Prince Harry Gave Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring to Prince William for a Sweet Reason

After Princess Diana’s death in 1997, mourning Princes William and Harry stopped by Kensington Palace, where her former butler, Paul Burrell, was putting away the late royal’s possessions.

While locking away her cherished jewelry among other items, Burrell revealed in 2017 Amazon documentary The Diana Story (via the Express UK) that he had suggested: “‘Take something which belonged to her that you can keep safe. What do you want William?’”

At age 14, the eldest son requested his mother’s Cartier watch. “‘The one that Grandpa Spencer gave to her for her 21st birthday,”’ William supposedly noted at the time.

Prince William Kate Middleton
Prince William Kate Middleton

Prince William And Kate Middleton, During A Photocall In The State Apartments Of St James’S Palace, London To Mark Their Engagement. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Prince Harry had one specific request. “I remember when I held mummy’s hand when I was a small boy and that ring always hurt me because it was so big,” Harry, who was 12 at the time, said to Burrell.

“‘Do you mean her engagement ring?’” Burrell asked. “So I went to the safe and gave Harry Diana’s engagement ring.”

The jewel is an oval blue sapphire ring featuring a halo of 14 solitaire white diamonds, all set on 18-karat white gold.

Burrell explained how the ring landed in William’s possession and was eventually the ring used to propose to Kate Middleton. When Prince William told his younger brother his plans to propose, Harry replied: “’Wouldn’t it be fitting if she had mummy’s ring? Then one day that ring will be sat on the throne of England.’”

Kate Middleton wedding ring gold
Kate Middleton wedding ring gold

(Shutterstock.com)

Burrell added, “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.”

Prince Harry ultimately proposed with a three-stone engagement ring for his wife, Meghan Markle. The center stone, of course, belonged to his late mother too.

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