Kate Middleton Wears Replacement Ring Over Princess Diana Heirloom for Emotional Cancer Outing
For Kate Middleton‘s first solo outing in over a year, she visited the hospital where she received chemotherapy treatment in 2024 after a cancer diagnosis. As she spoke to patients, Kate didn’t wear Princess Diana’s heirloom engagement ring, swapping the huge sapphire and diamond bauble for a completely different statement piece.
What replacement ring did Kate Middleton wear instead of Princess Diana’s?
On Jan. 14, 2025, Kate Middleton visited the Royal Marsden Hospital to thank the staff who cared for her throughout her chemotherapy treatment. During the visit, Princess Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring was missing from the fourth finger of Kate’s left hand.
Instead, the Princess of Wales wore a different royal ring, reportedly gifted to her by Prince William. On her hand, she sported a sapphire and diamond eternity band.
This is the third time Kate has worn this particular ring at a public event. Royal watchers first saw the jewelry piece on Instagram in August 2024 as Kate showed her support for Team Great Britain after their performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The eternity band was seen a second time when Kate visited family members of the Southport stabbing victims. The hospital visit was the third time she opted to wear the ring publicly instead of her iconic engagement ring.
The jewel contains sapphires and diamonds and is likely a nod to Diana’s iconic sapphire engagement ring. It also resembles a promise ring William gave Kate in college, a band with garnets and pearls, their birthstones.
Kate’s connection to Princess Diana continues with cancer hospital visit
After being treated at the Royal Marsden to fight an undisclosed type of cancer in 2024, Kate Middleton returned to the facility to meet with the staff and patients. While there, the Princess of Wales spoke to those undergoing chemotherapy and spoke of her experiences as a patient.
On Instagram, Kate shared her gratitude toward the facility for their “exceptional” care throughout 2024. Kate then revealed her new role as Joint Patron of the facility alongside her husband, Prince William.
This new appointment further connects Kate to Princess Diana. The late royal was appointed patron of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation in 1989 and held the role until her 1997 death.
Kate wrote, “It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to.”
Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, and Prince William’s work at Royal Marsden helped further cancer treatment
The Daily Mail reported Princess Diana had a longstanding connection to The Royal Marsden, before becoming its patron eight years after marrying then-Prince Charles. Just one year after becoming a senior royal, Diana visited the cancer ward.
Diana visited the facility in 1984 and laid a foundation stone in 1990. In 1993, Diana opened the Royal Marsden’s Wolfson’s Children’s Cancer Unit.
In 1997, she attended a reception in London for the auction of her dresses, which benefited the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund. Diana subsequently hosted a fundraising event for the Royal Marsden that raised over $1M for cancer research.
The Daily Mail reported that Diana’s son, Prince William, worked at the facility during his time as a university student, and in 2015, just like his mother, he laid a foundation stone for the building of its Oak Cancer Centre.
Ironically, William and Kate opened the Oak Cancer Centre shortly after their 2011 wedding. Little did the Princess of Wales know that 13 years later, she would be a patient of Royal Marsden as she battled cancer.
