Netflix’s The Crown shows how Princess Diana chose her own engagement ring from Prince Charles – but how did it end up on Kate Middleton’s finger?

Nov 17 , 2020

Lady Diana Spencer wears her famous sapphire engagement ring in an informal portrait with Prince Charles in 1981. Photo: Reuters

Diana chose from a selection of rings presented at Buckingham Palace – then Prince Harry claimed it after her death, before swapping it with his brother so Prince William could get engaged with their mother’s ring

We all know Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, inherited her late mother-in-law Princess Diana’s engagement ring when she married Prince William. But how did that now-famous sapphire ring come to be on Diana’s finger?

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer pose following the announcement of their engagement in 1981. Photo: AP

Prince Charles did not choose the ring for his bride-to-be when the two got engaged in 1981. As was revealed in the fourth season of Netflix’s hit royal series The Crown , Diana chose the ring herself.

Soon after their engagement, Diana was invited to Buckingham Palace, where she was presented with a selection of engagement rings. In the show, Emma Corrin, who takes on the role of Diana, contemplated a Burmese ruby ring, before deciding on the Ceylon sapphire ring.

Princess Diana, played by Emma Corrin in Netflix’s hit series The Crown, selects her engagement ring at Buckingham Palace. Photo: Netflix

The 18-carat oval-cut sapphire originated from Sri Lanka, a country famous for its production of top quality sapphires. Unlike Colombian or Kashmir sapphires, Sri Lankan sapphires are known for their bright blue hues and translucence due to their low iron content compared to stones found in other regions.

It’s been documented that Diana chose the Sapphire ring because it matched the colour of her eyes and reminded her of her mother’s ring. The ring, an off-the-rack design by royal jeweller Garrard, features a halo design with 14 diamonds surrounding the blue centre stone.