Enamel and diamond case, Lacloche Frères, circa 1922

The rectangular case applied with a crest for the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, accented with rose diamonds, the case decorated with black enamel, opening to reveal inscription, ' "Out of sight out of mind?" Edward', measuring approximately 82 x 43 x 8mm, signed Lacloche Frères, numbered, French assay mark, British import mark for 1922.

Presented as a gift from Edward when he was Prince of Wales. The most likely recipiect of this gift was Freda Dudley Ward.

Signed Lacloche Frères, Paris. Numbered 63904. Partial French assay mark for 18 carat gold. British import mark for 18 carat gold, London. Black enamel with significant losses. Green and red enamel with some losses. Diamonds bright and lively. Some abrasions and tarnish to metal commensurate with age and use.
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From 1918 Edward was romantically involved with Freda Dudley Ward for several years. Freda was married to The Right Honourable Willian Dudley Ward, Liberal MP for Southampton in 1913. During these years Edward was Prince of Wales, spending much of his time travelling the Empire, and thus wrote Freda countless letters declaring his love for her and supposedly a few gifts were bestowed as well. We can therefore presume this case was gifted by Edward to Freda during this time.

The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated intoThe Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958.

The regiment was first raised in Ireland as Henry Conyngham's Regiment of Dragoons in Derry in 1693, and ranked as the 8th Dragoons. It was briefly disbanded from 1714 to 1715, and 1716 to 1719, reforming each time without any loss of precedence. In 1751, it was formally titled as the 8th Regiment of Dragoons, and designated light dragoons in 1775 as the 8th Regiment of Light Dragoons.

The regiment was renamed in 1777 for George IIIas the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons, and became hussars in 1822, as the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Hussars). The title was simplified in 1861 to the 8th (The King's Royal Irish) Hussars. After service in the First World War, the regiment retitled as the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in 1921, and was transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939.