Quite right Beth, I had forgotten about the sapphire/amethyst question! I think the Queen`s skirt just made me think amethyst but that could be more blue than it looks also. In any case it is most likely they are sapphires, as she chose the sapphire bracelet. Maybe they are sapphires with a mauvey tinge, like the Russian sapphire brooch the Queen wore to visit the Pope. : :