The Engagement Ring of Prince William and Kate Middleton

Prince William of Wales is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince William and Kate Middleton Wedding Date

On 16 November 2010 it was announced by Clarence House that Prince William and Kate Middleton are to marry. On 23 November 2010, after much speculation, it was announced the wedding will take place on 29 April 2011 in Westminster Abbey, London and will be a bank holiday in the UK.

The engagement ring given to Kate was the 18 carat white gold ring with large oval sapphire and 14 round diamonds engagement ring of Diana, Princess of Wales. Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry, announced on the same day that the couple became engaged in Kenya in October, a fact that Prince William confirmed in a widely circulated television interview beamed from London.

Princess Diana Engagement Ring History

Lady Diana Spencer chose it for her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 from a selection presented to her by the then Crown jewellers Garrard of Mayfair. The Diana ring cost £28,500 but, unusually for a choice by a member of the Royal Family, it was not unique and any member of the public could buy the same ring from the Garrard catalogue.

While not everyone could afford to buy such an expensive engagement ring. Sapphires were one of the late princess's favourite gemstones, and some commentators say she chose it because it reminded her of her mother's engagement ring.