Kate Middleton and Prince William married 11 years ago at Westminster Abbey in London, England. The wedding featured hundreds of guests, and as the couple rode through the streets of London in a carriage following the ceremony, thousands of people waved and congratulated them.
Kate and William’s wedding was special in several respects. Not only did the future King marry, but he was Diana’s first son to do so. He proposed with Diana’s old engagement ring when the pair was on holiday in Kenya.
It wasn’t long before Kate Middleton altered the ring in private. But it remains as gorgeous as before.
Kate and William were great pals from the start. However, as the years at university passed, the situation became increasingly serious.
Kate & Prince William’s love story – how did they meet?
According to reports, the two began dating after meeting at a student fashion show. Kate drew William’s eye with a transparent gown that cost around $40, according to Insider.
They soon fell completely in love. Even though Kate’s clothing was out of the usual for him, William remarked that everything changed the moment they started hanging out.
“We were friends for over a year first and it just sort of blossomed from then on,” William told The Telegraph. “We just spent more time with each other and had a good giggle, and realized we shared the same interests.”
William and Kate spent a significant amount of time together in university, getting to know each other. In 2005, both of them graduated. Kate Middleton has a degree in art history, and William in geography.
By this point, things had become serious. William and Kate had both publicly proclaimed their relationship, and by the time they graduated, they had been living together for quite some time.
Kate and William’s relationship improved after their breakup. They became a beloved couple and highly popular with the people. In 2010, the couple made their next move.
During a holiday in Kenya, William proposed – Source: Shutterstock
Romantic proposal in Kenya
“We had a little private time away together with some friends and I just decided that it was the right time really. We had been talking about marriage for a while so it wasn’t a massively big surprise. I took her up somewhere nice in Kenya and I proposed,” William recalled.
He added, “I’d been planning it for a while but as every guy out there will know it takes a certain amount of motivation to get yourself going.”
“So I was planning it and then it just felt really right out in Africa. It was beautiful at the time. I just … I had done a little bit of planning to show my romantic side.”
“It was very romantic, Kate said, laughing. “There’s a true romantic in there.”
She didn’t expect it since they were out with pals. Kate Middleton had considered the possibility that William would propose. However, it came as a “total shock.”
William had carried the ring around in a bag for three weeks and never let it go – Source: Youtube/OnDemandNews
Kate Middleton engagement ring – all you need to know
“Everywhere I went I was keeping hold of it because I knew this thing, if it disappeared I would be in a lot of trouble and because I’d planned it, it went fine,” he said. “You hear a lot of horror stories about proposing and things going horribly wrong – it went really, really well and I was really pleased she said yes.”
Of course, the ring was extraordinary and appropriate for a future Queen Consort. The ring belonged to his mother, Princess Diana.
“So I thought it was quite nice because obviously she’s not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all – this was my way of keeping her sort of close to it all.”
“I’m not an expert on [rings] at all. I’ve been reliably informed it’s a sapphire with some diamonds. I’m sure everyone recognizes it from previous times.”
Source: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Princess Diana’s engagement ring looked lovely on Kate Middleton. The major highlight is a faceted oval Ceylon sapphire weighing between 9 and 12 carats, according to The Court Jeweller’s estimates. It is surrounded by 14 round diamonds and held together by a white gold ring.
Diana wore it before Kate Middleton
Diana received the ring after Prince Charles proposed to her in 1981. Charles gave her with a large assortment of rings, from which she could chose. According to The Court Jeweler, it cost approximately $35,000.
However, because it is Diana’s old ring and now Kate Middleton’s, it is estimated to be worth more over $500,000.
According to Vogue, the inspiration for the design came from a large sapphire brooch given to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert. Victoria wore the brooch on their wedding. Queen Elizabeth currently holds the brooch that inspired Kate’s ring.
“It was said to be a strong influence on Prince Charles when he came to Garrard to purchase a ring for Lady Diana,” Garrard creative director Sara Prentice told Vogue.
“He actually ended up setting a sapphire cluster ring for her, which was later given by Prince William to the Duchess of Cambridge on their engagement. I would imagine growing up being surrounded by your mother and your grandmother [with] such beautiful, incredible jewelry…it would stick with you.”
Source: Shutterstock/mark reinstein
So, why did Prince William receive the engagement ring, but not Prince Harry? When Diana died in 1997, the two brothers were given the opportunity to choose various artifacts from their mother, and William chose the ring, according to accounts. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
“After Diana died, the boys both chose a keepsake from Kensington Palace when they moved to Charles’ rooms in St James’s Palace,” a source reportedly told the Daily Star.
“Harry gave up his precious treasure”
“Prince William picked his mum’s Cartier watch, and Harry picked her sapphire and diamond engagement ring. But they had an agreement that whoever got engaged first would have Diana’s ring – and of course, that was William and Kate.”
In the Amazon Prime documentary The Diana Story, Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell confirmed that the boys had the opportunity to remove one personal item from their late mother after she died.
Paul remembered William saying: “I’d like mummy’s Cartier watch, the one that Grandpa Spencer gave to her for her 21st birthday,” and Prince Harry wanted to keep the engagement ring.
In truth, Harry gave the ring to William because he thought it was fitting.
“Harry said to him: ‘Wouldn’t it be fitting if she had mummy’s ring?’ Paul recalled. “Then, one day, that ring will be sat on the throne of England. Harry gave up his precious treasure.”
Paul continued, “the one thing he kept from his mother, he gave to his brother. That’s selfless, kind, and exactly who Diana was.”
“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,” he recalled Harry saying – Source: Shutterstock
Kate Middleton – changes and alterations to engagement ring
William and Kate Middleton married on April 29, 2011, in London’s Westminster Abbey.
They have been married for more than 11 years and have three beautiful children: George (born in 2013), Charlotte (2015), and Louis (2018).
Kate Middleton has proudly worn her engagement ring throughout the years. However, it appears that she made alterations to it in secret.
It was reported that Kate Middleton changed the ring before their wedding. She thought the band was a touch too big because it was “turning on her finger.” She was then reported to have brought the ring to royal jewelers G Collins and Sons, who adjusted it so it fit better.
However, Kate and the royal jeweler did not follow the customary procedure. Instead of adjusting the band, it was claimed that tiny platinum beads were placed to the bottom of the ring to improve fit.
“A bride’s worst nightmare is looking down and seeing her ring has fallen off,” the source said. “One can only imagine how this is magnified when you are marrying the future King of England.”
A source told The Sun at the time that Kate “adores” the ring but found it had been too big – Source: Adam Pretty/Getty Images
Kate & William’s parenting techniques
Previously, the public gained some insight into the family’s private life. For example, William and Kate have distinct rules at home for their children. Also, it turns out that the future King has a clever way to get George and his brothers ready for bed.
It can be difficult to get your children ready for bed. However, it turns out that Prince William employs a great and endearing trick.
“We started watching one of [David Attenborough’s] newest documentaries. It’s amazing at bedtime when I can crowd the children, just shouting ‘we’re going to watch one of David’s documentaries’ and they come herding in,” William told BBC Radio 4.
“It’s the easiest way to catch my children and get them ready for bedtime.”
However, viewing documentaries narrated by Attenborough is not always enjoyable. William recalled that George refused to continue watching because it made him unhappy.
“The most recent one — the extinction one — actually George and I had to turn it off,” he explained. “We got so sad about halfway through. He said to me, ‘You know I don’t want to watch this anymore.’”
Source: Shutterstock
“You know, he’s seven years old and he’s asking me these questions already, he really feels it. And I think every seven-year-old out there can relate to that,” William added.
Limited screen time for their children
The royal children have rigid bedtimes, but that’s not all. Prince William and Kate have been sure to minimize their screen time.
In 2018, William discussed limiting his children’s screen usage, stating that balancing it is difficult.
“We’re going to have that discussion with our family. How on earth are we going to police and have family time when the phones are all put down, and you’re offline,” he explained. “Because we’re all so connected now that we’ve got to say, ‘right, for instance, we’re eating now.’”
“This generation is going to be the first generation to grow up fully immersed in mobile phones, social media, lots of stuff,” he said.
“And yet our generation, the older generation, the parent generation, we’re completely left at, ‘how do we deal with this? Where do we go to? Where do you learn about how to look after your children’s digital world?’”
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Joe Biden addressed the nation from Camp David, the presidential retreat in Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland on Wednesday evening following a terrorist attack that left at least 15 people dead in New Orleans.
At least 15 people were killed, 35 injured after a terrorist identified as 42-year-old Shamsud Din Jabbar plowed through a crowd in New Orleans during the New Year’s Eve celebration.
Earlier Wednesday Joe Biden stopped to chat with reporters as he departed Wilmington, Delaware for Camp David on Wednesday for another vacation.
He provided an absolutely worthless statement on the terrorist attack
“You all got my statement. I’ll have more to say in next hour about what’s going on in New Orleans…I’ve spoken to every member of the agencies, from CIA to national security team to FBI and NSC…anger and frustration,” Biden said.
President Joe Biden will formally announce recipients of the Presidential Thursday at 5 PM, and one name on the list is sure to raise eyebrows: Liz Cheney. The former Republican member of Congress — and vocal critic of President-elect Donald Trump — is among the 20 names in a statement released early Thursday morning.
The Presidential Citizens Medal is awarded to citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens. President Biden believes these Americans are bonded by their common decency and commitment to serving others. The country is better because of their dedication and sacrifice…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
The White House statement lauds Cheney: “Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.”
The awards will be presented at the White House on January 2, 2025. The following individuals will be awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal:
Mary L. Bonauto — Attorney and activist Mary Bonauto first fought to legalize same-sex marriage in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine before arguing before the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established marriage equality as the law of the land. Her efforts made millions of families whole and forged a more perfect Union.
Bill Bradley — Raised in small-town Missouri, Bill Bradley showed a dedication to basketball that would define his courage, discipline, and selflessness. A two-time NBA Champion and Hall-of-Fame New York Knick, he served three terms as a United States Senator from New Jersey and was a candidate for president, advancing tax reform, water rights, civil rights, and more, while still today seeking to deepen our common humanity with humility and heart.
Frank K. Butler, Jr. — As a pioneering innovator, Navy Seal, and leader in dive medicine, Dr. Frank Butler introduced Tactical Combat Casualty Care to the medical world that set new standards for tourniquet use not only for injuries in war, but injuries across daily civilian life. He has transformed battlefield trauma care for the United States military and saved countless lives.
Elizabeth L. Cheney — Throughout two decades in public service, including as a Congresswoman for Wyoming and Vice Chair of the Committee on the January 6 attack, Liz Cheney has raised her voice—and reached across the aisle—to defend our Nation and the ideals we stand for: Freedom. Dignity. And decency. Her integrity and intrepidness remind us all what is possible if we work together.
Christopher J. Dodd — Chris Dodd has served our Nation with distinction for more than 50 years as a United States Congressman, Senator, respected lawyer, and diplomat. From advancing childcare, to reforming our financial markets, to fostering partnerships across the Western Hemisphere—he has stood watch over America as a beacon to the world.
Diane Carlson Evans —After serving as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War, Diane Carlson Evans founded the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation to ensure female service members received the recognition they deserve—one of our Nation’s most sacred obligations. Her duty and devotion embody the very best of who we are as Americans.
Joseph L. Galloway (posthumous) — From Vietnam to the Persian Gulf, Joe Galloway spent decades sharing first-hand accounts of horror, humanity, and heroism in battle. Known as the soldier’s reporter and the soldier’s friend, he embedded with American troops, rescued wounded soldiers under fire, and became the only civilian awarded a Bronze Star for combat valor by the United States Army as one of the most respected war correspondents of his era.
Nancy Landon Kassebaum — The first woman to represent Kansas, Nancy Kassebaum was a force in the United States Senate. From supporting a woman’s right to choose to reforming health care, she stood up for what she believed in even if it meant standing alone, and she reached across the aisle to do what she believed was right.
Ted Kaufman — For decades, including as a United States Senator from Delaware, Ted Kaufman has served the Nation with honesty and integrity. A master of the Senate who championed everyday Americans and public servants, he’s been at the forefront of consequential debates about the courts, the financial system, and more. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Carolyn McCarthy — As a nurse, Carolyn McCarthy had an instinct to heal and serve. When her husband and son were shot on a local commuter train, she became an advocate so persuasive that she was recruited to run for Congress. She served 18 years, championing gun safety measures including improved background checks, as a citizen legislator devoted to protecting our Nation’s welfare.
Louis Lorenzo Redding (posthumous) — A groundbreaking civil rights advocate, Louis was the first Black attorney admitted to the bar in Delaware, where he argued against segregation in the seminal cases of Bulah v. Gebhart and Belton v. Gebhart—laying the legal framework for Brown v. Board of Education. A towering figure and a generous mentor, he opened doors of equity and opportunity for all Americans.
Bobby Sager — A Boston native, Bobby Sager travels the world as a photographer and philanthropist grounded in family and empathy, wielding his camera and influence to connect with people in war-torn countries, capture their hope and humanity, and inspire others to take action and see a fuller portrait of the planet we all share.
Collins J. Seitz (posthumous) —As a state judge in Delaware, Judge Seitz became the first judge in America to integrate a white public school, dismantling the doctrine of “separate but equal” with exacting detail and reverence for the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment of our Constitution. His brave ruling tore down walls of separation to help us see each other as fellow Americans.
Eleanor Smeal — From leading massive protests and galvanizing women’s votes in the 1970s to steering progress for equal pay and helping the Violence Against Women Act become law, Ellie Smeal forced the Nation to not only include women in political discourse but to value them as power brokers and equals. Her strategic vision over more than 40 years embodies the American pursuit to create a fairer, more just world.
Bennie G. Thompson — Born and raised in a segregated Mississippi, as a college student inspired by the Civil Rights movement, Bennie Thompson volunteered on campaigns and registered southern Black voters. That call to serve eventually led him to Congress, where he chaired the House January 6th Committee—at the forefront of defending the rule of law with unwavering integrity and a steadfast commitment to truth.
Mitsuye Endo Tsutsumi (posthumous) — In a shameful chapter in our Nation’s history, Mitsuye Endo was incarcerated alongside more than 120,000 Japanese Americans. Undaunted, she challenged the injustice and reached the Supreme Court. Her resolve allowed thousands of Japanese Americans to return home and rebuild their lives, reminding us that we are a Nation that stands for freedom for all.
Thomas J. Vallely — A United States Marine during the Vietnam War, Thomas Vallely has never given up on peace. Over the course of five decades, he has brought Vietnam and the United States together—establishing Fulbright University Vietnam, fostering greater economic and cultural exchange, and overcoming the perils of the past to seize the promise of the future. His service remains a symbol of American leadership in the world.
Frances M. Visco — As president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition, Fran Visco has fought tirelessly and fearlessly to increase Federal funding for breast cancer research, early detection education, and access to women’s healthcare. As a breast cancer survivor, she turned pain into purpose, changed the landscape of breast cancer advocacy, and has become a powerful symbol of hope for the Nation.
Paula S. Wallace —A lifelong educator and trailblazer of the arts, Paula Wallace dreamt of a school that would transform how we think about professional education. By establishing the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design and serving as its president, she has guided thousands of students into creative industries.
Evan Wolfson —By leading the marriage equality movement, Evan Wolfson helped millions of people in all 50 states win the fundamental right to love, marry, and be themselves. For 32 years, starting with a visionary law school thesis, Evan Wolfson worked with singular focus and untiring optimism to change not just the law, but society—pioneering a political playbook for change and sharing its lessons, even now, with countless causes worldwide.
Vice President-elect JD Vance promoted Elon Musk’s recent op-ed in support of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Vance shared the op-ed on Thursday and wrote, “I’m not endorsing a party in the German elections, as it’s not my country and we hope to have good relations with all Germans. But this is an interesting piece.”
“Also interesting; American media slanders AfD as Nazi-lite, But AfD is most popular in the same areas of Germany that were most resistant to the Nazis,” Vance added. Vance’s claim was quickly shot down by German journalist James Jackson who shared electoral maps from 1932 and 2024 showing that regional overlap for the AfD and the Nazi party in northeastern Germany…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
The German Ambassador to the US, Andreas Michaelis, also refuted Vance’s claim, replying, “Interesting observation, Senator JD Vance. Historical context can be tricky – while some areas you are referring to resisted the Nazi party early on, others did not, or later became strongholds of the regime. Germany’s history reminds us how important it is to challenge extremism in all its forms.”
Musk stirred controversy last month when he endorsed the party, which has long been controversial both across Europe and in the U.S. Musk wrote on his X platform that “only the AfD can save Germany.” The AfD is polling strongly in Germany’s upcoming election, but is seen as unlikely to be voted into a position to govern the country as the other parties have vowed not to work with them. Germany publicly accused Musk earlier in the week of trying to influence its elections
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) addressed Musk’s support for the AfD in late December on CNN, “Yeah. I mean, this is not normal. So AfD is essentially the neo-Nazi party in Germany. They exist to try to rehabilitate the image of the Nazi party. And they have all sorts of very dangerous ideas about ridding Germany of anyone who is not naturally born in that country. They are an extremist group,” Murphy replied, adding: READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
And it is just extraordinary that maybe the most important advisor to the president of the United States, somebody that has been, you know, parading around the halls of Congress as a key advisor to the president, is endorsing a neo-Nazi party inside Germany.
Germany’s DW news agency describes the party’s platform as one that “insists on the primacy of “traditional” German culture and rejects Islam as a part of German society. It also questions the notion that climate change is man-made, wants to uphold family values and opposes diversity and gender issues. The AfD wants to limit NATO’s operational area to the territory of its member states and replace the EU with a new organization.”
DW also noted, “The AfD has a powerful extremist section which the domestic intelligence service is keeping tabs on.”