The Princess of Wales has chosen not to wear the ornate sapphire wedding ring that once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, during her recent public appearances.
Kate Middleton, 42, instead wears a thin gold ring, topped with what some have speculated is a new “eternity band.”
For the royals’ latest outing in Southport yesterday, sparkling diamond rings were piled on top as Kate was seen with Prince William.
Although his new stack doesn’t include Princess Diana’s engagement ring, he’s made sure to keep a sweet nod to his mother-in-law by wearing an ‘eternity ring’ set with sapphires, the same gemstone as the famous ring.
Kate wore the new accessory that matches Princess Diana’s 12-carat engagement ring while making a congratulatory video for Team GB following their success at the Paris Olympics and then again during their touching family video released last month. past.
Kate speaks to members of the emergency services during a visit to Southport with Prince William yesterday
The mother of three opted for a fine gold ring, topped with what some have speculated is a new “eternity band.”
Princess Diana’s engagement ring features a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.
It was designed by crown jeweler Garrard and inspired by the sapphire and diamond brooch made for Prince Albert in 1840, which he later gave to Queen Victoria as a wedding gift and which she wore as her “something blue.” “.
It was reported that Diana chose the jewel herself, while others claim that she chose it because it was the largest and reminded her of her mother’s engagement ring.
Princess Diana loved her engagement ring so much that she continued to wear it after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996 and turned it into a bracelet.
She then began wearing an emerald-cut aquamarine ring instead, the same one Meghan Markle wore with her second wedding dress.
The aquamarine ring is thought to cost around £75,000 due to the size, color and quality of the center diamond and a diamond from one of their rings was also used to make Meghan Markle’s engagement ring.
When Diana died in 1997, Prince William and Prince Harry inherited her jewelry collection, which included her engagement ring, according to Good Housekeeping.
Prince Charles and Diana Spencer at Buckingham Palace after announcing their engagement
Princess Diana loved her engagement ring and continued to wear it after the divorce.
The late princess wrote: ‘I would like you to allocate all my jewelery to my sons’ share, so that their wives may in due course have or use them. The exact division of the jewels I leave to your discretion.’
There are rumors that while Harry originally chose the sapphire gem, after seeing William’s love for Kate Middleton, the Prince swapped the engagement ring for his mother’s Cartier watch, so the Duke of Cambridge could propose. to this Duchess.
Prince William reportedly had the ring with him for three weeks while they were on holiday in Mount Kenya in 2010 and when he announced the engagement, he said: “It’s my mother’s engagement ring and it’s very special to me, like Kate It’s very special.” for me now too.
‘The right thing was for the two to be together. “It was my way of making sure mom didn’t miss out on today and the excitement.”
After making some alterations, Kate’s ring became one of the most famous rings in the world and is now worth more than $500,000 (£393,000).
Prince William proposed to Catherine with his late mother’s sapphire ring in Kenya in 2010.
Kate Middleton’s engagement ring is shown on the day of the engagement announcement in 2010
Meghan Markle seen here wearing Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring at her wedding reception
Kate Middleton wears Diana’s sapphire ring at the ICAP charity day in 2015
Arriving in Southport yesterday as the autumn afternoon sun shone, the princess did not wear the sapphire ring.
Royal fans have speculated that the new ‘eternity ring’ she wore was a gift from William to mark ‘the next phase of her life’ after the end of her cancer treatment.
Catherine, who underwent several months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, looked gorgeous yesterday in a berry ensemble.
William, in a nod to his wife, also donned a berry-colored sweater.
The mother-of-three donned a Whistles Margot polka dot dress from the high street store’s 2018 collection, which cost £159 at the time, and appeared to have added a bow detail to the neck.
Kate Middleton, 42, who appeared on her first official joint outing with Prince William since finishing her cancer chemotherapy treatment in the summer.
The Princess of Wales opted not to wear her engagement ring as she joined her husband on a surprise visit to meet the grieving families of the Southport stabbing victims.
Pictured: The Princess of Wales wore minimal jewelery and an £85 Ralph Lauren striped t-shirt for a congratulatory message to Team GB in August.
The princess was also seen wearing a new ring on her wedding ring finger, leading royal fans to speculate that it is an eternity ring (pictured).
The Princess of Wales once again swapped her engagement ring for her stunning eternity ring in a touching video shared in September.
She paired the dress with a structured peacoat from her favorite designer, Alexander McQueen. Kate accessorized with her Catherine Zoraida gold fern drop earrings, which cost £165.
Kate previously donned her structured peacoat at the Earthshot Awards in Boston, when she traveled to the US in December 2022 to support Prince William.
During the Waleses’ visit, the couple also spent time with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was seriously injured while protecting youngsters who were attacked by a knife during a summer holiday themed class. Taylor Swift.
The couple later spoke to the emergency services who attended and helped that day.
Prince William had promised families and the local community that he would visit as soon as possible and his visit had been long scheduled.
But his wife’s decision to join him was more recent. It is understood he wanted to “show his support, empathy and compassion to the local community”.
A smile that will warm the hearts of royal fans: The Princess of Wales smiled as she sat in Southport
At the time of the incident, the couple shared a personal message of shock and sympathy for those affected and, like her husband, the princess has followed the events closely since.
It is understood that it was important for them to go now, three months later, to show the people of Southport that they have not been forgotten and will continue to support the community in the future.
The William and Catherine Royal Foundation made a donation to the National Police and Welfare Service fundraising to help accelerate the psychological and physical rehabilitation of police and ambulance staff who were involved in the attack and riots later.