The Story Behind Princess Diana's Iconic Sapphire Engagement Ring
When Prince Charles and Princess Diana got engaged, all eyes were on her stunning 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire ring. The couple announced their engagement in February 1981, and they tied the knot in July of the same year. Diana's sapphire ring, which was not custom-made, was inherited by Prince Harry and later given to Prince William, who proposed to Kate Middleton with it in 2010.
Many royals repurpose heirloom gems for engagement rings, but Charles and Diana chose a ring from a catalog at Garrard. The iconic ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. The design was inspired by a brooch commissioned by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1840.
Charles selected the sapphire and diamond ring to propose to Diana because it reminded him of a brooch his mother and grandmother often wore. Diana reportedly chose the ring because it matched her blue eyes. The couple's engagement was announced in February 1981, and they posed for photos outside Buckingham Palace.
After Diana's passing, her jewelry collection was inherited by Prince William and Prince Harry. William used his mother's ring to propose to Kate in 2010. He shared in an interview that he had been carrying the ring with him for weeks before proposing. Kate wore a blue dress that matched the ring during their joint interview, paying tribute to Princess Diana. The sapphire ring holds sentimental value for William as a way to keep his mother close to important moments in his life.