Picture by i-Images / Pool
Since becoming Queen, Camilla has taken a liking to the necklace for official occasions, wearing it twice since 2022. In 2023, she paired the necklace with her favoured Greville Tiara during the banquet at Schloss Bellevue in Berlin. She wore it once again in December 2024 for the Qatar State Banquet held at Buckingham Palace.
Hopefully Camilla takes this beautiful and timeless piece out of the vaults more often!
