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Oct 14, 2024

Kate Middleton Ditched Her Engagement Ring During a Surprise Appearance—& One Expert Has Thoughts

Last month, when Princess Catherine released a video to announce the completion of her chemotherapy treatments, I noticed something interesting. A new piece replaced her sapphire and diamond

Last month, when Princess Catherine released a video to announce the completion of her chemotherapy treatments, I noticed something interesting. A new piece replaced her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which was previously owned by her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. And now, once again, Kate Middleton has stepped out without the iconic ring.

Yesterday, Middleton joined her husband, Prince William, for a surprise visit to Southport, England. The pair sat down to chat with members of the Emergency Services and supported those affected by a deadly incident at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. And after a quick glimpse at her left hand, it was impossible to miss the change in jewelry. Her original engagement ring has been worn consistently since 2010, when she got engaged to William. However, according to royal writer and historian Lauren Kiehna, there may be a valid reason for the recent switch.

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On The Court Jeweller, Kiehna wrote, "In recent months, we’ve seen her go without the ring. We most recently saw her wear it at Wimbledon in July, but on that occasion, photographs showed the heavy ring turning on her finger, suggesting that it might be too big to comfortably wear at the moment."

In place of her engagement ring, the princess wore an eternity-style ring, which features alternating diamonds and colored gemstones. Kiehna added, "A close-up of her hands from Thursday’s engagement showed her wearing four rings: two diamond eternity bands, the new eternity ring with colored gems, and her Welsh gold wedding ring."

Danny Lawson - WPA Pool/Getty Images

It's worth noting that the royal was also seen wearing the eternity ring while meeting with a teenager diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer at Windsor Castle earlier this month. And according to jewelry expert Phil Grosso from Amore Fine Jewelry, there may be a deeper meaning behind the ring swap.

He said, "Eternity rings have long been a symbol of unending love, commitment, and connection. Given Kate’s affinity for personal pieces, this ring may represent resilience and strength, especially after her health journey."

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He added, "The sapphires likely link back to her famous engagement ring, creating a beautiful connection between generations of royal women, while the eternity band symbolizes moving forward with grace—eternal love and hope for the future."

Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor/Getty Images

When Prince William proposed to Middleton with his mother's massive engagement ring in 2010, he told ITV in his engagement interview, “I had been carrying it around with me in my rucksack for about three weeks before [proposing]. I literally would not let it go. Everywhere I went, I was keeping hold of it because I knew this thing, if it disappeared, I would be in a lot of trouble."

He added, "Obviously, [my mother isn’t] going to be around to share the fun and excitement of things, so this is my way of keeping her close to it all."

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