05 February 2024 , 14:23
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When it comes to engagement rings, none is more iconic than the one worn by Kate Middleton.
The ring - a 12-carat sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds and set in 18-carat white gold - previously belonged to Princess Diana. Following her tragic death in August 1997, it was passed down to her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry - but returned to the public eye some 13 years later.
William famously chose to use his mother's ring when he proposed to Kate in Kenya in 2010 - and since then, it has been a firm fixture on her hand. But owning a historic heirloom such as the ring comes with its 'challenges', according to the experts.
Ben Roberts, Managing Director of – the brand responsible for the Welsh gold that British royals craft their wedding rings out of – told HELLO! about the difficult upkeep of Princess Kate's ring.
He said: "Most people don't know the level of upkeep that wearing an heirloom day-to-day can entail. Even without any alterations, caring for an heirloom of such value comes with its own challenges.
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"Kate and her team will need to employ careful maintenance, with regular inspections and in-depth evaluations, gentle cleaning to restore sheen, and, if necessary, expert repairs to ensure its longevity.
"That way, she can continue to wear it every day and maintain a constant connection to the past while grounding her in the present as a beloved senior member of the Royal Family."
It was previously reported that it had been necessary for Kate to have the ring resized following William's proposal - but the Princess herself shut down those rumours during an appearance in Wales last year.
She told royal fans: "It's the same ring and it was exactly the same size when I tried it on. I'm honoured to wear it, I never sadly got to meet her."
Kate and William got engaged during a trip to Kenya with friends in 2010, with the Prince admitting that he carried the ring around with him in a rucksack for three weeks before popping the question.
In a post-engagement interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, William admitted: "I knew if this thing disappeared, I'd be in a lot of trouble!"
He continued: "It's my mother's engagement ring so I thought it was quite nice because obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all - this was my way of keeping her close to it all."
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