Why Kate Middleton Left Her Engagement Ring At Home For A Hospital Visit

While visiting Evelina London Children’s Hospital today, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, left her iconic engagement ring back at home.

Although Kate still donned her gold wedding band, the sentimental piece of jewellery (which was formerly Princess Diana’s engagement ring) was noticeably absent. Her white gold diamond eternity band was also missing.

Apparently, Kate was simply following the rules. The Evelina London Children’s Hospital asks that guests wear minimal jewellery, especially since they would be thoroughly washing their hands before embarking on the tour or entering the treatment centers, according to People.

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This isn’t the first time that the duchess left her iconic ring at home. During the 2018 opening of the Great Ormond Street Hospital’s Mittal Children’s Medical Centre, she forwent wearing the sapphire gem.

Princess Diana personally chose the piece of jewellery for her own engagement to Prince Charles. At the time, the 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire was an unpopular choice for the royal family since it wasn’t made specially for her. Because the ring was available for anyone (with $60,000 to spare) to purchase, it wasn’t exactly an exclusive royal accessory.

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Since then, however, the ring has become one of the duchess’s most memorable items in her jewellery collection.

“It’s beautiful—I hope I look after it,” Kate said during her and Prince William’s official engagement interview. “It’s very special.”

This article originally appeared on Harper's Bazaar US.

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