Here’s why Kate wasn’t wearing her engagement ring at Great Ormond Street Hospital
Ever the fashion maven, the Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in London today (Jan. 17) wearing a chic new ensemble. But it wasn’t just her bright red coat that caught the eye of royal watchers, it was also something that was conspicuously absent from her outfit: Kate arrived without her engagement ring!
The soon-to-be mother of three added a pop of colour to an overcast day in the British city, wearing an affordable frilled red coat from Boden - which is still available for $375 – on a visit to the city’s Great Ormond Street Hospital. Carrying her small necessities in a simple black suede clutch, photographers zoomed in for a glance and noticed the missing ring.
Kate was not wearing her stunning sapphire engagement ring
While some may jump to a couple different conclusions, like the unlikely possibility that Kate lost her beautiful ring or her pregnancy is causing swollen fingers, the real reason is quite simple. Because her ring – made up of a large sapphire, 14 solitaire diamonds and 18-carat white gold – is so intricate, hospitals require elaborate jewelry to be left at home as they could harbor harmful bacteria. Large baubles also have the potential of scratching patients.
Her ring, now one of the most coveted sapphire rings in the world, has a beautiful meaning, beyond just being a gift to the Duchess by her husband Prince William. The sapphire once belonged to the Duke’s mother Princess Diana, who suffered an untimely death in 1997. William has said that gifting the ring to his beautiful wife meant his mother wouldn’t miss out on the wedding day.
Meghan Markle, the bride-to-be of Prince Harry, also has an engagement ring featuring some of Diana’s most treasured jewels. While it was speculated that Harry would propose to the former actress with the Queen’s engagement ring, the prince opted to design it himself, using two small stones from the late princess’s collection.
