Elephant Bangle

It is not necessarily very well-known how much Jacqueline Kennedy was called on to use her intelligence and tact in service to the US Government. One of these instances came in 1967, when she was asked by Avrell Harriman, America’s Ambassador-at-Large, to visit Cambodia in an attempt to reestablish diplomatic relations that had been severed over Vietnam. She was greeted by Prince Sihanouk and two hundred school girls in bright green dress and she immediately engaged the Prince in diplomatic talks - chatting away to him in French. Her subtle and probing trip was a great success for American interests and Prince Sihanouk said she had achieved “a lessening of tension between our countries - a very great contribution to a moral and sentimental understanding”. Before her departure for Cambodia Jackie made the US State Department promise that she would have time to spend on her own. Knowing Jackie and her insatiable curiosity, Harriman told her that he would have it no other way! So in addition to her being able to see the extraordinary ruins of Angkor Wat by candlelight, which she explored with its caretakers barefoot while running her hands over its ancient carvings, she also snuck away alone in Phnom Penh seeking to explore its ancient streets. There, while exploring its markets and winding streets, she came upon this fabulous bracelet.