Catherine STUNS In Most Gorgeous White Outfits As She Debuts Her New Ring At Royal Visit!
The royal family has the most stunning collection of jewelry, and we love to see what special piece they’ll be stepping out in during each royal engagement. Like a fine wine, some engagement rings simply get better with age. Such is the case for Princess Katherine’s bling, as her engagement ring from Prince William has seen a ten-fold increase from what it was valued at in 1981, the year it was bought by Prince Charles to give to his then-fiancée, Princess Diana.
Thursday night, when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a reception at Parliament House, the family will be returning to England on Friday, which means our “embarrassment of riches” in the form of the princess’s outfits, George’s facial expressions, and awkward William jokes, is about to come to a close.
In a bit of a surprise, Catherine did not opt for her favorite designer, Jenny Packham, or Alexander McQueen but instead went with a white dress from Texan-born designer Leela Rose. She completed her outfit with a black clutch bag and matching heels. Instead of wearing her glossy brunette hair in her usual curls, she pinned it up into a chic chignon.
While Harry could no longer offer his now-wife the ring he originally chose, he offered up his mother’s ring to his brother. When William set out to propose to Middleton in 2010, the one thing he kept from his mother, he gave to his brother. That selfless gesture is kind and exactly who Diana was. It’s Catherine’s quiet confidence as a style icon that makes the ring so special.
Over the years, Catherine has said little publicly about the ring or Diana. Her first public engagement as the caretaker of Princess Diana’s engagement ring was in her first extended interview with Prince William on the day their engagement was announced.
Impressively, Middleton’s sparkler tops the list of the world’s 20 most famous engagement rings. Originally valued at £28,000, the 12-carat sapphire, which is surrounded by diamonds, is now worth £300,000. The inherited jewelry piece has increased in value due to its significance and is now worth three times more than Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring, reportedly valued at £100,000.
The Princess also said the ring was very, very special before discussing how important it was for Diana to be a part of the lives of her grandchildren—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The royal mum of three is said to have secretly altered her engagement ring after Prince William proposed with it in Kenya. The Duchess of Cambridge got the ring adjusted to prevent it from falling off her finger.
A glimpse of The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are currently on summer holiday at Balmoral, lasted just a second or two. While many royal watchers shrieked over William’s beard and Catherine’s now-signature bright attire, eagle-eyed royal sleuths spotted something else: the Princess was noticeably without her stunning sapphire and diamond engagement ring. In its place was a promise ring William gave her while they were students at St Andrews University in Scotland.
That piece was a rose gold Victorian band embellished with garnets and pearls—the first being her birthstone, and the second, William’s. It isn’t clear when Catherine got her lovely eternity band, but some fans believe it may have been a present from William to mark their 13th wedding anniversary, which fell on April 29th.
As this is the first we’re seeing of the piece, Kensington Palace declined to comment on the origin of the ring. Still, the low-key swap seems to suit the Princess’s personal style well. She has famously never been all that into the expansive range of jewelry available to her in the royal vault.
The ring is much more practical when it comes to casual summer days spent chasing after the kids. And, let’s say it is a new gift from Prince William: a promise ring is a thoughtful choice in the wake of a difficult year for his wife. It also has the potential to kick off a major trend.
After all, eternity rings are both modern and accessible. They also come with the option to personalize and prioritize the sentimental. Bottom line: they’re better for everyday wear.
