Princess Kate has preformed a subtle U-turn on her choice of engagement ring during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey as the royal opted to wear Princess Diana’s iconic engagement ring for the occasion.
The Princess of Wales, 43, has displayed the priceless sapphire and diamond jewel on her finger at almost every public appearance, since the royal announced her engagement to Prince William in November 2010.
However, since returning to royal duties earlier this year, the Princess of Wales appears to have adopted a new approach to her ring finger styling, alternating between the famous engagement ring and a different sapphire and diamond band.
Speaking on the Princess of Wales’s latest outing, Jewellery expert Tobias Kormind, the managing director at 77 Diamonds, exclusively told GB News that the decision to wear the sapphire ring was a “touching tribute to both Princess Diana and the late Queen Elizabeth”.
Princess Kate has preformed a subtle U-turn on her choice of engagement ring during the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey after opting to wear Princess Diana’s iconic engagement ring for the occasion
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He said: “Notably, she chose to wear her sapphire engagement ring (passed down from Princess Diana) for the occasion, after preferring to wear her sapphire and diamond eternity ring for most recent outings.”
The princess stunned in a striking red Catherine Walker Beau Tie coat dress, paired with a matching £450 Gina Foster hat.
The wool creation features pleats and a bow at the neckline, a design Kate has worn on several previous occasions including the Together at Christmas carol service.
She accessorised with the four-row Japanese pearl choker that was part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection.
Princess Kate stunned in a striking red Catherine Walker Beau Tie coat dress, paired with a matching £450 Gina Foster hat
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The expert explained: “In one fell swoop, the Princess of Wales paid a touching tribute to both Princess Diana and the late Queen Elizabeth with her eye-catching jewels at the Commonwealth Service.
“She chose to accessorise with the Collingwood drop pearl earrings that were gifted to Princess Diana as a wedding present from Collingwood jewellers, and were notably sported by the Princess at the British Embassy in Washington DC the day after her iconic dance with John Travolta.
“The pear-shaped pearl drops suspended from a cluster of diamonds have since become a favourite of Kate’s for important moments, including for her 40th birthday portrait in 2021.
“The Princess of Wales also chose to accessorise with a fabulous pearl choker that belonged to the late Queen – created by royal jewellers Garrard from cultured pearls gifted by the Japanese government to mark her state visit in the 1970’s.
“The necklace was interestingly also borrowed by Princess Diana, and Kate has poignantly donned the jewel for the funerals of both the late Queen and Prince Phillip.”
Princess Kate has an alternative sapphire and diamond band
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The alternative sapphire and diamond eternity-style ring first caught royal fans attention in August last year when Kate appeared in a video congratulating Team GB athletes.
Initially thought to be a one-off choice, the ring reappeared in her cancer recovery announcement video last September.
Kate wore this alternative ring during her visit to meet Southport attack victims in October when returning to public duties.
The mother-of-two, often hailed for her fashion choices, decided to wear the eternity band for several engagements this year including visits to the Royal Marsden, the National Portrait Gallery, a prison mother and baby unit, and Pontypridd.
The princess has reverted to her engagement ring for major occasions, including Remembrance events, last year’s State Visit and carol concert, Holocaust Memorial Day, and her visit to Tŷ Hasan hospice in Wales.
