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Princess Diana, one of the most beloved members of the British royal family, was known for her charm, compassion, and the controversies surrounding her marriage to Prince Charles. Even before marrying Charles, she broke a royal tradition with her engagement ring.
Diana’s 12-carat sapphire ring often made headlines. Unlike most royal engagement rings, which are custom-made, she personally chose hers from a catalog. Interestingly, the design resembled a brooch that Prince Albert had commissioned for Queen Victoria.
Prince Charles proposed to Diana on February 24, 1981, just five months after they began dating. They married on July 29, 1981, in a ceremony that became one of the most iconic events in history. Diana’s wedding dress remains one of the royal family’s most treasured pieces and is rarely displayed to the public.
Their marriage, however, was troubled and controversial. Within months of their wedding, Charles admitted to having an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. The couple, who had two sons together, divorced in 1996. Diana tragically died a year later in a car crash in Paris.
Diana kept her sapphire ring until her death. Years later, her eldest son, Prince William, used the same ring when proposing to Kate Middleton. Like Diana, Kate also wore a blue outfit when announcing her engagement, proudly displaying the iconic sapphire on her finger.