Kate Middleton wearing a pearl and garnet promise ring from Prince William in a video message.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, recently made a touching gesture by wearing a meaningful piece of jewelry during a surprise video message alongside her husband, Prince William.
The royal couple, both 42, showed their support for Team Great Britain in the closing moments of the 2024 Olympics with a special video released on August 11.
While much of the attention focused on Prince William’s rare appearance with a beard, keen-eyed royal watchers noticed something even more significant – Kate’s rarely-seen promise ring, gifted by William during their dating days.
The ring, a pearl and garnet piece set in rose gold, has a deep history in the couple’s relationship. It dates back to the early 2000s when Kate and William were still students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
According to reports, William gave Kate the ring as a symbol of his love and commitment while they were still dating. The garnet represents Kate’s January birthday, and the pearl symbolizes William’s June birthday. The ring is said to symbolize “commitment and fidelity as well as a pledge for lifelong love and loyalty.”
This isn’t the first time Kate has worn the sentimental ring in public. She was first seen with the ring in June 2005, when she wore it during her graduation from St. Andrews, where she earned a degree in art history. Since then, the ring has made only a few public appearances.
Notably, in 2013, Kate wore the ring during a visit to Hope House, where she paired it with a Max Mara gray wrap dress. That same year, she wore it again at the Great Tower Scout Camp.
Despite its rarity, the ring holds a cherished place in Kate’s jewelry collection, which is filled with valuable pieces, including the famous sapphire and diamond engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.
The promise ring stands out not just for its sentimental value, but also because it predates the more famous engagement ring. The engagement ring, given to Kate when William proposed in 2010, has become one of the most recognized pieces of jewelry in the world.
However, the promise ring is a quieter symbol of the couple’s early commitment to each other, long before they became one of the world’s most famous couples.
The couple’s relationship began in 2001 when they were both first-year students at St. Andrews. Their friendship quickly grew into a romance, and despite a brief split in 2007, they reunited and eventually got engaged three years later.
They married on April 29, 2011, in a grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey, which was watched by millions around the world. This year, they celebrated their thirteenth wedding anniversary.
Royal jewelry experts have commented on the unique significance of the promise ring. An expert from Steven Stone described the ring as “priceless” due to its sentimental value, despite being part of a very high-value collection.
According to Tatler, the garnet stones in the ring are traditionally associated with commitment, while pearls are symbols of innocence and purity. These meanings make the ring an especially poignant reminder of the early days of Kate and William’s relationship.
The appearance of the ring in the recent video is a subtle but powerful nod to the couple’s enduring love and history together. As the Princess of Wales continues to play a significant role in royal duties and public engagements, moments like these provide a glimpse into the personal life and meaningful symbols that the royal family holds dear.
