Millions of viewers around the world held their breath as they watched Prince William squeeze the custom wedding ring onto Kate Middleton’s finger during their 2011 nuptials.
But viewers were surprised to see the gesture not reciprocated when William was not given a ring on that day and he hasn’t been seen with it since.
While it is now customary for both the bride and groom to give each other a ring as a sign of their undying devotion, a royal aide explained that Prince William’s decision not to wear a ring “simply came down to personal preference.”
“It was something the couple discussed, but Prince William doesn’t like jewelery – he doesn’t even wear a signet ring – and decided he didn’t want to,” they added.
Prince William chose not to receive a wedding ring for his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011
Prince Harry got a platinum band with a textured finish during his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018
Prince William’s decision not to wear a wedding ring is “simply due to personal preference,” according to a royal aide
Kate’s simple, gold wedding ring, which the couple helped design, was made from a nugget of Welsh gold owned by the royal family and given to William by his grandmother the Queen.
Prince William’s decision follows the example of his late grandfather Prince Philip and his uncle Prince Andrew, who also chose not to wear a wedding ring.
However, his brother Prince Harry opted for a modern approach, with both he and his wife Meghan Markle gifting each other rings on their wedding in 2018.
Both are made by Cleave and Company, the official royal jewelers who also created Meghan’s engagement ring with a center diamond from Botswana surrounded by two diamonds from Diana’s collection.
While Meghan’s band was made of Welsh gold, as is traditional for royal brides, Harry’s ring was a platinum band with a textured finish.
In a statement, the palace said: ‘Mrs Markle’s ring is made from a piece of Welsh Gold donated by Her Majesty the Queen.
Prince Harry’s ring will be a platinum band with a textured finish. Both rings are made in Cleave’s workshop.
“The rings will be carried to St. George’s Chapel on the day of the wedding by the Duke of Cambridge, in his capacity as best man.”
Harry’s father, King Charles, also chose to wear a wedding band for both his marriage to Princess Diana and Camilla.
After marrying Camilla in 2005, Charles chose to wear his wedding band on his little finger under his signet ring which, bearing the fleur-de-lys crest of the Prince of Wales, was believed to have been a gift from his parents.
Meghan’s engagement ring had a gold band with three diamonds, a large square-cut jewel in the center set with two diamonds on the side, although Meghan redesigned the band in 2019
Both Harry and Meghan’s wedding rings were made by Cleave and Company, who also made Meghan’s engagement ring
He continued to wear the wedding ring Diana had given him until the day after his engagement to Camilla.
The use of men wearing wedding bands is said to be relatively recent, gaining popularity during World War II when servicemen chose the accessory to remind them of their wives and family back home.
As men’s jewelry became more common, so did the use of men wearing wedding rings.
David Miller, former director of Debrett’s, a leading authority on etiquette, said: ‘Wearing a wedding band used to be uncommon for men, but now it’s a fairly accepted practice.
“That said, it really is a matter of personal choice and members of the royal family often chose to wear it with a signet ring on the little finger of their left hand.”
But at the time of Prince William’s wedding, a royal source explained: ‘It is very common for men in those walks of life not to wear a traditional wedding ring.
Charles wore his wedding band under his signet ring on his little finger, which featured the Prince of Wales’s fleur-de-lys crest
Kate Middleton received a ring made of Welsh gold on her wedding day, as is tradition for royal brides
“When they do, they often wear it with their family signet rings, but William doesn’t have one.”
Meanwhile, in 1923, the Queen Mother started the custom of having royal brides made a ring of Welsh gold.
A gold nugget from the Clogau St David’s mine was used to make the Queen Mother’s wedding ring, the Queen’s in 1947, Princess Margaret’s in 1960, Princess Royal’s in 1973 and Diana, Princess of Wales in 1981.
In 1981, to replenish dwindling supplies, Britain’s Royal Legion presented the Queen with a 36-gram (1.3 oz) piece of 21-carat Welsh gold for future rings.
