Despite taking off her engagement ring at a recent public event, Kate Middleton paid a unique but subtle tribute to Princess Diana, Prince William’s mother, 27 years after she died. She did this by wearing a new jewelry ring.
While filming a message of congratulations for Team GB following their victory at the Paris Olympics in 2024, the Princess of Wales was seen sporting a brand new eternity band set with a sapphire. It was identical to the ring that Diana wore when she agreed to marry the then-Prince Charles in 1981.
The ring was given to Middleton, who was 42 years old when she accepted Prince William’s proposal in 2010, and it matched both of those rings. However, the Duchess of Cornwall’s actual engagement ring, which also belonged to Diana, was not seen on her finger on October 10th for unknown reasons when she agreed to marry the current heir to the throne.
Despite the fact that Diana passed away in 1997 when they were still young, she is still one of the most important people in Prince William and Prince Harry’s lives, and Middleton seems to know this from her tributes. Prince William said of the engagement ring that he gave to Middleton, “It’s my mother’s engagement ring, and it’s very special to me because Kate is also very special to me.”
Now, the commoner sapphire wedding ring that Princess Diana wore was dubbed the “commoner sapphire” in the Garrard’s catalog at the time. It was noted for being relatively affordable to regular people in comparison to other assets that belong to the British royal family. A 12-carat sapphire from Ceylon, which is now Sri Lanka but was once part of British India, and 14 white gold solitaire diamonds were included in the ring.
After Diana divorced Charles in 1996, she continued to wear the item, writing in a note, “I would like you to allocate all my jewelry to the share to be held by my sons.” By the time she passed away the following year, she had already decided to leave her jewelry to her two children so that their wives could acquire it or use it in due course. The precise division of the jewelry is up to you to decide.
Prince William made numerous attempts to discuss Prince Harry’s troubling behavior with him. He wanted his brother to know that it’s important for a member of the royal family to act with grace and dignity in the public eye. Although Prince William strives to uphold high standards as the future king, husband, and father, he is not perfect, like any other human being.
Prince William was focused on building a respectable image as a statesman and a reliable representative of the monarchy, while Prince Harry was out partying, getting caught in embarrassing situations, and struggling with substance abuse. However, when Prince Harry finally had the opportunity to address his wild behavior, he attributed it to his brother, father King Charles III, or his difficult upbringing.
He said that he needed to get away from his family, that he needed space to deal with the pain they caused him. In showing that he was the husband, father, and royal representative he wanted to be, Prince Harry appears determined to redefine his identity and distance himself from his American connections. After five years of independence from the British monarchy, he wants to get back to being a British royal away from Meghan Markle and the American way of life.
Kate Middleton’s recent appearance without her engagement ring has caught attention, but her subtle tribute to Princess Diana speaks volumes. By wearing a new eternity band set with a sapphire, Kate honored William’s late mother in a meaningful way, 27 years after her tragic death. The sapphire ring she wore during a message to congratulate Team GB on their 2024 Paris Olympics victory was strikingly similar to the one Princess Diana wore when she accepted Prince Charles’s proposal in 1981. While the reason for Kate’s decision to leave behind the iconic engagement ring she inherited from Diana remains unclear, her choice of jewelry maintained a strong connection to the late princess.
This moment continues to highlight how much Diana’s legacy influences both Prince William and Kate’s lives. William, upon giving Diana’s engagement ring to Kate in 2010, expressed how deeply special it was to him: “It’s my mother’s engagement ring, and it’s very special to me because Kate is also very special to me.” This act solidified the couple’s bond and connection to Diana, whose memory continues to shape their journey as future leaders of the monarchy.
The famous sapphire ring, dubbed the “commoner sapphire,” was originally part of the Garrard catalog and gained popularity for being relatively affordable compared to other royal jewelry. With its 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold, the ring became one of the most iconic symbols of Princess Diana’s grace and style. Even after Diana’s divorce from Prince Charles in 1996, she continued to wear the ring, which she later designated to be passed down to her sons for their future wives.
Diana’s legacy, however, isn’t only about her jewelry or her public persona. Her influence continues to resonate in the personal choices of both her sons, particularly William’s commitment to uphold dignity and grace in public life. The division between the brothers, William and Harry, has become a central theme in royal discussions in recent years, with their differing paths drawing attention. While William has always strived to maintain a respectable image as a future king, focusing on family values and his role in the monarchy, Harry has faced public struggles, including substance abuse and party scandals. Despite these challenges, William attempted numerous times to reach out to his brother, hoping to steer him towards a more responsible path.
Harry’s choice to step back from royal life and move to the U.S. with Meghan Markle marked a significant shift, as he sought to redefine his identity away from the royal establishment. His struggles with the royal family have been well-documented, with Harry blaming his upbringing and the pressures of royal life for his wild behavior. However, recent signs suggest that Harry may be seeking to reconnect with his British roots, despite the complexities of his current situation. After years of carving out a new life in the U.S., he may be looking to re-establish his royal identity, a process that continues to unfold.
