Kate Middleton has long been admired for her thoughtful style, but at the late Duchess of Kent’s funeral last week, she turned her jewelry into a deeply personal tribute. The Princess of Wales stacked five meaningful rings on her engagement finger, each representing a different chapter of her and Prince William’s life together — a quiet but powerful message as her husband openly reflected on what he called “the hardest year” of his life.
Kate Middleton’s Jewelry Tells a Love Story
At the heart of Kate’s stack was the ring everyone recognizes — her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which once belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. Right next to it was her simple Welsh gold wedding band, a sentimental nod to their 2011 wedding day, according to Express UK.
Kate also wore her diamond eternity ring, which was gifted to her by William after the birth of their first child, Prince George. The piece celebrates the beginning of their family, later completed with the arrival of Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
More recently, William gave Kate a sapphire and diamond eternity band following her chemotherapy last year — a symbol of resilience and renewal after her health battle. Perhaps the most touching was her reappearance of a pearl and garnet promise ring from their university days at St Andrews, representing their early love and the couple’s birthstones.
Together, the five rings are a timeline of their relationship: young love, marriage, motherhood, struggle, and survival.
Prince William Admits to the Hardest Year
Kate’s subtle tribute comes as William himself acknowledged how difficult the past year has been. In a preview clip from “The Reluctant Traveler” on Apple TV+, the Prince of Wales told host Eugene Levy that 2024 was “the hardest year I’ve ever had.”
“You know, life is sent to test us as well, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are,” William said during a pub conversation filmed for the episode.
His wife, Princess Kate, 43, announced in 2024 that she had been diagnosed with cancer, calling it “incredibly tough for us as a family.” She shared in January 2025 that she is now in remission.
Earlier that same year, King Charles III, 76, also revealed his own cancer diagnosis and has been receiving outpatient treatment.
The episode of “The Reluctant Traveler” featuring Prince William is available to stream on October 3 on Apple TV+.
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