The Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Engagement Jewels

It’s hard to believe, but an entire decade has passed since the wedding celebrations for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took place in London. This week, we’re looking back on some of the important jewelry moments from the royal wedding, starting off with the couple’s official royal engagement announcement.

On November 16, 2010, the long-awaited news came from Clarence House: the Prince of Wales announced that his elder son, Prince William, was engaged to his girlfriend, Catherine Middleton. Following a relationship of several years that began while the couple were students at the University of St. Andrews, William had proposed to Kate during an October 2010 holiday in Kenya, and she had accepted. The Queen commented that she was “absolutely delighted” with the news, and Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, shared that they were “delighted” and “thrilled” about the engagement. Media from around the world quickly gathered in London, where the couple would appear before reporters and photographers following the announcement.

At St. James’s Palace in London, William and Kate stepped in front of a phalanx of photographers for the first time as an engaged couple. “One or two flashes,” William joked as they were virtually blinded by the flashing lights of the press cameras. “Blimey!” In between the flashes, they answered a few press questions. Kate, after being asked about the proposal, called William “a true romantic.” She also shared that joining the royal family was a “daunting prospect,” but she hoped she’d be able to “take it in [her] stride” with William’s help. When asked why he waited so many years to pop the question, William wryly responded that he didn’t think the decision was a race, and that the “timing [was] right.” 

The couple posed for pictures below Alexander Glasgow’s grand state portrait of King William IV in his Garter robes, which was commissioned by Queen Victoria in the 1860s. The portrait added a bit of extra historical resonance to the moment, as one day the couple will reign as King William V and Queen Catherine.

One reporter quickly noted that Kate’s engagement ring was “a very special ring.” The iconic ring is the same one worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. When asked why he chose to use his late mother’s engagement ring to propose to Kate, William answered, “It’s very special to me, as Kate is very special to me now as well. It was only right that the two were put together. It was my way of making sure that my mother didn’t miss out on today, and the excitement, and the fact that we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.”

Another reporter, Camilla Tominey, took the mention of Diana’s ring as an opportunity to call back to William’s parents’ engagement announcement. Rather than asking if the two were in love, as had been done in 1981, Tominey asked what the couple loved about each other. “Where do we start?” William said as both he and Kate laughed. He added, “We obviously have a great fun time together,” crediting Kate with a great sense of humor. She noted that William had “looked after” her over the years, adding that he was “loving” and “very supportive” in both good and bad times.

Veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards was invited to take these close-up shots of the famous engagement ring. Made by Garrard, the ring had been chosen by Diana from a selection of rings after she accepted the Prince of Wales’s proposal in 1981. 

The ring, made of white gold, is set with a faceted oval Ceylon sapphire, which experts have estimated may measure between 9 and 12 carats. Fourteen round diamond brilliants surround the sapphire in a classic cluster design.

Here’s a view of the ring on Lady Diana Spencer’s hand during her engagement photocall in 1981. She wore the ring throughout her life. During their engagement interview later the same day, William noted that he’d carried the ring around nervously for several weeks before proposing. He explained once more that the “family ring” was chosen to honor his late mother. He said, “I thought it was quite nice, because obviously she’s not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all. This is my way of keeping her sort of close to it all.” Kate added that the ring was “beautiful” and “very, very special,” and said, “I just hope I look after it.” William joked, “If she loses it, she’s in big trouble!”  

The ring wasn’t the only sapphire that Kate wore for the couple’s official engagement announcement. She also wore a gold Tiffany necklace with a cabochon sapphire in a yellow gold bezel setting, flanked by two bezel-set diamonds.

She also wore matching yellow gold earrings with diamond studs and cabochon sapphire drops. Kate had previously worn the set as early as 2008.

The pictures and videos from the couple’s announcement and interview were splashed across newspapers and television channels around the world. Soon, wedding plans were announced. Stay tuned for more of our flashback coverage of this milestone royal anniversary tomorrow!