It was a black tie evening to remember as Kate Middleton and Prince William arrived at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance on Wednesday night. The Princess of Wales chose to debut an emerald green gown for the occasion—and accessorized with a number of dazzling diamond pieces from the royal collection.
Alongside the Greville Chandelier Earrings—gifted to the then Princess Elizabeth on her wedding to Prince Philip—Kate opted for the rarely-seen Queen Mary Choker Bracelet, which is a truly extraordinary piece only reserved for the most glittering of royal occasions.
As the name suggests, the piece was originally designed for Mary of Teck, wife of King George V. Composed of diamond bars in an art deco design, the piece was created in the 1920s, around the time when it was notably worn by Queen Mary in a portrait. Although it was worn as a choker on that occasion, it is not known whether it was originally designed as a bracelet or a choker—although it has certainly become more popular as a bracelet in recent years.
After the death of Queen Mary in 1953, the choker was not seen again for more than 20 years, when it reappeared on the wrist of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, in portraits marking her 75th birthday, notes the Royal Watcher. After her death in 2002, the bracelet was inherited by Queen Elizabeth II.
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