Although Princess Diana was known as “The People’s Princess,” her jewellery collection was truly royal. She was well-known for wearing pearl chokers, glitzy tiaras, blingy headbands, and, most notably, a magnificent Princess Diana’s engagement ring.
What was Princess Diana’s engagement ring?
Lady Diana Spencer, who was 20 at that time, and Charles, Prince of Wales, went public with their engagement announcement on February 24, 1981.
It was also the first time the public saw Diana’s stunning engagement ring, an oval 12-carat Ceylon sapphire around with 14 solitaire diamonds set in 18-karat white gold. Originating in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, the sapphire is a royal blue shade. At that time, Charles was regarded as one of the most eligible singles.
Princess Diana’s ring stands apart for a few reasons even though sapphire and other coloured engagement jewellery have long been the preferred option for royal families. It is a statement piece with a dazzling centre stone and sizable accent diamonds set in an ultra-luxe halo.
The ring was inspired by The sapphire and diamond cluster brooch that Queen Victoria received from Prince Albert as a wedding gift in 1840. Queen Victoria loved that piece and continued to wear it even after her husband died. She made sure that the brooch would remain in the possession of the reigning monarch by including the gift as a crown heirloom.
Many people believe that the couple selected the ring because of this reason. But some people also think that one more cause contributed to the ring’s selection and that is the ring’s center stone’s similarity with Princess Diana’s deep-blue coloured eyes.
Princess Diana selected the ring herself from the ready-made collection of the first royal jeweller, Garrard. It was quite a controversial choice as the ring was not custom-made only for her, but it was available to anyone who wanted to buy it before her.
Who owns Princess Diana’s engagement ring?
The iconic ring now sits proudly on Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton’s finger.
While on vacation in Mount Kenya in October 2010, William proposed to his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton.
“The African continent holds a very special place in my heart, it is the place my father took my brother and me shortly after our mother died,” William confessed in an interview. He continued, “And when deciding where best to propose to Catherine, I could think of no more fitting place than Kenya to get down on one knee.”
William admitted in the couple’s first interview after becoming engaged that he wasn’t always confident that the moment would be so romantic. He had been lugging the ring about with him in his bag for around three weeks before the proposal. He would not let it go; and kept hold of it wherever he went because if it got misplaced, he would be in serious trouble.
By giving his wife, the future Queen of England, her mother’s infamous ring, William held his mother’s memory closest to himself.
Did Harry inherit Diana’s engagement ring?
After Diana died in 1997, it was revealed that her sons would receive almost all of her jewels so that their brides may have them or utilise them in due time according to her will.
Because of that, William got Diana’s Cartier watch, and Harry inherited her engagement ring. Harry then, probably gifted the Cartier watch to his wife, Meghan Markle.
But then, when it was time for William to propose to Kate, Harry offered the ring to William and said to him, “Wouldn’t it be fitting if she had mummy’s ring? Then one day that ring will be sat on the throne of England.”
How much is Princess Diana’s engagement ring worth?
Prince Charles paid only $60,000 for it at that time, but it is now worth more than $500,000 because of its link to Princess Diana.
