At the time, many royal jewelry experts offered explanations as to why the Princess of Wales might have switched from an engagement ring to a stack of eternity bands. “Royal women wear their engagement rings in different ways, just like the rest of us,” said Lauren Kiehna, founder of The Court Jeweller, to People. Indeed, Queen Letizia of Spain, Meghan Markle, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, have all been known to take off their engagement rings for protracted periods of time.
However, Kate’s most prized piece of jewelry was firmly back on her finger for this most sombre royal occasion. The Duchess of Kent’s coffin was taken by hearse from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral on Monday, September 15, where the Rite of Reception and Vespers took place, on the eve of the Requiem Mass. In a sign of the respect the Duchess of Kent earned from the royal family, her coffin was transported in the Royal Hearse, designed by Queen Elizabeth II, and draped in the Royal Standard.
The service was attended by the Duchess’ immediate family, with Prince Edward supported by the couple’s three children and 10 grandchildren. The following day, the whole royal family came together to honor and remember the Duchess of Kent, with his majesty the king, Prince William, the Princess of Wales, Prince Andrew and others coming together for a Requiem Mass. The Duchess became the first royal to convert to Catholicism for more than 300 years, and was honored with the first royal funeral at Westminster Cathedral since its construction in 1903.
Originally appeared in Tatler UK.
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