Kate Middleton ditches engagement ring as she returns to royal duties wearing ‘eternity band’
The Princess of Wales has made a surprise return to royal duties - and it wasn't just her public return which surprised fans. She was also seen sporting an all-new ring in place of her iconic engagement ring.
Kate Middleton has made a surprise public return to royal duties, but it wasn’t just her unplanned appearance which caught attention. The Princess of Wales was spotted without her iconic engagement ring, instead sporting a dazzling eternity-style band during her latest outing with Prince William in Southport.
In what is thought to be a last-minute decision to accompany her husband, Kate, 42, joined husband William to meet emergency responders and grieving families affected by the tragic stabbings earlier this summer. The couple offered heartfelt words of comfort and support to both the families of the victims and the emergency workers who responded to the devastating incident which shook the nation.
It marked Kate’s first official public engagement following the joyful news that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment earlier this year.
In most royal appearances before her diagnosis, Kate was rarely seen without her engagement ring – featuring the famous blue sapphire that once belonged to Princess Diana. But, during her return to the spotlight yesterday, the princess opted to swap her engagement ring for an elegant eternity band, stacked alongside her gold wedding ring.
The new ring, set with sapphires and diamonds, is similar in style to her engagement ring, making it a subtle change to her jewellery. It’s not the first time we’ve seen the new ring, however.
Royal fans have noticed Kate wearing the ring before, in a video shared earlier this summer congratulating Team GB athletes following the Paris Olympics. She was also spotted wearing it in an emotional update where she announced that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment.
Since Kate was first seen wearing the new ring, fans have speculated that it might have special significance, and could possibly be a gift from Prince William , 42, to mark a new chapter in Kate’s life post-treatment.
During the visit in Southport , William and Kate met privately with the families of Bebe King, 6, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, all of whom were horrifically killed during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in late July.
