Kate Middleton was seen without her signature engagement ring during a visit to The Royal Marsden hospital on Tuesday, where she had previously received cancer treatment.
The 43-year-old royal, who braved the January chill in a checked coat and burgundy two-piece, was noticed by fans who observed that her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring was absent from her finger.
Instead, she wore the sparkling eternity band she debuted last summer, along with her gold wedding ring.
It remains unclear whether Kate wore her engagement ring on Christmas Day, as she was wearing gloves, but it was visible at the carol service. Given that her visit to the hospital focused on health matters, it’s likely that the removal of her engagement ring was due to health and safety concerns.
The ring, which originally belonged to Prince William’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, features a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds.
This isn’t the first time Kate has removed her engagement ring for a hospital visit. In 2020, during a visit to Evelina children’s hospital, she wore only her wedding band. She also followed the same practice two years earlier at Great Ormond Street when meeting young patients.
At the time, Kensington Palace explained that Kate had removed her jewelry for hygiene reasons, as she was visiting children’s wards where the removal of accessories was important to avoid potential contamination.
