Princess Kate made a striking jewellery statement at Wimbledon on Saturday, wearing four meaningful rings together in an unprecedented combination.
For the first time, Kate paired her famous 12-carat Ceylon sapphire engagement ring with a newer eternity band that she has been sporting over the past year.
The Princess attended the ladies' singles final wearing her gold wedding band, the oval sapphire and diamond engagement ring that Prince William inherited from Princess Diana, and two eternity rings stacked together.
This marked a departure from her recent practice of wearing either the engagement ring or the newer eternity band separately.
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The four-ring combination carries deep personal significance. Kate's collection includes her Welsh gold wedding band, followed by the sapphire and diamond engagement ring that belonged to her late mother-in-law.
The third piece is believed to be a diamond eternity ring that Prince William gifted to Kate following Prince George's birth in 2013.
The newest addition is thought to be Cartier's Étincelle de Cartier wedding band, featuring 19 brilliant-cut diamonds and 19 brilliant-cut sapphires set in platinum, valued at £4,700.
Kate first debuted this latest ring in a video congratulating Team Great Britain during last summer's Paris Olympics. She has since worn it on several significant occasions, including in the video announcing the completion of her chemotherapy treatment.
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|Princess Kate wore her eternity ring beside her engagement ring.
The ring stacking trend is gaining momentum, particularly among new brides. "We're increasingly seeing clients choose to style their eternity ring stacked with their engagement ring and wedding band, or wear it alone for a more relaxed look," Eliza Walter, founder of Lylie Jewellery, told Vogue.
Many opt for just their wedding band and eternity ring combination during warmer months, creating an effortless yet meaningful look.
Jeweller Rachel Boston explained the deeper symbolism: "Eternity rings are a timeless symbol, a circle of precious metal traditionally set with stones all the way around, representing an unbroken bond and infinite commitment."
"The continuous line of diamonds or gemstones is a reminder that, like the ring itself, true love has no beginning or end," she added.
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|Princess Kate chose to stack her jewels on her ring finger.
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|Princess Kate made a bold statement at the ladies' singles final of Wimbledon.
Kate's choice to combine all four rings suggests the stacking trend will continue to influence royal jewellery choices.
Princess Charlotte also made a special jewellery statement at Sunday's Gentlemen's Singles Final, sporting a Pandora charm bracelet with meaningful pendants. Among the dainty charms was Nala from Disney's The Lion King.
Prince William revealed in 2017 that Prince George "quite likes The Lion King," adding: "We've watched that a few times."
The 10-year-old princess, who attended alongside her parents and brother, also debuted her first manicure at the championship.