Kate Middleton and Prince William knew each other for ten years before they tied the knot. The Duchess of Cambridge was gifted a sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to Prince William’s mother, Princess Diana. However, an expert revealed why the ring could actually have been for Meghan Markle, 38.

The jewel is set in white gold and has a central 12-carat oval sapphire which is surrounded by diamonds.

Since getting engaged, Kate has not been spotted without the jewel but the royal might not have been given the ring at all if it wasn’t for a touching act by Prince Harry.

Following the death of Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry each picked a piece from their mother’s collection, an expert revealed.

Speaking in the 2017 Amazon Prime documentary, “The Diana Story”, former servant of the royal household, Paul Burrell, explained Prince William chose Diana’s Cartier watch.

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Prince Harry reportedly requested Prince Diana’s engagement ring and held it until Prince William proposed to Kate.

While discussing Prince William’s plans to propose, Paul explained: “Harry said to him, ‘Wouldn’t it be fitting if she had Mummy’s ring?’

“Then one day that ring will be sat on the throne of England. 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.”

“In this way he created a new jewel with a beautiful sense of history.

“The trilogy ring, otherwise known as a three stone ring, is designed to be classic, timeless and symbolic of the past, present and future within an engagement ring.

“By incorporating something from his mother, Harry not only captured part of his past to celebrate his present but also to pass part of his history to the future.”

How did Kate Middleton become a royal?

Early life

Kate Middleton, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.

She was born to Michael and Carole Middleton, a former flight dispatcher and air hostess. The couple founded a party supplies company, Party Pieces, in 1987 – now estimated to be worth £30 million.

Kate has a younger sister Pippa Matthews, 34, and a younger brother James Middleton, 31.

Education

Kate and her family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where the future Duchess was educated at an English-speaking nursery school.

After moving back to Berkshire the family sent Kate to private school, St Andrews School. She went on to briefly study at Downe House before moving onto Marlborough College where she boarded.

For university the young Kate attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Here she was awarded an undergraduate MA (2:1 Hons) in history of art.

Relationship with Prince William

Kate met Prince William when they were both studying at St Andrews, and both living in St Salvator’s Hall. Famously, William reportedly took a fancy to Kate after she wore a see-through dress during a fashion show.

In 2003 the couple began dating and lived together during their second year of university.

The couple split in April 2007, however, in October they were back together.

Wedding

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother Princess Diana’s engagement ring in October 2010. The couple were holidaying in Kenya at the time.

On 29 April 2011 they married at Westminster Abbey with a whopping 26 million watching the event live.

Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress worth a reported £250,000 on the big day.

Kate assumed the title “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge” and also become the Duchess of Cambridge on the day.