Dianna's Gold Band: Lost And Found

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from Welsh gold, following a long-standing royal tradition. The gold was sourced from the Clogau St David's Gold Mine in Wales, which had also provided gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among others. The inside of Princess Diana's band was engraved with the words, I Love You, Diana.

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from Welsh gold

The wedding of Charles and Diana took place on 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral in London. On this occasion, the Princess wore very little jewellery, including her mother's diamond earrings, her Spencer family tiara, her engagement ring, and the Welsh gold wedding band placed on her finger by Charles.

The Welsh gold used for Princess Diana's wedding band was not only a continuation of a royal tradition but also a symbol of her marriage and commitment. The gold's origin in Wales adds a layer of cultural significance, encapsulating the essence of the country.

The choice of Welsh gold for Princess Diana's wedding band reflects both her connection to the royal family and her place in British history as Princess of Wales. The band is engraved on the inside with the words: "I Love You, Diana", a personal touch that adds to the sentimentality of the ring.

Today, Princess Diana's Welsh gold wedding band remains a memorable part of her jewellery collection, which has included various other gold accessories, precious stones, and costume pieces.

The gold came from the Clogau St. David's Gold Mine in Wales

The gold for Princess Diana's wedding band came from the Clogau St. Davids Gold Mine in Wales, specifically from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold mined there. The Clogau mine was opened to exploit the copper and lead veins in the area north of Bontddu, but in 1854, gold was discovered at the mine in a vein of quartz. The main gold-bearing vein was named the "St. David's lode", and arrangements were made with the Crown Estate to work the gold commercially, with operations starting on 28 August 1860.

The Clogau mine produced significant amounts of gold in the 1890s, and in 1899, it produced £60,000 worth of gold (equivalent to £8,531,168 in 2023). The mine closed in 1998 due to the high cost of mining and diminishing gold quantities, but it holds a special place in British history as the source of gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and many other royals.

The Clogau St. Davids Gold Mine is located in North Wales, in a band stretching from Barmouth, past Dolgellau, and up towards Snowdonia. This area, known as the Dolgellau Gold Belt, was mined at several mines, including the Clogau Gold Mine and the Gwynfynydd Gold Mine. Welsh gold, particularly from Clogau, has historically attracted a significant premium due to its origin, heritage, and scarcity.

The gold from the Clogau St. Davids Gold Mine has a deep connection to the Welsh people and is considered a heritage asset for Wales due to its significant contribution to the country's society, economy, knowledge, and culture over a century and a half. The mine is now owned by Alba Mineral Resources, which is exploring the potential for unexploited gold veins and planning for possible future gold extraction.

The same nugget of gold was used for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne

The wedding band is an important part of any marriage ceremony, but for royalty, it is also a symbol of their commitment to tradition. In the case of the British royal family, this tradition involves using Welsh gold to craft the wedding bands.

In 1923, a nugget of pure gold from the Clogau St David’s mine in North Wales was presented to the royal family as a gift. This nugget was first used to create a wedding ring for the Queen Mother when she married King George VI. The same nugget was then used to make the wedding bands for Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne.

The tradition of using Welsh gold for royal wedding bands started in the early 1920s, and it has continued ever since. Over the years, more Welsh gold entered the possession of the British monarchy, allowing them to create wedding bands for other royal marriages. For example, the Duchess of York and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are believed to have wedding bands made from Welsh gold presented to Queen Elizabeth II in the 1980s.

The use of Welsh gold is not just limited to the older generation of British royals. More recently, the wedding band of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, was also made from Welsh gold. This continued a nearly century-old tradition in the family, with the gold being given to Prince William by the Queen shortly after his engagement.

The tradition of using Welsh gold is a unique aspect of British royal weddings, and it is a way for the monarchy to showcase its strong ties to Wales.

The ring was engraved with the words: I Love You, Diana

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from Welsh gold, following a long-standing royal tradition. The gold was sourced from the Clogau St David's Gold Mine in Bontddu, North Wales. This nugget of gold had also been used for the wedding bands of other royals, including the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne. The Princess of Wales' Welsh gold band was engraved with the words: "I Love You, Diana".

The gold nugget used for Diana's wedding band was one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold from the Clogau St David's mine. Welsh gold is considered the rarest and most expensive type of gold in the world, and the royal family has opted for it for nearly 200 years. In 1923, the royal family obtained a large nugget of gold from the Clogau St. David's Gold Mine, which was used to make the wedding ring of the Queen Mother.

The tradition of using Welsh gold for royal wedding bands continued with subsequent generations. The British Royal Legion gifted Queen Elizabeth with a second nugget of Welsh gold in the 1980s, which was used for the wedding rings of Sarah, Duchess of York, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex. It is believed that this nugget was also used for the wedding bands of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

The wedding band was just one of the precious pieces of jewellery owned by Princess Diana. Her collection included jewels from her time as a member of the British royal family, as well as private purchases. She had a vast collection of gold accessories, which often went unnoticed by the media. One notable piece was a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring, which she wore on her little finger before her marriage to Prince Charles.

Welsh gold is a royal family tradition

Welsh gold is highly prized due to its scarcity and origin. It is found in natural geological deposits in two distinct areas of Wales: North Wales and South Wales. The tradition of using Welsh gold in the wedding rings of the British Royal Family began in 1923 with Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and her marriage to the Duke of York, later King George VI. The gold for Princess Diana's wedding band followed this royal tradition and was made from one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at the Clogau St David's Gold Mine. This nugget also provided gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and many other royals. Princess Diana's Welsh gold band was engraved on the inside with the words: "I Love You, Diana".

The link between Welsh gold and the British royal family can be traced back to 1911, when Prince Edward was officially invested as the Prince of Wales. The regalia used in the ceremony, which included a coronet, a rod, a ring, a sword, and a mantle with a doublet and sash, incorporated Welsh gold. This tradition was continued in 1969 when Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales, using the same regalia as Prince Edward.

Welsh gold is not a unique material substance and is chemically identical to gold mined elsewhere. However, its name is derived from the place it was mined, and it is highly valued due to its scarcity and origin. The Clogau Gold Mine in North Wales was once the largest and richest mine in the Dolgellau gold mining area. It produced 165,031 tons of gold ore, resulting in 78,507 troy ounces (2,441.8 kg) of gold. The Gwynfynydd Gold Mine in Dolgellau, also located in North Wales, yielded over 45,000 troy ounces of gold before it closed in 1999.

The use of Welsh gold in royal wedding bands continued with the marriages of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981, Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018. The tradition of using Welsh gold in royal wedding rings was carried into its 95th year with the marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.

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