After Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997, it was only natural that her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, would choose a personal item of hers as a reminder of their mother.
Harry reportedly selected Diana’s Garrard sapphire engagement ring, while William opted for her Cartier Tank Française watch.
In 2010, the brothers are believed to have exchanged items, so William could use the ring to propose to Kate Middleton. Harry later gifted the luxurious watch to Meghan Markle.
However, in his explosive biography Spare, published last year, the Duke of Sussex called these reports “absolute rubbish”.
Instead, Harry claimed that William was already in possession of his mother’s ring when he proposed to Kate, which is why he was never asked to hand it over.
One of the most famous pieces of jewelery in history, the Garrard diamond and sapphire engagement ring, was bought by Charles for Diana in 1981. It cost £28,000 and is now valued at more than £300,000.
Additionally, Harry said he was unaware of William’s intention to marry Kate until the engagement was publicly announced.
‘Shortly after our return to Britain, the Palace announced that Willy was getting married. November 2010,” the Prince wrote.
‘News for me. During all that time we spent together in Lesotho, I had never mentioned it.
“The newspapers published flowery stories about the moment I realized that Will and Kate were a good couple, the moment I appreciated the depth of their love and decided to give Willy the ring he had inherited from Mom, the legendary sapphire , a tender moment between brothers, a bonding moment for the three of them, and absolute nonsense: none of that happened.
Harry denied asking for the jewel after Diana’s death, writing: “I never gave that ring to Willy because it wasn’t mine to give to him.” He already had it. He asked me after Mom died and I was more than happy to tell him.
One of the most famous pieces of jewelery in history, the Garrard diamond and sapphire engagement ring, was bought by Charles for Diana in 1981. It cost £28,000 and is now valued at more than £300,000.
The ring, inspired by Queen Victoria’s 1840 sapphire brooch, which she wore as “something blue” on her wedding day, symbolized marriage, family and love.
When presented with several options, Diana and Charles reportedly chose this ring together as it complemented their blue eyes.
Choosing a catalog ring instead of a custom-designed piece broke royal tradition, making it possible for others to purchase the same engagement ring.
William gave his fiancée Kate the 12-carat oval Ceylon blue sapphire, surrounded by fourteen solitaire diamonds, crafted by Garrard.
After Diana’s death, Harry reportedly requested to keep his mother’s Garrard sapphire engagement ring, while William chose her Cartier Tank Française watch.
Kate has proudly worn Princess Diana’s ring for almost 14 years
In his shocking memoir, Spare, Harry alleged that William was already in possession of his mother’s ring when he proposed to Kate, which is why he was never asked to give it up.
Diana’s choice of a ring from the catalog rather than a custom-designed piece broke royal tradition, making it possible for others to purchase the same engagement ring.
In another twist, Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, told the Mirror who was present when the brothers selected the items to remember their mother.
Paul said: “Harry said to me, ‘I always remember holding Mum’s hand and that ring hurt me because it was so big.’
‘And that’s why, when the children came to Kensington Palace, I told them: you must take something from your mother. You should take something that reminds you of your time here at Kensington Palace and your mother’s life.
The former royal employee claimed that William asked to keep Diana’s Cartier watch, which had been a gift from her father on her 21st birthday, while Harry chose her engagement ring, which Kate has worn for almost 14 years.
What’s more, Paul says William was “happy with the arrangement.”
Diana wore her beloved Cartier Tank Française on several occasions, including a 1997 visit to London’s Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple and an engagement at the British Lung Foundation that same year.
At the time, the yellow gold watch was priced at £17,800. Harry later gifted it to Meghan, who has worn it countless times, often accompanied by a Cartier Love bracelet.
It is a clear favorite from your legacy collection.
