Prince Harry's connection to Kate's engagement ring
As rumours around Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement continue to swirl, the sweet story of Harry’s connection to Duchess Kate’s engagement ring has emerged.
The ring, which features a 12 carat oval sapphire, once belonged to the late Princess Diana and has a similar design to one of Queen Elizabeth II's heirloom brooches.
After Princess Diana’s death in a Paris car accident in 1997, Prince William and Prince Harry were permitted to choose a ‘keepsake’ each from her jewellery collection.
The then 15-year-old Prince William chose his mother’s gold Cartier watch, while 12-year-old Prince Harry decided to keep her engagement ring as a memento.
According to reports in the Daily Star, the two boys agreed that whoever proposed first would take the ring. Thirteen years later, when Prince William was ready to propose to his university girlfriend Kate Middleton, Harry handed the ring over.
Prince William, who popped the question while the couple were holidaying in Kenya, reportedly kept the precious sapphire ring in his backpack, recalling he “literally would not let it go”.
“Everywhere I went I was keeping hold of it because I knew... if it disappeared I would be in a lot of trouble,” William said in a joint interview with UK Press Association.
As rumours of an imminent engagement between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle refuse to die down, there’s plenty of speculation as to what sort of ring he’ll use to propose, with some reports suggesting the 33-year-old is planning to have an emerald and platinum ring designed using a bracelet that belonged to Princess Di.
Were you aware of this story?