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Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring Fiercely Protected By Kate Middleton

By Stacey Cole
Published on: 05:55 PST, Jan 10, 2016

Princess Diana, the People’s Princess, left a legacy behind when she was tragically killed in a car accident in August 1997. This legacy lives on through her family and her charity work. Princess Diana’s descendants now include two grandchildren and a daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton. It seems Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is being protective of the most precious family heirloom they have of the late Princess Diana.

International Business Times reports that a new line of replica jewelry has been created, known as the “Princess Diana jewellery collection.” Although the famous sapphire engagement ring was expected to be part of the collection, it is nowhere to be seen.

News of the ban on the sale of the ring has spread across Twitter.

It is thought by royal sources that Middleton may have banned the sale of the replicas herself, since the ring has such an incredible significance to her and Prince William. A source from the palace says Middleton can hardly be blamed for the decision.

“I expect the feeling at Kensington Palace is that it’s rather naff to sell cheap copies of Diana’s engagement ring. One can hardly blame Kate for vetoing the idea of them selling a knock-off of the ring she wears every day.”

Prince William had chosen Princess Diana’s special ring as the engagement ring for Middleton because he wanted his mother to be part of his special day.

“[It was] my way of making sure my mother didn’t miss out on today.”

The famous blue sapphire ring, bought for £28,000, was personally chosen by Princess Diana out of a number of other rings. Leslie Field, a jewelry historian, said Princess Diana chose the ring simply because she liked it.

“She [Diana] had obviously already said she would like a sapphire; she had half a dozen rings [to select from] and she chose this one purely because she liked it. Somebody came up with the story that she immediately went for the biggest, but I asked her and she told me it definitely wasn’t the biggest, she simply thought it was very beautiful.”

Princess Diana’s legacy also lives on through her charity work. News Australia reported last month that Prince Harry visited Mildmay Hospital, which was made famous by his late mother. Once an HIV hospice, Princess Diana helped battle the stigma against HIV and AIDS by kissing an AIDS patient at the hospital. Fundraising director for Mildmay, Jerry Reeves-Kneip, said Diana’s visit came at such a critical time.

“She came at such an important time – around this area local barbers wouldn’t cut staff’s hair. She really did break down the stigma.”

Harry visited the hospital to help mark the grand opening of Mildmay, a new hospital grown out of the old, but still at the forefront of HIV/AIDS care. One 26-year-old patient, who was born with HIV, remembered sitting on Princess Diana’s lap when she was just 2-years-old. She told Prince Harry about the experience.

“I remember how your mother’s lap was comfortable and I cuddled into her.”

No doubt Princess Diana’s niece, Lady Kitty Spencer, also got to cuddle on her auntie’s lap. Brides reports that Lady Spencer was recently a bridesmaid for her friend’s wedding and she looks nearly as stunning as Princess Diana once did. In the photo posted on Instagram, Lady Spencer is the gal in the pale pink dress to the right of the bride.

Princess Diana’s memory, charity work, and family will live on in honor of her.

[Composite image containing photos by Julian Finney, WPA Pool/Getty Images]

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