It was the post-Olympics mashup we needed to see: Just as the 2024 Olympic Games were coming to a close, Kate Middleton and Prince William shared a video to their Instagram account wishing Team Great Britain congrats with help from pals ranging from David Beckham to Snoop Dogg.
Kate Middleton Traded Her Sapphire Engagement Ring for a Promise Ring in Surprise Video Appearance
Cue the royal jewelry debate
Published Aug 13, 2024
•8:28pm
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The glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales—who are currently on summer holiday at Balmoral—lasted just a second or two, but while many a royal watcher shrieked over William’s beard and Kate’s now-signature Breton top, eagle-eyed royal sleuths spotted something else. Kate’s iconic (and world-famous) 12-carat diamond and sapphire engagement ring, once worn by the late Princess Diana, had been traded for something else: A promise ring.
...But is it new?
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People reported that the piece of jewelry—thought to be a pearl and garnet rose gold promise ring, with pearl symbolizing William’s June birthday and garnet symbolizing Kate’s January birthday—was a gift from Prince William to his then-girlfriend Kate during the early days of their romance when they were still students at the University of St. Andrews in the early 2000s. But others—including Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue—suggest that the promise (or eternity) band appears to be brand-new. (A 13th anniversary wedding gift from William? Perhaps.)
We reached out to Bethan Holt, features director for The Telegraph and author of The Duchess of Cambridge: A Decade of Royal Style, for clarity. She says she believes this ring to be a new addition to the Princess of Wales’s collection. “From what I’ve seen, this looks like a new ring due to the setting of the stones. Of course, it’s really hard to tell when it’s such a momentary glimpse, but all clues point in that direction.”
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According to a Telegraph piece, also written by Holt, Kensington Palace declined to comment on the origin story of the ring. Still, the low-key swap seems to suit Kate’s personal style well. The Princess of Wales has famously never been all that into the expansive range of jewelry available to her in the royal vault; the ring is also 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 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 to prioritize the sentimental (say, including your own birthstone or those of your kids). Bottom line: They’re better for everyday wear.
To think, the palace thought William’s beard was enough to distract us with the release of that video! Not today, KP.
