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Oct 14, 2024

Kate Middleton Replaces Engagement Ring With Ring Stack

Even though she has recently opted not to wear the late Princess Diana’s famous sapphire, she still found a way to honor her with her jewels. WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images The late Princess Diana’s

Even though she has recently opted not to wear the late Princess Diana’s famous sapphire, she still found a way to honor her with her jewels.

WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images

The late Princess Diana’s engagement ring is arguably one of the most famous jewels in the world. Instead of opting for a family heirloom to symbolize her union, Diana broke with royal tradition in her selection of a piece from crown jeweler Garrard. The 12-carat oval sapphire surrounded by a halo of 14 diamonds and set in 18k white gold is estimated to have cost $600,000. And when it came time for her son, Prince William, to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010, he did so with his mother’s famous sparkler. However, more recently, Kate has been spotted without the sapphire, swapping it out in favor of a more contemporary ring stack.

In Kate’s first public outing since completing chemotherapy treatment, she and William visited the city of Southport to pay tribute to the families affected by the mass stabbing attack at a children’s yoga and dance class earlier this year. And instead of donning her famous engagement ring, she opted for four thin rings stacked on top of each other. The first, a thin gold band, is believed to be her Welsh wedding ring that she and William designed together with Wartski, a Bristol jewelry company. The Welsh gold of the ring was reportedly an engagement gift from the late Queen Elizabeth II, according to the Daily Mirror. Her stack also included a white gold and diamond Annoushka ring, rumored to have been a gift from William following the birth of the couple’s first son George in 2013, as well as an additional diamond band.

WPA Pool / Pool / Getty Images

However, the focal piece of the stack is arguably the newest addition to her jewelry collection: an eternity band of dark gems and diamonds, which also recently appeared in a video announcing the conclusion of the princess’ chemotherapy treatment. The new sparkler may also be a nod to the late Princess Diana, as the darker gemstones appear to be sapphires. For the outing, Kate completed her look with her Catherine Zoraida Gold Fern Drop Earrings, which may be an intentional choice, as the fern is typically associated with resilience, endurance, and new beginnings, People reported.

In addition to her famous engagement ring, she appeared to forgo wearing her promise ring, reportedly given to her by William while the two were students at St. Andrew’s. Kate had recently worn the sentimental piece in a congratulatory video for Team Great Britain in August 2024. And while she has not publicly disclosed why she opted not to wear either piece, experts previously highlighted how difficult it can be to maintain such an heirloom, particularly the famous engagement jewel once worn by Princess Diana. “Kate and her team will need to employ careful maintenance with regular inspections and in-depth evaluations, gentle cleaning to restore sheen, and if necessary, expert repairs to ensure its longevity,” Ben Roberts, the managing director of Clogau, the brand responsible for the Welsh gold of the royal’s rings, told Hello!.