Prince William of Wales is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, and grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Prince William and Kate Middleton Wedding Date

On 16 November 2010 it was announced by Clarence House that Prince William and Kate Middleton are to marry. On 23 November 2010, after much speculation, it was announced the wedding will take place on 29 April 2011 in Westminster Abbey, London and will be a bank holiday in the UK.

The engagement ring given to Kate was the 18 carat white gold ring with large oval sapphire and 14 round diamonds engagement ring of Diana, Princess of Wales. Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles and his sons William and Harry, announced on the same day that the couple became engaged in Kenya in October, a fact that Prince William confirmed in a widely circulated television interview beamed from London.

Princess Diana Engagement Ring History

Lady Diana Spencer chose it for her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981 from a selection presented to her by the then Crown jewellers Garrard of Mayfair. The Diana ring cost £28,500 but, unusually for a choice by a member of the Royal Family, it was not unique and any member of the public could buy the same ring from the Garrard catalogue.

While not everyone could afford to buy such an expensive engagement ring. Sapphires were one of the late princess's favourite gemstones, and some commentators say she chose it because it reminded her of her mother's engagement ring.

Kate Middleton Engagement Ring Picture

Princess Diana Engagement Ring Photo

(Left) Diana Princess of Wales
Image: © Quadrillion/CORBIS
Photographer: David Levinson
Date Photographed: ca. 1980's
Location Information: Dorchester Hotel, London, England, UK

(Right) Lady Diana at Smith's Lawn for Polo Match
Lady Diana watches Prince Charles play polo during their engagement. She wears his watch on her arm in addition to a watch and a bracelet she received from Prince Charles as birthday gifts.
Image: © Tim Graham/CORBIS
Photographer: Tim Graham
Date Photographed: July 26, 1981
Location Information: Windsor, England, UK

Picture scanned from 'The Story of DIANA' p.101 by David Levenson and Trevor Hall, 1985.

Prince William and his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are pictured at a London photocall after announcing their engagement

Prince William and his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are pictured at a London photocall after announcing their engagement

Prince William and his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are pictured at a London photocall after announcing their engagement

Prince William and his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are pictured at a London photocall after announcing their engagement

(Left) Diana engagement ring -- which consisted of 14 diamonds surrounding a sapphire -- back in 1981.

(Right) Prince William and his long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton, are pictured at a London photocall after announcing their engagement

Kate Middleton’s engagement ring is the same one that Prince Charles gave to Diana