Diana's Wedding Band: Lost Heirloom

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from a nugget of Welsh gold, continuing a long-standing royal tradition. The same nugget of gold was used for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among others. Inside, the band was engraved with the words: I Love You, Diana.

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from Welsh gold

Princess Diana's wedding band was placed on her finger by Prince Charles during their wedding ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 29 July 1981. The Princess wore very little jewellery on her wedding day, opting to wear her mother's diamond earrings, her Spencer family tiara, her engagement ring, and her wedding band.

The Welsh gold wedding band is engraved on the inside with the words: "I Love You, Diana". This adds a personal and romantic touch to the ring, which has become a symbol of the royal couple's union.

Welsh gold is renowned for its special quality and is often chosen by the royal family for their wedding jewellery. It is said to perfectly encapsulate the essence of Wales, and its use in royal weddings is a proud tradition. The royal family's preference for Welsh gold jewellery highlights its significance and contributes to its allure.

Princess Diana's Welsh gold wedding band holds both symbolic and historical value, not only as a representation of her marriage to Prince Charles but also as a continuation of a long-standing royal custom. The use of Welsh gold in her wedding band connects Princess Diana to a lineage of royal women, including the Queen and the Queen Mother, further emphasising the significance of this precious metal in royal nuptials.

The gold nugget was from the Clogau St David's gold mine

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from a nugget of gold from the Clogau St David's gold mine in Bontddu, Snowdonia. This nugget was also used to create wedding rings for other members of the royal family, including the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne. The tradition of using Welsh gold for royal wedding rings began in 1923, with the wedding of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the Duke of York, later King George VI.

The Clogau St David's gold mine was once the largest and most profitable mine in the "Welsh Gold Rush" during the 19th century. The gold from this mine is considered some of the most valuable and sought-after in the world due to its exceptional purity, rarity, and royal connection. It is estimated to be worth between three and five times as much as gold from other sources.

The gold nugget used for Princess Diana's wedding band was one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold from the Clogau St David's mine. The wedding band was engraved on the inside with the words, "I Love You, Diana".

In addition to wedding bands, Welsh gold from the Clogau St David's mine has also been used in the investiture of every Prince of Wales since 1911. The official regalia, including the coronet, rod, ring, and sword, incorporate Welsh gold, identified by the Welsh dragon stamp.

It 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. This nugget had also provided gold for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among many other royals.

The band was engraved with the words: "I Love You, Diana". This was a tradition in the family, as seen with the Duchess of Cambridge, who received a gold disc from her sister with the name of her eldest son and the first letter of her husband's name engraved on it.

It followed a royal tradition dating back to the Queen Mother

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from a nugget of Welsh gold, continuing a royal tradition that dates back to the Queen Mother. The same nugget of gold was used to make the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and Diana, Princess of Wales. This tradition has continued in more recent royal weddings, with new nuggets of Welsh gold being used to craft the wedding bands.

The tradition of using Welsh gold for royal wedding bands began with the marriage of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, to the future King George VI in 1923. Lady Elizabeth also established another long-held tradition for royal brides when she laid her flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior as she entered Westminster Abbey on her wedding day. This was done in remembrance of her brother, Fergus, who died at the Battle of Loos in 1915, and to pay tribute to the millions of others killed and injured in World War I.

The gold nugget used for Princess Diana's wedding band was one of the last soft nuggets of Welsh gold, mined at the Clogau St David's gold mine. The gold for royal wedding bands is traditionally sourced from Welsh mines, with the Clogau St David's mine providing gold for the wedding bands of multiple generations of royals. The tradition of using Welsh gold for royal wedding bands has continued in recent years, with the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex also having their wedding bands made from Welsh gold.

In addition to the wedding band, Princess Diana's engagement ring was also the subject of much interest. The ring featured a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold. The design was inspired by Queen Victoria's sapphire-and-diamond cluster brooch, a wedding gift from Prince Albert in 1840. Princess Diana continued to wear the ring even after her divorce from Prince Charles, and it was later inherited by Prince William, who used it to propose to Catherine Middleton in 2010.

The ring was passed down to Prince William

Princess Diana's wedding band was made from a nugget of Welsh gold, in keeping with royal tradition. The same nugget had also been used for the wedding bands of the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Margaret, and Princess Anne, among other royals. The inside of the band was engraved with the words, "I Love You, Diana".

After Princess Diana's death, her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, inherited most of her jewellery. Prince Harry received her engagement ring, while Prince William inherited a Cartier watch. However, according to Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, Harry gave the engagement ring to William, believing it would be fitting for it to be worn by William's future wife and, one day, sit on the throne of England.

Prince William proposed to his then-girlfriend, Kate Middleton, with Princess Diana's engagement ring in 2010. The ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds set in 18-karat white gold. It was created by crown jeweller Garrard and is estimated to be worth £400,000.

The ring is now worn by Princess Catherine, Princess of Wales, who has been spotted wearing it daily, even while running errands and picking up groceries.

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