Kate Middleton Just Wore a Rarely-seen British Royal Family Jewelry Piece to London’s ‘Digger’ Premiere

Kate Middleton went from British royal family member to Hollywood highlight at the “Digger” premiere in London on Tuesday night, sporting layers of jewelry with historic significance to the House of Windsor and beyond.

The Princess of Wales brought her own royal verve to the red carpet in her Jenny Packham gown. Crafted in an airy chiffon fabric and featuring long sleeves and a flowing skirt, the gown was a slight departure from the British couturier’s usual designs.

Indeed, Packham abandoned her penchant for sequins, gemstones and jewels for a pared back look in royal purple that served as the ideal canvas for Middleton’s jewelry selections. The Princess of Wales’ earrings and necklace held a lot of British history.

To start, Middleton gave a nod to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, wearing the Collingwood pearl drop earrings. The earrings were a staple piece for Princess Diana, wearing them during her time as a prominent member of the British royal family. She also memorably wore the earrings as an accessory to her black Christina Stambolian “revenge dress” when she attended the Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in June 1994.

Middleton has kept the Collingwood pearl drop earrings in her royal rotation for such occasions as Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2025. The Collingwood pearl drop earrings were quite the fitting tribute to Princess Diana, whose cultural impact went far beyond the British royal family. The late royal attended several movie premieres, from 1993’s “Jurassic Park” to 1982’s “Gandhi” and more.

Though the Collingwood pearl drop earrings are an oft-worn piece for the Princess of Wales, Middleton’s heart pendant necklace appears to be a new addition to her reserve.

Middleton wore the Queen Mother’s amethyst sautoir necklace with her Jenny Packham gown, featuring a heart-shaped amethyst and diamond pendant that’s reportedly more than a century old. Queen Alexandra reportedly gave the pendant to her new granddaughter-in-law, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, upon her marriage to King George VI in 1923.

King George VI was, of course, only a prince at the time of the marriage and assumed the throne when his brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936. King George VI was the father of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Directed by Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu, “Digger” follows the world’s most powerful man, played by Tom Cruise, on a frantic mission to save humanity from a disaster he created. The film hits theaters Oct. 2.