The 7th Earl Bathurst married Lilias Borthwick in 1893. She was the daughter of the later Baron Glenesk, the proprietor of the influential, conservative newspaper, The Morning Post. Her mother was known as both Lady Borthwick and later as Lady Glenesk. An influential hostess, she was also a frequenter of royal society with many members of the royal family paying visits to the family when they rented Birkhall. In turn the family was often invited to Balmoral during Queen Victoria's time.

Lady Borthwick/Glenesk died in 1989. When Lilias inherited her jewels is something which warrants further investigation, as Baron and Lady Glenesk also had a son who died unmarried circa 1905.

There are very few photos or images of Lady Glenesk available; however, two caught my eye. In both Lady Glenesk was wearing a very distinctive pearl necklace with an elaborate pearl and diamond centre piece.

Below is a photo of a miniature exhibited in 1896.



The necklace can again be seen in a photograph published just after the death of Lady Glenesk in 1898.



In 1912 a magazine published a photo of Lilias, Countess of Bathurst wearing the necklace. (I suspect that the photo was taken some years before judging by the hairstyle.)



I suspect that Lilias Bathurst gave this family piece to her daughter, Meriel, (also sometimes spelt Muriel) for her wedding in 1916 but, as this was a war time wedding, there wasn't a list of gifts published.

Wedding photo of Meriel Bathurst, who married Lord Alastair Graham, son of the Duke of Montrose in 1916, wearing the distinctive pearl necklace.



Certainly, Lady Meriel, Lady Alaistair Graham was later photographed wearing it.

At a VWH hunt ball in 1922.



Who might currently own the necklace (or even if it still exists) is unknown to me. Lady Meriel, who died young, had 2 sons and 2 daughters, and possibly any of them may have inherited the jewel.