While it's common knowledge among royal fans that Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton (opens in new tab) with his late mother, Princess Diana's, engagement right, it might surprise some to learn that Will wasn't the person who inherited the iconic ring.
Prince Harry actually inherited Diana's engagement ring when she died in 1997, but "selflessly" offered it to his brother for his engagement to Kate, Diana's former butler Paul Burrell (opens in new tab) explains in a new documentary.
"Harry said to him: 'Wouldn’t it be fitting if she had mummy’s ring?'" Burrell says in the documentary.
When Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton (opens in new tab), he did so with a truly iconic piece of royal jewelry: The same sapphire engagement ring (opens in new tab) that had belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana (opens in new tab). This is common knowledge among royal fans. What's less common knowledge? Apparently, Diana's ring (opens in new tab) wasn't actually Will's to give.
According to a new report from The Sun (opens in new tab), Will's younger brother, Prince Harry (opens in new tab), was actually the person who inherited the iconic ring. Apparently, when Diana died in 1997 (opens in new tab), Harry was allowed to select his favorite piece from their mom's jewelry collection—and he selected the sapphire engagement ring.
In the Amazon Prime documentary The Diana Story (opens in new tab), Diana's former butler Paul Burrell explained that even though the ring officially belonged to Harry, the young royal selflessly offered it to Will when he was preparing to propose to Kate—even though it meant he wouldn't be able to give the ring to his own future wife, Meghan Markle.
"Harry said to him: 'Wouldn’t it be fitting if she had mummy’s ring?'" Burrell explains in the documentary. "Then one day that ring will be sat on the throne of England. Harry gave up his precious treasure. His one thing he kept from his mother, he gave to his brother. That’s selfless, kind and exactly who Diana was."
No, you're crying.
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(Image credit: Mirrorpix)
August 9, 1997
Princess Diana visited Bosnia to raise awareness of the landmines in 1997. The royal wore her Cartier watch (opens in new tab)and Tod's loafers (opens in new tab).
(Image credit: Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library)
May 22, 1997
Princess Diana visited The Shaukat Memorial Hospital in Pakistan. She wore a traditional blue ensemble and carried a handbag from Tod's (opens in new tab), which is named after her.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
April 21, 1997
Princess Diana wore a Chanel tweed suit set (opens in new tab) and carried a handbag designed by Lana Marks (opens in new tab) while visiting the British Lung Foundation.
(Image credit: Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library)
January 13, 1997
For a visit to the Luanda airport, Princess Di wore Superga sneakers (opens in new tab).
(Image credit: Mitchell Gerber)
January 1, 1997
Princess Diana spotted in NYC wore a foam green skirt suit and carried a white Chanel bag (opens in new tab).
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
September 12, 1996
Princess Diana stunned in a white Versace mini dress (opens in new tab) while attending a concert in Italy.
(Image credit: New York Daily News)
May 1996
Princess Diana wore a John Galliano (opens in new tab) slip dress to the Met Gala.
Princess Di was spotted leaving the Chelsea Harbour Club in a Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt (opens in new tab), orange biker shorts, and Reebok socks (opens in new tab).
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
June 5, 1996
The royal wore a purple Versace (opens in new tab) dress and Jimmy Choo pumps (opens in new tab) while attending a gala dinner in Chicago.
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
June 29, 1994
Princess Diana arrived at the Serpentine Gallery in London. She opted for an off-the-shoulder dress by Christina Stambolian. (You can shop a similar one here (opens in new tab).)
Princess Diana and Prince William attended the christening of her niece in Sandringham in a houndstooth ensemble and Chanel (opens in new tab) slingbacks.
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
May 1, 1990
Princess Diana donned a Catherine Walker suit (opens in new tab) with a Philip Somerville hat to visit Heroes' Square in Budapest.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
April 11, 1990
The royal enjoyed a beach holiday in Necker with her sons. She chose an animal print one-piece swimsuit and wore a pair of Ray-Ban (opens in new tab) sunglasses.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
July 27,1989
Princess Diana attended the performance of Swan Lake in London. She wore a Catherine Walker (opens in new tab) gown.
(Image credit: Anwar Hussein)
June 1989
Princess Diana and Prince Harry were spotted leaving nursery school. Lady Di wore a pink buttoned dress and accessorized with a Cartier (opens in new tab) watch.
(Image credit: Georges De Keerle)
March 17, 1989
Princess Diana visited Dubai during her official tour of the Gulf States. Lady Di wore Catherine Walker (opens in new tab) ensemble and a Philip Somerville hat.
(Image credit: Georges De Keerle)
March 15, 1989
The princess wore a pink and red color block Catherine Walker (opens in new tab) dress and a Philip Somerville hat during her official tour of the Gulf States.
(Image credit: Georges De Keerle)
November 9, 1988
Princess Diana wore Catherine Walker (opens in new tab) white ensemble in Chambord, France during her official visit to the country.
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
June 23, 1988
Princess Diana visited the Royal Hampshire Regiment. She was seen wearing a jumpsuit and a pair of pink Converse sneakers (opens in new tab).
(Image credit: Georges De Keerle)
June 10, 1988
Princess Diana stepped out to play tennis at the Vanderbilt Raquet Club in London. She wore Reebok sneakers (opens in new tab) and carried a Wilson racket (opens in new tab).
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
July 18, 1986
Princess Diana, seen on the steps of her home in Highgrove, Gloucestershire. She wore gingham trousers, pink sweater, and white boat shoes (shop similar (opens in new tab)).
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
November 3, 1985
The royal attended a polo match in Australia. She choose a striped shirt dress and accessorized with a D initial necklace and a Patek Philippe (opens in new tab) gold watch.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
September 1985
Princess Diana visited Raf Wittering. She opted for a Catherine Walker (opens in new tab) coat dress.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
July 1985
Princess Diana wore green Barbour (opens in new tab) coat during a tour of the Western Isles.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
June 30, 1985
Princess Diana attended a polo match while wearing a white sailor top, floral skirt, and a Patek Philippe (opens in new tab) watch.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
May 4, 1985
Princess Diana wore a Bruce Oldfield dress during a visit to Venice. (Shop a similar blue strong shoulder dress (opens in new tab).)
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
April 1, 1985
Princess Diana visited Livorno while wearing a Jasper Conran (opens in new tab) suit ensemble and tie.
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
February 1985
The royal wore a beige Caroline Charles (opens in new tab) coat during a visit to Derby.
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
July 29, 1983
Princess Diana attended a polo match in West Sussex while wearing seersucker trousers, a white top, and acetate aviator sunglasses (shop similar (opens in new tab)).
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
July 24, 1983
Princess Diana attended a polo match in Windsor. She was seen wearing a polka dot dress (shop similar (opens in new tab)), a coin necklace, and two watches. She was known for wearing two watches during matches to bring Prince Charles luck.
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
June 1983
Princess Diana opted for a Muir & Osborne (opens in new tab) black sheep sweater for a polo match.
(Image credit: Princess Diana Archive)
March 1983
During an official tour to Australia, Princess Diana wore a pink polka dot dress by Donald Campbell (shop similar (opens in new tab)) and a matching hat by John Boyd.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
April 1983
Princess Diana wore a green spotted dress and a Patek Philippe (opens in new tab) watch for a visit to Auckland, New Zealand.
(Image credit: Tim Graham)
May 6, 1981
The royal couple were photographed together at the Balmoral Estate in Scotland. Lady Di wore a colorful alpaca sweater, corduroy trousers, and Hunter (opens in new tab) rain boots.
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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