Love Is Everlasting: The Story Behind The Elizabeth Taylor Archive Pieces Worn By Margot Robbie for the Premiere of “Wuthering Heights”
At the world premiere of “Wuthering Heights,” Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of the classic story by Emily Brontë, star Margot Robbie paid homage to a fellow Hollywood icon, one that is synonymous with epic romance: Elizabeth Taylor. The actress wore two pieces from the Elizabeth Taylor Archive: the Cartier Taj Mahal necklace, given to her by Richard Burton, and a dramatic red velvet cape, worn by Elizabeth in the 1967 adaptation of “The Taming of the Shrew,” also starring Richard. These historic pieces accented Robbie’s custom gown by Schiaparelli, completing a look styled by Andrew Mukamal that evoked passion and drama. With roots in not one but two other love stories, these accessories are perfectly symbolic choices for this celebration of the eternal tale of Catherine & Heathcliff.
Rich with enduring romance, the Cartier Taj Mahal Diamond necklace stands as one of the most historically significant pieces in Elizabeth Taylor’s legendary collection. Gifted to Elizabeth by Richard Burton on her 40th birthday in 1972 during a Budapest getaway, the necklace, as legend has it, is steeped in centuries-old symbolism. The pendant's surface bears an inscription in Parsi that reads, “Love is Everlasting,” along with the name of Nur Jahan, the first woman to receive the jewel as a gift from her husband, Mughal Emperor Shah Jahangir. The diamond was passed down to their son, Shah Jahan, who gifted it to his most adored wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Four years later, when she died, the emperor commissioned the iconic Taj Mahal mausoleum as a tribute to her, which inspired the naming of the diamond. In 1970, jewelry designer Kenneth J. Lane was invited by the Indian government to visit the country to examine Indian jewelry craftsmanship. He brought with him gemologist Rosemarie Kenmore, the assistant to the President of Cartier and wife of Robert Kenmore, chairman of the Kenton Corporation, of which Cartier, Inc. was a subsidiary. Upon viewing a jewelry collection which included the Taj Mahal diamond, she purchased the piece and brought it to New York. Cartier later sold the piece to Richard for Elizabeth — another couple whose legacy of love still lives on.
The cape Elizabeth wore as Kate in “The Taming of the Shrew” also has ties to her relationship with Richard, as well as her free spirit. In this adaptation, she delivered one of her most ferocious performances, matching Shakespeare’s language with an intensity that only Elizabeth could pull off. Offscreen, the film blurred into real life, as Elizabeth starred opposite then-husband Richard Burton. Director Franco Zeffirelli harnessed that chemistry, letting their battles play out as verbal sword fights and slapstick chaos.
What makes Margot Robbie wearing Elizabeth Taylor’s Taj Mahal necklace and red cape so special for this occasion is not just the aura of old Hollywood romance, but the love stories embedded in the items themselves. Both the necklace and the cape are part of the story of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, a relationship defined by obsession, rupture, reunion, and emotions that refused to conform. In that way, it echoes Heathcliff and Catherine almost beat for beat. They also serve as symbols of Elizabeth’s passionate, free spirit. For a look that celebrates a story of love that lasts beyond lifetimes, the adornments are pure perfection.