This week, as the 60th anniversary of the birth of Diana, Princess of Wales approaches, we’re devoting our Sparkling Spotlight to some of her sparkling bejeweled appearances. Today, we begin with a royal purple outing in the Windy City of Chicago.
On June 5, 1996, Diana arrived at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago for a charity gala to raise money for cancer research. The gala featured entertainment from singer Tony Bennett, and was attended by a number of celebrities, including television host Phil Donahue. Phil and Di led off the dancing for the evening as Tony Bennett crooned “S’Wonderful.” When the press asked Donahue how he’d managed to grab a seat at Diana’s table, he answered, “When a princess calls, I always answer.”
Diana wore a purple Versace gown for the occasion, along with a matching clutch bag and shoes, and she accessorized with several pieces of similarly-hued jewelry.
Diana wore a pair of diamond and amethyst earrings, featuring a cluster stud and drop. She also wore an elegant choker necklace made of eleven strands of seed pearls with diamond- and ruby-set spacer elements. Her famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring was on her left hand. (At this point, she was still HRH The Princess of Wales; Charles and Diana’s divorce was finalized just a few months later, on August 28, 1996.)
Here’s another excellent view of Diana’s earrings and necklace, as well as her bracelet. The bracelet, made of three strands of polished amethyst beads, also featured a lovely amethyst and diamond cluster clasp. The piece also coordinated with a matching amethyst and diamond necklace, which was worn by Diana on multiple occasions with the same amethyst and diamond earrings. The amethyst set had been in Diana’s collection since the 1980s.
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