When thinking about celebrity engagement rings, no ring has ever been more iconic than Kate Middleton’s engagement ring, and it’s not even a diamond ring! Once worn by Kate’s late Mother-in-Law, Princess Diana, the regal sapphire engagement ring is synonymous with the British Monarchy. It is a look that many jewellery designers seek to replicate.
Instantly recognisable (even by those that don’t have much of an interest in bridal bling), the ring is not only a moniker of the Duchess of Cambridge’s graceful style that constantly makes it on the best-dressed list at the year’s end but also the influence of the British Royal Family. Even if you don’t follow any news about the royals, it is a given that you will know at least some of the sordid details of their closely guarded personal lives, including the origins of this ring. But if you don’t, read on to get the full run-down on Kate Middleton’s engagement ring.
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Kate Middleton’s Engagement Ring
Before Kate was even born, the elegant sapphire and diamond engagement ring belonged to the Duchess’ late mother-in-law Princess Diana. Formerly, one of the most photographed women in the world, when Lady Diana was given the unique sapphire ring by Prince Charles following their engagement in 1981 it instantly became just as famous as she was. Designed by British jeweller, Garrad, the Royal Family’s first official crown jeweller, it is believed that the engagement ring first stood out to the Prince of Wales due to its similarity to an heirloom brooch in his mother, Queen Elizabeth II’s personal collection. It is one of several engagement rings that the future king would choose for his bride and Diana is believed to have picked it because it matched her mesmerising blue eyes and it reminded her of the engagement ring her father gave to her mother. Costing Charles £28,500 (£83,384 in 2022) at the time, which was a lot of money (and even now) but a considerably low amount considering the reigning prince belongs to one of the wealthiest families in the world, the ring today is said to be pretty much priceless. Following their split in 1992, Diana continued to wear the ring as a dress ring that she accessorised with a matching sapphire pendant and a pair of sapphire earrings that have also been given to her daughter-in-law Kate.
Learn More: A Look Into Lady Diana’s Engagement Ring
While still somewhat grant, the family ring is pretty modest by royal standards. Boasting a rare blue sapphire stone that has been cut into an oval shape and a timeless white gold band, the ring is decorated with 14 brilliant-cut diamonds that encircle the sapphire in a manner that is akin to a flower design. Previously featuring a yellow gold setting, the halo ring was given to William by Harry who initially received the ring after his mother’s death as the Princes had an agreement that whoever became engaged first would receive the ring. So, when William was gearing up to propose to Kate, Harry happily handed over the treasured ring. Besides, not all was lost for Harry as he would use two diamond’s from Diana’s personal collection when proposing to his future wife, actress Meghan Markle. Since being presented with the piece in 2010, the Duchess of Cambridge has made minor adjustments to the sapphire and diamond engagement ring. For one, platinum beads were added to the ring’s interior in order to resize the ring from Diana’s H ring size to Kate’s size I. Following their nuptials, the couple got matching wedding rings made of Welsh gold and then after Kate gave birth to the couple’s first son, Prince George in 2013 the monarch a white gold eternity ring decorated with diamonds in a pave setting.
As one of the most famous celebrity engagement rings, it is only natural that many jewellers have produced rings inspired by the royal heirloom. Adorned with a 2.70-carat natural blue sapphire, 0.70-carats of brilliant-cut diamonds along with a timeless 18-karat yellow gold setting, Shiels’ aptly titled ‘Princess Catherine’ ring is sure to make you feel like royalty.
Luminesce Lab Grown 0.70Ct Diamond & 2.6Ct Natural Black Sapphire 9x7mm Ring in 9ct Yellow Gold
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Kate Middleton’s Husband
It was the Summer of 2001 and the world’s most eligible bachelor Prince William had just begun attending classes at Scotland’s University of St Andrews. It is there where he first laid eyes on Catherine ‘Kate’ Middleton, a fellow student who was the daughter of wealthy British business owners, Michael and Carole Middleton. However, unlike most of the fairy tales we have come to know and love, it was not love at first sight as the pair would initially hit it off as friends. The pals would often attend parties and pub crawls together and would eventually move in together with two other mates at a sharehouse just off-campus. The dynamic of the two’s relationship would change in 2003 when Kate famously sported a sheer black dress on the runway for a charity fashion show at the university. Will, who was sitting in the front row with his younger brother Harry at the time was immediately smitten by the gorgeous brunette and the pair would quietly begin dating not long after.
The press wouldn’t get wind of the relationship until 2004 when the couple were spotted together on the slopes at a ski vacation in Klosters, Switzerland with friends. Kate immediately became the media’s darling and began to be followed everywhere she went by the paparazzi and their giant camera lenses. The pair would then be publicly photographed at their university graduation and Kate would make her debut at an official royal event when she attended a parade for William’s ambulance officer training in Sandhurst. Donning vibrant red peacoat, a large black hat and a simple pair of gold drop earrings, the event would also mark the debut of Kate’s signature style.
Kate Middleton’s Proposal & Wedding
By 2010, Will and Kate had been dating for close to eight years, had broken up and gotten back together following a brief split in 2007 and were officially living together. Despite all this, however, Kate was yet to receive a ring from her longtime partner. The prospect of Will getting down on one knee and proposing to Kate became such a waiting game that the British media playfully dubbed Middleton ‘waitey Katie’. Eventually, that wait would come to an end when Will officially put a ring on it in October of that year. The way in which the future King proposed was so romantic that it was the stuff of modern fairy tales.
While on a hiking trip in Kenya with friends, Will presented Kate with the infamous sapphire and diamond engagement ring while to two were relaxing in their room. Speaking to a reporter shortly after announcing their engagement, Will said he was waiting for just the “right moment,” to pop the question and the African continent seemed like the most fitting place to present Kate the family heirloom as it is where Will’s dad Prince Charles took him and his brother shortly after their mother passed to get away from the media circus that had ensued back home. Will was so set on waiting for that right moment that he carried around the priceless sapphire ring in his old rucksack, and we have no doubt he was praying to the jewellery Gods hoping that nothing would happen to the ring on his travels.
Following a whirlwind engagement, Will and Kate would officially become the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on April 29th 2011 when the pair exchanged wedding rings in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey watched by over 162 million in 188 different countries. Attended by some of the world’s most famous faces including David and Victoria Beckham, Sir Elton John, Ian Thorpe, Australia’s Prime Minister at the time Julia Gillard and of course many members of the House of Winsor and much more. Middleton stunned in a lace gown designed by iconic British designer Alexander McQueen, a pair of custom diamond drop earrings and a tiara borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II’s crown jewels. The wedding record was also significant as it marked the first time a reigning British monarch has married a commoner, but it also earned a Guinness World Record for being the most-watched wedding in history. Beating the previous record held by William’s own dad when he wedded Diana, the Princess of Wales.
