Franklin Dean
Princess Diana's wedding band was made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at Clogau St David's gold mine. The same nugget was used to make wedding bands for the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among other royals. Princess Diana's wedding band was engraved with the words I Love You, Diana on the inside. During her lifetime, Princess Diana possessed a set of aquamarine jewels, including an emerald cut aquamarine stunner, which she wore with her eternity ring, possibly in place of her wedding band and engagement ring.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of ring | Wedding band |
| Material | Gold |
| Source of gold | One of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at Clogau St David's gold mine |
| Engravings | "I Love You, Diana" |
| Other rings worn by Princess Diana | Sapphire engagement ring, diamond and white gold eternity ring, Cartier Russian wedding ring, signet ring, Bulgari yellow gold and diamond band |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Diana's wedding band was made from Welsh gold
Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles took place on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The princess wore minimal jewellery, including her engagement ring, a wedding band placed on her finger by Charles, her mother's diamond earrings, and the Spencer family tiara.
The wedding band was a simple gold band, in contrast to her more elaborate engagement ring. The engagement ring, crafted by Garrard's, the official royal jeweler at the time, featured a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set in 18-karat white gold. The design was inspired by a brooch commissioned by Prince Albert for his bride-to-be, Queen Victoria, in 1840.
Princess Diana's jewellery collection, including her wedding band and engagement ring, was divided between her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, after her death in 1997. Prince Harry inherited the engagement ring and later offered it to Prince William, who used it to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010. The ring held significant sentimental value, with William explaining that it was his way of keeping his mother involved in the engagement and wedding.
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The ring was engraved with the words: I Love You, Diana
Princess Diana's wedding band was made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at Clogau St David's gold mine. The ring was engraved with the words "I Love You, Diana". This was a royal tradition, as the same Welsh gold nugget had also provided gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among other royals.
Princess Diana's wedding ring was not the only piece of jewellery that attracted attention. Her engagement ring, a 12-carat, oval-cut sapphire gem ringed with 14 white solitaire diamonds set in 18K white gold, was also famous. It was made by Garrard, the official royal jeweller at the time, and was not a custom-made piece, which went against royal tradition. Diana's choice of a non-custom ring was symbolic of her insistence on maintaining her individuality, even as she joined the royal family. The sapphire stone was also a non-traditional choice for an engagement ring, though it paid homage to the royal family's use of sapphires for some of their engagement rings.
Princess Diana's jewellery collection also included a Cartier Trinity ring and signet ring with the Prince of Wales feathers, which were gifts from Prince Charles. She also owned a set of aquamarine jewels, including an "emerald cut Aquamarine stunner", which she first wore at the 1997 auction of her clothes at Christie's. In addition, Diana wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring of three yellow gold bands on the little finger of her right hand and a diamond and white gold eternity ring from the Spencer family collection on her third finger before her marriage to Prince Charles. These rings remained in her collection but were rarely seen in public during her marriage.
Princess Diana's jewellery has continued to attract attention even after her death. Her engagement ring was inherited by her son, Prince Harry, who later gave it to his brother, Prince William, who used it to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010. Kate, now known as Catherine, Princess of Wales, has worn various pieces from Princess Diana's collection, including the famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
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She wore her mother's diamond earrings on her wedding day
Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles took place on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The princess wore very little jewellery on her wedding day. However, she did wear a pair of diamond earrings that belonged to her mother, Frances Shand Kydd. The earrings were one of the few pieces of jewellery that Princess Diana wore on the day of her wedding to Prince Charles. The earrings complemented the other pieces of jewellery that she wore, including her engagement ring and the Spencer family tiara. The wedding band placed on her finger by Charles during the ceremony was made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at Clogau St David's gold mine. Following royal tradition, the gold nugget had also provided gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among many other royals.
Princess Diana's engagement ring was a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds and set in white gold. The ring was purchased by Prince Charles for £28,000 and was technically available to "commoners", breaking with royal tradition. The design of the ring was inspired by Queen Victoria's sapphire brooch, which she wore as her "something blue" on her wedding day in 1840. The brooch, which featured diamonds and sapphires, was given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert. After Queen Victoria's death in 1901, it was declared an heirloom of the crown, and it was later worn by the Queen Mother on her wedding day in 1923.
Princess Diana's jewellery collection also included a set of aquamarine jewels, which she first wore at the 1997 auction of her clothes at Christie's. She wore the "emerald cut aquamarine stunner" with an eternity ring from the Spencer family collection that she had often worn as a teenager. It is believed that Princess Diana wore the eternity ring and aquamarine ring together in place of her wedding band and engagement ring. After Princess Diana's death in 1997, her sapphire engagement ring was inherited by her son, Prince Harry, who later passed it on to his brother, Prince William, who proposed to Kate Middleton with the ring in 2010.
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She wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring prior to her marriage
Princess Diana, also known as the People's Princess, was known for her jewellery collection. She often wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring of three yellow gold bands on the little finger of her right hand before her marriage to Prince Charles. The Cartier ring was not an engagement ring or a wedding band, and she wore it prior to her marriage to Prince Charles.
Diana's Cartier ring was made up of three yellow gold bands. It was not custom-made, which went against royal tradition. Traditionally, the royal family commissions custom-made rings for weddings and other occasions. Diana's ring was technically available to "commoners", but it was still a beautiful piece of jewellery.
Princess Diana's wedding to Prince Charles took place on 29 July 1981, at St Paul's Cathedral, London. On her wedding day, she wore very little jewellery. She wore diamond earrings that belonged to her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, the Spencer family tiara, her engagement ring, and a wedding band placed on her finger by Charles during the ceremony.
The gold for Princess Diana's wedding band followed royal tradition and was made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at Clogau St David's gold mine. The same nugget had also provided gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among many other royals. Diana's Welsh gold band was engraved on the inside with the words, "I Love You, Diana".
After her marriage, Princess Diana continued to wear her Cartier ring, sometimes in place of her wedding band. She was often seen wearing it on the third finger of her right hand. She also wore a diamond and white gold eternity ring from the Spencer family collection on her third finger. It is believed that she wore the eternity ring and an aquamarine ring together in replacement of her wedding band and engagement ring.
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Her engagement ring was a sapphire surrounded by diamonds
Princess Diana's engagement ring was a stunning 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold. The ring was crafted by Garrard, the Crown Jewellers, and its design was inspired by a similar ring created in 1921 for another royal bride, Queen Mary. The central sapphire was a breathtaking gemstone, and the surrounding diamonds added to the ring's beauty and elegance.
The choice of a sapphire for her engagement ring was symbolic and unique. While sapphires have been a favourite among royal women, especially for engagement rings, Diana's decision to choose a ring from a catalogue instead of a custom-made piece stirred some controversy. She selected the ring herself as Prince Charles proposed without a ring, allowing her to choose a design that resonated with her. The ring's design may have been inspired by a brooch Prince Albert commissioned for his bride-to-be, Queen Victoria, in 1840.
The ring has a rich history and has become one of the most iconic pieces of jewellery in the world. After Princess Diana's death, the ring was initially inherited by Prince Harry. However, he offered it to his brother, Prince William, who used it to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010. William explained that it was his way of ensuring their mother could be part of the engagement and wedding. The ring holds immense sentimental value, and Kate continues to wear it even after their marriage, making it a lasting symbol of enduring love and cherished memories.
The ring's design has also inspired replicas, allowing admirers of Princess Diana and fine jewellery to own a piece reminiscent of the iconic original. The replicas are crafted with similar quality sapphires and diamonds, reflecting the timeless appeal of Princess Diana's engagement ring. The ring's legacy transcends generations, solidifying its place in popular culture and royal history.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Princess Diana had a wedding band made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at Clogau St David's gold mine.
Yes, Diana wore her wedding band, along with her engagement ring, her mother's diamond earrings, and the Spencer family tiara.
It seems that Princess Diana rarely wore her wedding band in public after her marriage. She is believed to have replaced it with an eternity ring and an aquamarine ring.
Yes, Princess Diana wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring of three yellow gold bands on her little finger before her marriage. She also wore a diamond and white gold eternity ring from her family collection on her third finger.
It is unclear what happened to Princess Diana's wedding band after her death. However, her engagement ring was inherited by her son, Prince Harry, who offered it to his brother, Prince William, to propose to Kate Middleton.
