Kate Middleton was not too long ago noticed with out her iconic 12-carat Ceylon sapphire engagement ring. The Princess of Wales doesn’t step out usually with out it — but it surely has occurred earlier than. Why would Kate ditch her engagement ring throughout her royal go to to Liverpool? Right here’s what our consultants needed to say.
Kate Middleton’s engagement ring is probably the most precious within the royal household
Royal followers first noticed Kate’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring greater than 4 many years in the past when then-Prince Charles gave it to Princess Diana forward of their royal wedding ceremony in 1981. When the princess handed away in 1997, it was truly Prince Harry who inherited the ring. However when William was able to suggest to Kate, Harry gave the ring to his brother.
Thought of to be probably the most precious engagement ring within the royal household, Kate’s ring originates from Sri Lanka and is estimated to be value £390,000 ($475K).
Why did the Princess of Wales ditch her ring?
In response to the fantastic jewellery consultants at UK retailer Steven Stone, Kate was seen with out her engagement ring throughout her current royal go to with William to Royal Liverpool College Hospital in Merseyside. The explanation she left the ring at residence, in line with those self same consultants, was for well being and security.
This isn’t the primary time that the Princess of Wales has eliminated her most treasured piece of jewellery for a hospital go to, says diamond knowledgeable Maxwell Stone.
“Kate’s motive for quickly eradicating her ring at Royal Liverpool College Hospital is more likely to be all the way down to well being and security. It’s not the primary time that the Princess of Wales has been seen with out the valuable jewel for a hospital go to, and she or he eliminated it throughout her go to to each Evelina Kids’s Hospital in 2020 and Nice Ormond Avenue two years earlier,” Stone defined.
Nonetheless, it’s not simply the hospital visits that trigger Kate to take away her ring. As a eager sportswoman with an energetic way of life, the Princess of Wales has eliminated her ring to take part in occasions like final 12 months’s Crew Nice Britain race in opposition to New Zealand. It was additionally absent from her finger through the Commonwealth Video games in Birmingham.
Kate Middleton isn’t the one princess who has ditched her engagement ring
“It’s a disgrace that she has to take away her beautiful sapphire to take part in occasions – although sapphires are a particularly sturdy gemstone, Kate’s boasts each sentimental and financial worth, so she wouldn’t wish to danger damaging it,” Stone stated.
To keep away from having to take away her ring throughout sporting occasions, Stone says that Zara Tindall’s husband Mike purposefully had it designed with a low profile setting.
The knowledgeable famous that it’s “extremely uncommon” to see one of many royal women with out their treasured gem. The one exception is Queen Letizia, who hasn’t been seen along with her ring for over a decade.
Each Kate and Sophie Wessex ditched their engagement rings for royal visits through the pandemic. And through the remaining levels of their pregnancies, Kate, Diana, and Meghan Markle had been noticed with out their engagement rings.
