Rhiannon Hendricks
Prince William has never worn a wedding ring, and he's not the only male royal to eschew the tradition. Royal commentator Eloise Parker explained to Marie Claire in 2018 that it's never been traditional for royal men to wear one. William's grandfather, Prince Philip, also chose not to wear a wedding band during his 73-year marriage to Queen Elizabeth. William's decision was announced before his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011, with a spokesperson saying: There will only be one ring, which is in accordance with the wishes of Prince William and Catherine. William has never been one for jewellery, a source told the Mirror, adding: It's all down to personal preference.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for not wearing a wedding ring | "He's not one for jewelry", "It's all down to personal preference" |
| Who wears wedding rings in the royal family | Royal women traditionally wear both an engagement ring and a wedding ring. It is not traditional for royal men to wear one. |
| Who in the royal family does not wear a wedding ring | Prince William, Prince Philip |
| Who in the royal family does wear a wedding ring | King Charles, Prince Harry |
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What You'll Learn
Prince William is not a fan of jewellery
It is well known that Prince William does not wear a wedding ring, and this has been the case since his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. The royal couple announced that he would not be wearing a ring before their wedding, but the news has recently come to light for some royal followers.
William's decision to forego a wedding band is simply down to personal preference, as he is "not one for jewellery". A source told the Mirror: "He's never worn any. He decided he didn't want to wear one now. It's all down to personal preference."
William's choice to go ring-free is not an uncommon one, with more and more men choosing to go wedding ring-free. It is also not unusual within the royal family, as his grandfather, Prince Philip, who was married to the Queen for 73 years, also chose not to wear a wedding band. Royal commentator Eloise Parker explained in 2018: "It's never been traditional for royal men to wear one... I think when you have a wedding watched by millions, everyone knows you're married."
Although it may seem like a break from tradition, William's decision could be seen as a modern take on royalty. As Diane Clehane, author of Imagining Diana, suggested: "William and Kate have shown us they are modern royals and are confident in each other's love... Kate omitted the word 'obey' in her wedding vows, and William has opted not to wear a ring, which makes them like many millennial couples—intent on doing things their way."
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It's not a modern royal male tradition
It is not just Prince William who has decided against wearing a wedding ring. His grandfather, Prince Philip, who was married to the Queen for 73 years before his death in 2021, also chose not to wear a wedding band. Royal commentator Eloise Parker explained to Marie Claire in 2018 that it is "never been traditional for royal men to wear one". She added, "I think when you have a wedding watched by millions, everyone knows you're married".
Prince William's decision to go against the modern norm of wearing a wedding ring may be the most modern thing to do. Diane Clehane, author of Imagining Diana, suggested that "William and Kate have shown us they are modern royals and are confident in each other’s love for one another". She added that "William has opted not to wear a ring, which makes them like many millennial couples—intent on doing things their way".
The royal couple announced that Prince William would not be wearing a wedding ring before their wedding in 2011. A royal spokesperson told Us Weekly, "There will only be one ring, which is in accordance with the wishes of Prince William and Catherine".
A source told the Mirror that the decision came down to Prince William's style. "He’s not one for jewelry," the source explained. "He’s never worn any. He decided he didn’t want to wear one now. It’s all down to personal preference". Penny Junor, author of The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair that Rocked the Crown, told Vogue, "He doesn't like jewelry, and the Palace issued a statement before their wedding saying so".
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He's following in his grandfather's footsteps
Prince William's decision to not wear a wedding ring is in line with a long-standing tradition among royal men. His grandfather, Prince Philip, who was married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years before his passing in 2021, also chose to not wear a wedding band.
Royal commentator Eloise Parker explained in 2018 that:
> "Although it’s traditional for royal women to wear both an engagement ring and a wedding ring after they get married, it’s never been traditional for royal men to wear one. That’s why Prince Philip and Prince William don’t wear them. I think when you have a wedding watched by millions, everyone knows you’re married."
Prince William's decision to forego a wedding band is, therefore, a reflection of his personal preference and a continuation of a tradition set by his grandfather and other male members of the royal family.
William's choice not to wear a wedding ring was announced before his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. A spokesperson confirmed that there would "only be one ring, in accordance with the couple's wishes."
The Prince's reasoning for not wearing a wedding band is also attributed to his general dislike of jewellery. A source close to the Palace explained that:
> "He’s not one for jewelry. He’s never worn any. He decided he didn’t want to wear one now. It’s all down to personal preference."
Prince William's decision to follow in his grandfather's footsteps by not wearing a wedding ring is, therefore, a combination of upholding a royal tradition and his individual preference for not wearing jewellery.
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It's a matter of personal preference
It's been over a decade since Prince William married Kate Middleton, and the royal couple announced ahead of their wedding that the former would not be wearing a wedding band. While this may have been surprising to some, it is a matter of personal preference.
William has never been one for jewellery, and this preference has been known since before his marriage to Kate in 2011. A source speaking to the Mirror confirmed this, saying, "He's not one for jewelry. He's never worn any. He decided he didn't want to wear one now. It's all down to personal preference." A Palace aide has also previously explained, "He doesn't like jewelry, and the Palace issued a statement before their wedding saying so."
William's decision to forego a wedding band is not an uncommon one, with more and more men choosing to go wedding ring-free. In fact, it has been noted that it is "quite common" for men in the upper strata of society not to wear a traditional wedding band. Royal commentator Eloise Parker also noted that it is not traditional for royal men to wear wedding bands, and that it is only recently that men in the UK have started wearing wedding rings, with the trend taking off during the World War II era.
William's late grandfather, Prince Philip, also chose not to wear a wedding ring despite being married to Queen Elizabeth for 73 years. William, therefore, is not completely bucking royal tradition by not wearing a wedding band.
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It's a common choice for upper-class men
Prince William's decision to not wear a wedding ring is not an uncommon one, with a growing number of men choosing to go wedding ring-free. Royal commentator Eloise Parker noted that it has never been traditional for royal men to wear wedding rings. She added that when a wedding is watched by millions, as was the case with Prince William's, everyone knows that the couple is married.
Prince William's choice to not wear a wedding band is also in line with the belief held by some members of the upper class that the less jewellery one wears, the better. An anonymous source in a Daily Mail report stated that it is common for men in the upper strata of society not to wear a traditional wedding band. This belief is also reflected in the fact that rings for men did not become commonplace in the UK until the World War II era, when soldiers wanted reminders of their wives back home.
Prince William's decision to forego a wedding band is, therefore, a common choice for upper-class men and is in keeping with the traditions of royal men. It is a reflection of his personal preference and style, as he has never been one for jewellery.
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Frequently asked questions
Prince William has never worn a wedding ring, and this was announced before his wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011. According to sources, this is because he is “not one for jewellery".
No, it is not uncommon. Royal commentator Eloise Parker stated that "it's never been traditional for royal men to wear one". Prince William's grandfather, Prince Philip, also chose not to wear a wedding band.
Yes, Kate Middleton's wedding ring was made from Welsh gold that was originally presented to Queen Elizabeth and stored in the royal vaults. The Queen gave a piece of this gold to Prince William as a gift, which was then crafted into a ring for Kate.
