Princess Catherine’s ‘DISAPPEARED’ Mystery Royal Is Hiding In The Release Of New Photos
Princess Katherine is showing the nation that her cancer recovery is going well, and she’s feeling more confident about returning to work. In her most positive sign that she’s recovering well after completing her course of chemotherapy, she undertook her first public engagement this year. But where is the Princess of Wales’ engagement ring? It’s been a question on royal fans’ lips over the past few weeks, especially during her latest outing.
Catherine once again kept the mystery of the missing engagement ring alive by sporting four sparkling rings, none of which were the sapphire previously owned by Diana, Princess of Wales. Again and again, the question arises: Is her missing ring a slip-up, carelessness, or a coded message?
The story goes that her mother-in-law, Diana, selected the 12-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring after being presented with a tray of options from royal jeweler Garrard. It’s the most iconic ring in the world, though its original owner supposedly didn’t even like it. And now, it’s gone missing. Since 2010, its new owner, Catherine, has worn it after Prince William decided to use his mother’s ring when he proposed. Today, though, the nearly priceless piece has not been seen in months.
Is this a situation dictated by practicality, or is Catherine finally stepping out from under the long shadow cast by the ring’s first owner?
On Thursday afternoon, Catherine teamed her Welsh gold wedding ring with her Anoushka eternity band, thought to have been given to her by William following Prince George’s birth. Both rings make regular appearances on her left hand, but they were joined by two new additions. One was the sapphire and diamond eternity band she debuted to congratulate Team GB in August, and another was a new eternity ring.
None of these explain the ring situation, though. Why has Catherine stopped wearing the world’s most famous symbol of royal matrimony? While it’s unclear where the latter ring came from, some have speculated that the former could be a more practical, day-to-day alternative to her iconic engagement ring since it features the same stones.
She has rarely been seen without Diana’s heirloom during her 13-year marriage, aside from hospital visits for health and safety reasons. Its disappearance from a photo release to mark Mother’s Day in March sparked its own brand of speculation, especially when, a week later, the princess announced that doctors had discovered she had cancer during planned abdominal surgery. The lack of her wedding ring on that occasion didn’t help the situation either, fueling conspiracy theories.
Then in June, when the 42-year-old appeared at Trooping the Colour, the ring was back in place, much to the relief of royal watchers. In July, it was still on her finger when the Princess of Wales attended Wimbledon. But in August, during a video appearance celebrating the Olympics, it was gone again. By September, when she released a video announcing the end of her chemotherapy, the ring was still missing.
This week in Southport, the ring was still gone. Why, on a day so carefully calibrated to send a message of Catherine’s return to duty and service, was the ring absent? It was a somber day when she decided to join Prince William in Southport at the last minute to show her support, empathy, and compassion to the local community after the horrific knife attack that took place in July. Her appearance was reminiscent of any other royal engagement she’s undertaken—it was very much business as usual as she looked composed and keen to pay her respects after such a tragedy.
It’s a hugely positive sign that she’s starting to get back on her feet after a difficult few months. The princess is clearly determined to return to some normality, and her work is a key part of that.
