Princess Diana’s Heartbreaking Wedding Day Secret: The Gift She Left Behind
Princess Diana’s wedding day to Prince Charles was filled with nerves and uncertainty. Sleepless from the roaring crowds and harboring lingering doubts about Charles’ true affections, Diana prepared to step into the royal spotlight. She carefully curated her bridal look, but one significant gift from her husband-to-be was noticeably absent. This token of Charles’ affection never made it down the aisle.
What gift did Princess Diana leave behind the day she married Prince Charles?
According to a passage in Andrew Morton’s book, Diana: In Her Own Words, the princess shared details of a gift given by Prince Charles the night before their wedding. It was a signet ring bearing the Prince of Wales feathers.
Diana understood the symbolism of the gift. She was entering into a new phase of life as the Princess of Wales and her job was to support her husband.
Diana said in the book, “[Charles] sent me a very nice signet ring the night before to Clarence House, with the Prince of Wales feathers on and a very nice card that said: ‘I’m so proud of you and when you come up I’ll be there at the altar for you tomorrow. Just look ’em in the eye and knock ’em dead.'”
However, Diana chose to leave the item at home instead of wearing it on her wedding day. This decision was reportedly due to her growing doubts about their relationship and Charles’ lingering feelings for Camilla Parker Bowles.
Diana wore very little jewelry that day. She donned the Spencer Tiara, which features diamonds, scrolls, stars, and trumpet-shaped flowers.
Additionally, Diana wore her mother’s diamond earrings and her 12-carat oval sapphire engagement ring. She was gifted a thin wedding band made of Welsh gold by Charles at the altar.
Charles gave Diana a signet ring to show her royal family status
Prince Charles’ signet ring holds a deep personal and historical significance. It is engraved with the Prince of Wales emblem, signifying Charles’ royal authority and family legacy, and belonged to his great uncle, Edward VIII the former Prince of Wales.
The jewel is engraved with a crown with a feather and the phrase “ich dien,” which translates to “I serve.”
The Prince of Wales signet ring is a powerful emblem of royal heritage, traditionally worn by the heir to the throne. For Diana, who was already struggling with pre-wedding anxieties and concerns over Charles’ true affections, the ring may have felt more like a symbol of duty rather than romance.
However, Andrew Morton wrote that perhaps, Charles was attempting to soothe Diana’s anxiety over their marriage. He wrote, “While [Charles’] loving note helped to soothe her misgivings, it was difficult to control the inner turmoil which had been building up over the months.”
Morton shared Diana’s words with a close friend. “The night before the wedding I was very calm, deathly calm. I felt I was the lamb to the slaughter. I knew it and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
Did Princess Diana ever wear Charles’ signet ring?
Although Princess Diana did not wear the signet ring Prince Charles gave her the night before their wedding on the day itself, she did wear it throughout their marriage. It remained a symbol of her unity with Charles and an enduring reminder of her work to support the monarchy.
Diana was photographed wearing the ring at a Regent Street Christmas lights event in 1981. In February 1983, the princess wore the ring during a photo session with royal photographer Tim Graham, and it was regularly seen on her left pinky finger throughout her marriage to Charles.
Charles continues to wear his signet ring, often pairing it with the wedding band that symbolizes his current marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles. Camilla pairs her matching wedding band with a five-carat, emerald-cut diamond engagement ring.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles married in July 1981. They welcomed two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, before finalizing their divorce in August 1996.
