Kate Middleton Dons Dazzling New $12,350 Diamond Necklace In Anniversary Photo With Prince William

Apr 30, 2021 by apost team

If this pair of new anniversary photos are any indication, Prince William and Kate Middleton still seem to be very much in love a decade after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge first tied the knot.

Ahead of the Cambridge couple’s April 29 anniversary, the @kensingtonroyal Instagram account posted two never-before-seen photos of William and Middleton embracing each other in what made for a pair of romantic shots. Chris Floyd, a well-known photographer who specializes in taking portraits of celebrities, snapped the two anniversary pics at Kensington Palace in London’s Chelsea neighborhood.

A decade ago, William and Middleton exchanged vows in front of the world at Westminster Abbey. The heavily publicized wedding prompted street parties across England, William and Middleton merchandise and plenty of speculation about how the royal couple would navigate their roles as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple is particularly prominent in the royal family given that William is second in line to the throne after his father, Prince Charles, the Duke of Wales.

At the time of Middleton and William’s marriage, the couple had been together for eight years, after having started dating at University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where the two completed their undergraduate degrees. Since then, the Cambridge couple have been busy building a family, including 3-year-old Prince Louis, 5-year-old Princess Charlotte and 7-year-old Prince George. Additionally, the prince and Middleton act as prominent public figures in the United Kingdom, where they also contribute philanthropically through their official charity fund — when they aren’t taking care of the Cambridge brood or posing for romantic photos, that is.

In their anniversary photos, Middleton wore some stunning jewelry, including a very expensive necklace. Read on to learn more about her dazzling diamonds. 

According to Town & Country, Middleton met William at the University of St. Andrew’s, where the two enrolled in 2001. In one of the most famous stories from their university days, the prince famously watched a charity fashion show that featured none other than Middleton herself. The relationship moved fairly quickly, with the two moving in together in a shared flat, but it wasn’t until 2004 that the couple’s relationship was out in the open. It was then that someone from the press snapped a photo of the two together while they were on a ski trip, which led to widespread knowledge of the two’s once private relationship.

But the royal couple’s relationship wasn’t always a bed of roses.

In 2007, the two even separated for a short period of time, according to Town & Country.

"At the time I wasn't very happy about it, but it made me a stronger person," Middleton revealed in a television interview, according to The Guardian. "You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realized, I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me (the months apart) although I didn't think it at the time."

With that said, it didn’t take long for the couple to get back together. A year after their break up, William and Middleton were spotted on another ski trip, and just two years later, the couple announced their engagement.

"You know, over the years William has looked after me,” Middleton said of her relationship to the prince. “He's treated me very well — as the loving boyfriend he is, he is very supportive of me through the good times and also through the bad times."

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In both anniversary photos, which have since received quite a response on the Kensington Royal Instagram account, William and Middleton wear ear-to-ear smiles while posing for the camera in casual but tasteful attire. Middleton notably wears her engagement ring front and center in both photos. The ring, which is valued at over $400,000, features an 18-carat white gold band and a 12-carat blue sapphire, according to Harper’s Bazaar. But the ring isn’t just beautiful and expensive. It also has special significance for the couple, as it was once the late Princess Diana’s. William picked the ring so that his mother, Diana, would be at their wedding day in spirit. In the two anniversary photos, William also wears his OMEGA Seamaster Quartz, which was reportedly a gift from his late mother. It is the same watch that the prince wore to his wedding in 2011.

However, Middleton's ring wasn't the only jewelry item sparkling in the photos. Middleton also debuted a brand new diamond necklace — and one that has a whopping price tag of $12,350, according to the Asprey London retail website. The sparkling pendant around Middelton's neck is the Daisy Heritage Pendant mounted in 18-karat white gold and carried by a diamond chain. The pendant includes both marquise cut and pave diamonds. Although the jewelry retailer hasn't confirmed whether or not the dazzling diamonds were a gift from Prince William, the necklace certainly makes the 10th-anniversary photos shine and sparkle brighter. 

However, if the necklace is indeed a gift from Prince William, it wouldn't be the first time he's used jewels to make a statement of love. According to Hello! Magazine, he gifted Middleton a diamond eternity band from Anoushka to mark the birth of Prince George in 2012. 

Happy anniversary, William and Kate! Do you have a favorite moment from the Duke and Duchess’ 10-year marriage? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to other royal fans.