Deborah Chan
Kate Middleton's engagement ring is one of the most well-known pieces of jewellery in the world, inspiring countless brides. The ring, which previously belonged to Princess Diana, features a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. The ring was designed by Garrard and is estimated to be worth over $400,000. The gold used in Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's wedding rings came from the same rare Welsh gold that has been used for British royal brides' wedding bands for over 100 years. The gold mine in Wales where the gold came from is selling the precious metal for the first time in over 25 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ring Type | Eternity Ring Stack |
| Number of Rings | 3 |
| Ring Composition | Sapphire and Diamond Band, White Diamond Band, Diamond Eternity Ring |
| Ring Metal | Gold, White Gold |
| Ring Design | Designed by Kate Middleton and Prince William with Bristol jewelry company Wartski |
| Ring Cost | $13,000 |
| Ring Components | 19 brilliant-cut diamonds, 19 matching sapphires |
| Ring History | Heirloom jewelry piece from Princess Diana's collection |
| Ring Size | Resized with platinum beads added to the inside of the band |
| Ring Stone | 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire |
| Ring Stone Surround | 14 solitaire diamonds |
| Ring Stone Shape | Oval |
| Ring Stone Colour | Blue |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's wedding ring is made from rare Welsh gold
The ring is a meaningful symbol of Kate's commitment to Prince William, with whom she exchanged vows at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. The couple's enduring love story has been further reflected in Kate's eternity ring stack, valued at $13,000, which includes a sapphire and diamond band and a white diamond band.
The Welsh gold wedding ring is a long-standing tradition among British royal brides. The custom was started by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, when she married the future King George VI in 1923. She had her wedding band made from pure gold sourced from the Clogau-St. David's Gold Mine in Wales, which was once the richest gold mine in the United Kingdom.
The mine has recently made the precious metal available for purchase for the first time in over 25 years through a public auction of limited-edition 24-carat gold coins. These coins, etched with a Welsh dragon, offer people a chance to own a piece of royal history.
While the exact source of Kate's gold has not been disclosed, it is rumoured to have come from the same mine as the Queen Mother's. The use of Welsh gold in royal weddings symbolises the importance of Wales to the royal family and celebrates the country's rich history and noble heritage.
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The gold was an engagement gift from Queen Elizabeth
Prince William and Catherine Elizabeth's wedding was a grand affair, with around 2,000 specially-invited guests filling Westminster Abbey, which has been the venue for most royal weddings in the last century. The couple announced their engagement in October 2010, and seven months later, on 29 April 2011, they exchanged vows in front of their friends and family, members of foreign royal families, government and Commonwealth representatives, and other notable figures.
Catherine's wedding band was crafted from Welsh gold, continuing a tradition that has been in place in the Royal Family since 1923. The gold used to make her wedding ring was mined from the Clogau Gold Mine in the mountains of North Wales and had been presented to Queen Elizabeth II, who gave it to Prince William to be used for Catherine's ring. The royal warrant holder Wartski, a company with roots in Bangor, Gwynedd, north Wales, was responsible for creating the ring.
The wedding ceremony was followed by a lunchtime reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. The couple made an appearance on the balcony, where they shared a kiss twice. The menu for the reception remained a secret for several years, but we know that the main cake was an eight-tier fruit cake decorated with Lambeth-piped sugar paste flowers.
Catherine's engagement ring, which she famously wears alongside her wedding band, is also steeped in history and symbolism. The ring, which features an oval blue Ceylon sapphire encircled by 14 solitaire diamonds, was initially given by Prince Charles to Lady Diana when they got engaged in 1981. After Diana's passing, the ring became part of her children's jewellery collection, and when William proposed to Catherine in 2010, he chose this ring for the sentimentality and symbolism attached to it.
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The ring was designed with Bristol jewelry company Wartski
The wedding ring of Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, was designed with the help of the Bristol jewellery company, Wartski. The ring was crafted from rare Welsh gold, which was given to the royal family generations ago. The gold was sourced from the Clogau-St. David’s Gold Mine in Bontddu, Wales.
The decision to use this gold was an important one, steeped in tradition and sentimentality. The gold from the mine had been used for royal wedding rings for nearly a century. It was first used to create a ring for the wedding of Prince William's great-grandmother, and then again for his grandmother and great-aunt, Princess Margaret.
Prince William wanted to continue this tradition and so, with the help of Wartski, designed a thin gold wedding band for his bride-to-be, Kate Middleton. The ring was made from the last of the Welsh gold, which had been carefully preserved by the royal family.
In 2023, Prince Harry wrote in his memoir, 'Spare', about the significance of the ring: "The same hunk [of gold] had provided a ring for Granny when she married, and for Princess Margaret, but it was nearly exhausted now, I’d heard." He also described how he was entrusted with carrying the "thin band of Welsh gold" on his brother's wedding day.
The Clogau-St. David’s Gold Mine has recently started selling this rare Welsh gold to the public for the first time in over 25 years. Three pure gold "Tyn-y-Cornel" coins will be auctioned off, providing an opportunity to own a piece of history and royal tradition.
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Kate's engagement ring was Princess Diana's
The engagement ring worn by Kate Middleton is the same one worn by Princess Diana. Prince William proposed to Kate with his mother's ring for the symbolism and sentimentality attached to the stunning sapphire ring. The ring was created by British jeweller Garrard and chosen for then-Prince Charles's proposal to Diana in 1981. It features a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. The design of the piece dates back to the mid-19th century when Queen Victoria wore a sapphire and diamond brooch on her wedding day.
Kate Middleton's wedding band is made from rare Welsh gold given to the royal family generations ago. The mine it came from, Clogau-St. David's Gold Mine in Bontddu, Wales, is selling the precious metal for the first time in over 25 years. The gold was also used to make Meghan Markle's wedding band.
While Kate Middleton has famously worn Princess Diana's engagement ring since 2010, she sometimes swaps it out for less formal royal engagements. For more casual appearances, she has been opting for a stack of eternity rings, including a sapphire and diamond band, a white diamond band, a diamond eternity ring, and a Welsh gold wedding band.
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The ring is a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds
The engagement ring worn by Kate Middleton is the same one worn by Princess Diana. It features a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. The ring was designed by the London jeweller Garrard and is estimated to be worth over $400,000.
Sapphires are judged primarily on their colour and the level of saturation, or how pure and intense the colour is. Blue sapphires from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) are considered to be antique or vintage and are often kept in family jewellery boxes, royal collections, or exhibited in museums. They are rarely found for sale and are usually priced at a premium.
The Ceylon sapphire in Kate Middleton's ring is surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, which form a halo around the centre stone. The halo design is a vintage style that emphasises the blue colour of the sapphire. The ring is a unique piece of jewellery, with a beautiful combination of colours and a timeless style.
The choice of a sapphire engagement ring for Princess Diana was a controversial one, as the ring was a stock piece worth $60,000, rather than a bespoke creation. However, she continued to love the ring and wore it even after her divorce from Prince Charles. The ring has a special significance for Prince William, who proposed to Kate Middleton with the ring for its symbolism and sentimentality.
For those inspired by the iconic design, there are options available to purchase similar rings. Ken & Dana Design offers a "Get the Look" service, with suggestions for similar rings, including their Isabella ring, which features a hidden halo and an oval diamond on a thin band.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton's wedding ring is a thin gold wedding band made of rare Welsh gold.
Yes, the gold used in Kate Middleton's wedding ring is available for sale for the first time in over 25 years. The gold is being sold in the form of three pure gold "Tyn-y-Cornel" coins from the Clogau-St. David’s Gold Mine in Bontddu, Wales.
Kate Middleton's engagement ring is a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold. The ring was previously worn by Princess Diana and was designed by the London jeweller Garrard.
