It's well known that Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his mother's engagement ring from Prince Charles. And now it's being reported that Princess Diana's engagement ring actually caused some controversy with the royal family when she first got it.
According to The Daily Mail, the 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire was unpopular with the royals for a particular reason. Even though the ring featured a white gold band and 14 solitaire diamonds, the ring was not exclusive to Diana, and it wasn't bespoke either. According to the publication, as the 'crown jeweller Garrard featured the piece in its catalogue,' the ring was available for anyone to buy, if they had a spare £47,000 lying around anyway. As a 'commoner' could technically buy the very same ring, this was allegedly looked down upon by members of the royal family.
According to multiple reports, Princess Diana apparently selected the ring herself, making it all the more special now that the Duchess of Cambridge has been given it. But at the time, the ring didn't hold the significance it does since Diana tragically passed away in 1997.
Amy Mackelden is a freelance writer, editor, and disability activist. Her bylines include Harper's BAZAAR, Nicki Swift, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, ELLE, The Independent, Bustle, Healthline, and HelloGiggles. She co-edited The Emma Press Anthology of Illness, and previously spent all of her money on Kylie Cosmetics.
