During the official tour made by the Duke and Duchess of Kent to Australia and New Guinea on behalf of the Queen in 1969, they were presented with official gifts.

The Duchess was presented with a necklace with a 90 carat opal by the Australian government.



The only image I could find comes from the National Archives of Australia.

See https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/PhotoDetail.aspx?Barcode=11901489



After their stay in Canberra the Duke and Duchess flew to Port Moresby where they were due to open the South Pacific Games.

According to this press report the Duchess was to be presented with 2 pearls grown in the harbour.



A closer view of the 2 pearls.


The company which donated the pearls had only commenced their pearl farming a couple of years earlier, and no doubt the gift was meant to assist with publicity for the pearl industry.

A little background on the pearl industry at Fairfax Harbour at https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-327359723/view?sectionId=nla.obj-335939178&partId=nla.obj-327435884#page/n122/mode/1up

The description of the colour of these pearls and the size range shows that South Sea pearls were being cultivated.

I wonder what the Duchess did with them? Did they become earrings?

Has anyone ever seen any of the Kent ladies wearing the opal necklace?