Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

How did Kate Middleton, not Meghan Markle, end up with Princess Diana’s engagement ring?

Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and that engagement ring. Photo: @whitecrownroyalchic/Instagram
Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and that engagement ring. Photo: @whitecrownroyalchic/Instagram
Royalty

Princess Diana’s famous sapphire engagement ring from Garrard has inspired numerous knock-offs and imitations, all thanks to the media buzz that surrounded William and Kate’s wedding

Is there some official line of succession when it comes to how jewellery is passed down the royal family? How did Kate Middleton, not Meghan Markle, end up with Princess Diana’s engagement ring?

When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010, he gave his future wife the ring his parents marked their marriage with. Princess Diana’s engagement ring from Garrard has inspired numerous knock-offs and imitations, all thanks to the media buzz that surrounded William and Kate’s matrimony.

Prince William and Kate Middleton during their wedding ceremony on April 29, 2011. Photo: Buro
Prince William and Kate Middleton during their wedding ceremony on April 29, 2011. Photo: Buro
Advertisement

When Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement, the world swooned over her three-diamond trilogy-style engagement ring. However, royal fans quickly began to wonder why it was Middleton, not Markle, who got their late mother-in-law’s ring.

Prince Harry with Meghan Markle announced their engagement on November 27, 2017, Photo: AFP
Prince Harry with Meghan Markle announced their engagement on November 27, 2017, Photo: AFP

Was it because Princess Diana’s ring went to her eldest son William by default?

 

As it turns out, there’s a much more interesting story behind how Middleton ended up with the prized sapphire ring, and why this means we can expect to see Markle sporting Diana’s gold Cartier Tank watch.

 

Allegedly, Diana’s sons were given the opportunity to pick out items from her estate to keep after her death in 1997. Young Harry decided to take his mother’s engagement ring, a 12-ct sapphire and diamond number that was part of Garrard’s permanent collection. Prince William kept Diana’s much-loved Cartier Tank watch.