Kate Middleton and Prince William engagement anniversary – how much is Diana’s ring worth?

Yesterday marked the eight year anniversary of the day it is believed Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton.

William got down on one knee at Rutundu Cabin at the foot of Mount Kenya.

The romantic Prince proposed with a very special ring, one that belonged to his mother Princess Diana.

When the late Diana and Prince Charles, 69, became engaged the future Princess of Wales picked the Garrad’s ring from a catalogue.

It was a huge sapphire stone ringed with ten sparkling diamonds, and was groundbreaking at the time.

While royal engagement rings were typically designed in a bespoke fashion by a royal jewellery, choosing a ring from a catalogue was unprecedented.

Prince Harry, 33, and William reportedly agreed that whoever became engaged first would use the ring.

It happened to be that Prince William was the first to become engaged, so the stunning ring was given to the heir to the throne’s University girlfriend.

So, how much is Kate Middleton’s ring worth?

When it was first purchased in 1981 the jewel cost £28,500, which is around £100,252.37 in today’s money.

However, according to experts the ring is worth far more than that today.

The ring has been valued at £300,000 by experts.

Princess Diana stopped wearing the ring after her split with Prince Charles, but she replaced it with another stunning ring. 

She replaced the ring with an aquamarine and diamond ring, which Meghan Markle wore to her wedding reception in May.

Grant Mobley, a gemologist and Director at Pluczenik, one of the world’s leading diamantaires said: “A beautiful ring that Princess Diana was seen wearing on her ring finger after her divorce from Prince Charles was an emerald cut, aquamarine and diamond ring.

“The Princess was very fond of a pearl and diamond bracelet featuring a large emerald cut aquamarine that she was given in her early years as a princess and, after her divorce, she commissioned this matching ring to be made.”

Kate Middleton recently hosted a surprise event for inspirational teens in £2,095 outfit.

The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Margot Dress, £150, Whistles – a pretty brown and white spotty number.

She paired her high street buy with a pair of £1495 earrings by Cassandra Goad, and suede pumps, £450, by luxury Italian shoemaker Gianvito Rossi.

How did Kate Middleton become a royal?

Early life

Kate Middleton, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.

She was born to Michael and Carole Middleton, a former flight dispatcher and air hostess. The couple founded a party supplies company, Party Pieces, in 1987 – now estimated to be worth £30 million.

Kate has a younger sister Pippa Matthews, 34, and a younger brother James Middleton, 31.

Education

Kate and her family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where the future Duchess was educated at an English-speaking nursery school.

After moving back to Berkshire the family sent Kate to private school, St Andrews School. She went on to briefly study at Downe House before moving onto Marlborough College where she boarded.

For university the young Kate attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Here she was awarded an undergraduate MA (2:1 Hons) in history of art.

Relationship with Prince William

Kate met Prince William when they were both studying at St Andrews, and both living in St Salvator’s Hall. Famously, William reportedly took a fancy to Kate after she wore a see-through dress during a fashion show.

In 2003 the couple began dating and lived together during their second year of university.

The couple split in April 2007, however, in October they were back together.

Wedding

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother Princess Diana’s engagement ring in October 2010. The couple were holidaying in Kenya at the time.

On 29 April 2011 they married at Westminster Abbey with a whopping 26 million watching the event live.

Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress worth a reported £250,000 on the big day.

Kate assumed the title “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge” and also become the Duchess of Cambridge on the day.