Kate Middleton's engagement ring is...

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

Diana's ring! An 18-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

Snippylynn

I was going to post about this!  I'm not sure I'd like that, tbh.  I understand the sentiment around it, but man.  That's a lot to live up to.  And it's not like Diana was happy married to Charles.

marriedfilingjointly

Lucky bitch. 

I'm surprised she got Di's ring.

sarah0725

Cripes! That's a lot to live up to.

Calypso1977

i dont get it.  its a pretty ring, but it belonged to someone whose marriage failed.  if diana were still married to charles at the time of her death, that would be a different story.

waltzingmatilda13

I think it's sweet. It's something that Prince William obviously holds very dear because we all know how much those boys loved their mother. So for him to give it to the woman he wants to marry, I think that says a lot about her.

salt78

PFFFFFT IT'S NOT A REAL ENGAGEMENT RING IF IT'S NOT A DIAMOND.

(I'm totally kidding...it's pretty. Though if I were her, I might feel a little weird about wearing it.)

Celles

It was his late mother's ring.  I think it's sweet.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_kate-middletons-engagement-ring?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:830d81f5-03cf-4dcf-b34a-598d8ef5b374Post:3b75829b-692f-4c7a-ba3d-b053eb9f34f1">Re: Kate Middleton's engagement ring is...</a>:
[QUOTE]i dont get it.  its a pretty ring, but it belonged to someone whose marriage failed.  if diana were still married to charles at the time of her death, that would be a different story.
Posted by Calypso1977[/QUOTE]

Well, my ring is vintage and it may very well have belonged to someone who ended up divorced or in an unhappy marriage. It doesn't mean the ring is cursed.

The way William explained it was that the ring meant a lot to him because it was his mother's. He'd better be 100% about this Kate girl, eh? <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" />

I also don't think most of the royals use diamond engagement rings. And I think it's nice that someone who could afford any ring in the world chose to go with something sentimental.

Snippylynn

In the bit of interview I watched, they asked and he said it's a way for him to bring his mother into their lives, and for her to be a part of all of this.  Which is very sweet but Di is such an icon.  I hope Kate doesn't think she's got to be like her.

Moneypenny424

That ring is fan-f*ing-tastic! 

I think it means more to Wills that it was his mother's, than as a symbol of the failed marriage.  I think Di also picked the ring, so that probably means something to him as well.

missy68

He gave her an heirloom that means a lot to him - that ring is 30 years old. His mother adored him and Harry, and I think I remember reading that she left it to him.

I think it's beautiful, and it's one of the reasons I got sapphires and diamonds for my ering and wedding band.

Meg1979

I know!  I saw that, too.  I hope they are much happier than his folks were.  It seems that they might have a chance.  I mean, they have been together off and on for 8 years.  Hopefully, there's a real bond there. 

Snippylynn

Interesting tidbit: Most of the royal crowns in the Tower are actually no longer set with stones, and many were set with paste stones or other cheap kinds when they were worn.  Or, they recycled or hired stones to fill the crown.  Tru fax.

MattsPenguin

My mom's ring was also a sapphire.  She and my father also divorced.  She has since given me thing, but flat out said that she didn't want it to be used as an engagement ring.

But it's pretty!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_kate-middletons-engagement-ring?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:830d81f5-03cf-4dcf-b34a-598d8ef5b374Post:c9c3e88d-5554-459f-803c-a354792bd6f7">Re: Kate Middleton's engagement ring is...</a>:
[QUOTE]Interesting tidbit: Most of the royal crowns in the Tower are actually no longer set with stones, and many were set with paste stones or other cheap kinds when they were worn.  Or, they recycled or hired stones to fill the crown.  Tru fax.
Posted by Snippylynn[/QUOTE]

Yeah, it seems like they have a few good stones and they just reset them. Like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koh-i-Noor">Koh-i-Noor</a> diamond.

crfische

Ok, the cuteness of all of this negates the fact that he's gotten uglier in time.

georgia_bride09

Harry's so much more doable looking than William.

MattsPenguin

I really think that his increase in "ugliness" is due to his hair.  And that's it.  Maybe he just needs to style it more or something (or figure out how to get plugs).

[Deleted User]

Eh, she's got a lot to live up to just being in her position, I think the ring is a nice gesture.  It's really pretty.  I wonder how many times she wonders to herself "how the crap did I end up here".. I had never read the story of her background before.   

Snippylynn

I read about her background and thought "Man, his ancestors would be rolling in their graves!" lol

But yeah, he's definitely not as cute.  Too bad he's losing his hair.

sarah0725

I've thought about this some more, and I think it's actually pretty powerfully symbolic, not of a failed marriage, but of looking back at Diana and also forward at the idea of marrying for love. I don't think Charles and Diana ever should have been married - it was the stupid British royal crap that made it happen. Didn't Charles want to be with Camilla all along? I feel bad with both of them. But instead of marrying some princess, William is marrying the woman he loves. I feel like Diana would have approved.

Or maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic.

Also, the fact that Di's ring was a sapphire slightly influenced the sapphire that is now on my hand.

Calypso1977

wills may be getting uglier, but he's still a hell of a lot more classy than harry. i take class over looks any day.

sep72fendr

i would bang him. :-) hair or no hair. he's one of the most powerful young leaders in the world and the heir to a powerful monarchy that has stood for centuries.

but i agree with georgia... harry over william any day in terms of bangability.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

See, I don't think the ring makes it that Kate has a lot to live up to. I think it was always going to be like that, regardless. This is the most high profile royal wedding since Charles and Diana.

But I think the queen learned her lessons about screwing up her kids' lives and is much more lenient with her grandchildren.

Moneypenny424

Wills HAS gotten uglier over time.  He really peaked when he was 16.

At least they don't have to worry that Wills will show up in a Nazi costume like his brother would.

amcmahon4020

I think it's sweet.

Creepy, but sweet.

She already knew just by dating Will that a lot would be expected of her. The pressure would be on no matter what the rock on her finger looked like.

Snippylynn

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_kate-middletons-engagement-ring?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:830d81f5-03cf-4dcf-b34a-598d8ef5b374Post:56b7f4e9-c863-42d7-a701-930e11a239c5">Re: Kate Middleton's engagement ring is...</a>:
[QUOTE]See, I don't think the ring makes it that Kate has a lot to live up to. I think it was always going to be like that, regardless. This is the most high profile royal wedding since Charles and Diana. <strong>But I think the queen learned her lessons about screwing up her kids' lives and is much more lenient with her grandchildren.</strong>
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]
Let's hope this is true!

ichellemay1

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_kate-middletons-engagement-ring?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:830d81f5-03cf-4dcf-b34a-598d8ef5b374Post:93bdc617-ef83-42e2-a244-e04e8406e431">Re: Kate Middleton's engagement ring is...</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Kate Middleton's engagement ring is... : Well, my ring is vintage and it may very well have belonged to someone who ended up divorced or in an unhappy marriage. It doesn't mean the ring is cursed. <strong>The way William explained it was that the ring meant a lot to him because it was his mother's.</strong> He'd better be 100% about this Kate girl, eh? I also don't think most of the royals use diamond engagement rings. And I think it's nice that someone who could afford any ring in the world chose to go with something sentimental.
Posted by msmerymac[/QUOTE]

I think this is what is most important.  From all outward appearances their relationship is MUCH different than his parents' relationship.  Kate is 8 years older than Diana was - not to mention she has what Diana went through as a reference (as sad as that may be).

Meg1979

Okay, I know I'm not the springiest, best looking or shapliest chicken out there, but does Kate Middleton look older than 28 to anyone else? 

kathrynhabibti

I think it's so sweet and a really touching reflection of his love for his mother.