Did Kate Middleton Replace Her Famous Engagement Ring?
As the Duchess of Cambridge and future Queen Consort, royal watchers pay attention to everything Kate Middleton wears. Kate usually rocks the impressive engagement ring Prince William gave her in 2010 for most royal engagements, but she has recently been wearing a ring that is not officially cataloged in the royal collection. So, has Kate replaced her famous engagement ring?
Kate Middleton favors old ring
The Duchess of Cambridge has donned an array of jewelry pieces from the royal collection over the years. Most of these items, like the Cartier Halo Tiara she wore for her 2011 wedding, belong to Queen Elizabeth.
But in recent weeks, Kate has been spotted wearing a ring she first displayed in 2002. According to Express, the piece in question is a citrine ring that could be worth upwards of $20,000.
“The ring looks like a very large citrine stone to me and judging by the size of it could be worth anything from £5,000 up to £20,000,” Ben Johnson, a representative of Miltons Diamonds, revealed.
Johnson added that the ring was already in Kate Middleton’s collection and is not a new purchase. We do not know when Kate bought the ring, but it is possible that it was in her collection before she started dating William.
The last time Kate was photographed wearing the ring was back in 2008, two years before William popped the big question. She wore it during a night on the town with her sister, Pippa Middleton.
Why is the Duchess of Cambridge wearing the ring again?
Kate has not commented on why she has been wearing the ring, but Johnson believes she probably just fell in love with it again.
There is also a possibility that the ring has some kind of sentimental value for Kate, especially considering how it is not a part of the royal family’s jewelry collection.
Kate Middleton has matured as a member of the royal family and is really coming into her own. Over the past two years, Kate has displayed even more confidence than ever, and her choice of the ring might reflect that growth.
“The citrine rock could also be making a reappearance because of what the stone is said to represent,” Johnson shared.
Citrine crystals normally represent optimism. Kate usually wears the ring whenever William is not around, so it could be a source of encouragement for her.
The royal family is also undergoing a lot of dramatic changes, so Kate might be wearing it to show that she is optimistic about what the future holds.
What about Kate’s Middleton’s engagement ring?
Although Kate is clearly fond of her old ring, she still rocks her engagement ring whenever she gets a chance.
William and Kate tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony in 2011. When they got engaged the year before, William presented Kate with a ring crafted out of diamonds and sapphire.
The ring was actually the same one Prince Charles bought Princess Diana when they got engaged back in the day. Charles paid over $28,000 for the ring at the time of his engagement, but it is now worth well over $300,000.
The engagement ring was passed down to Harry upon Diana’s tragic death. Harry gave it to William, however, in 2010 so that he could pop the big question. William customized the ring for Kate Middleton. The piece features 14 solitaire diamonds that encircle an oval sapphire.
A look at Kate’s other ring
Aside from the aforementioned rings, Kate has been known to wear a third ring alongside her wedding band and engagement ring. Kate was spotted wearing the third ring shortly after giving birth to her first child, Prince George, in the summer of 2013.
Inside sources claim that the ring is actually an eternity band that was given to Kate Middleton in celebration of Prince George’s birth. The ring runs a little over $1,000 and features a row of diamonds along the band.
Kate and William started dating while attending St. Andrews in the early 2000s. Although the couple suffered from a breakup in 2007, they went on to get engaged in 2010.
William and Kate share three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and are rumored to be thinking about having a fourth child.
Kate Middleton has not commented on the reports surrounding her jewelry. When William sits on the throne, Kate will take on the title as Queen Consort and will full access to all of the jewels the crown has to offer.
