Prince Harry told the truth about giving up Princess Diana's engagement ring for William
Harry denied the reports himself...Rumours Prince Harry made a “selfless” decision for his brother Prince William by giving him Princess Diana’s ring to propose to Kate Middleton were not true. But it was the Duke of Sussex who set the record straight over the ‘sacrifice’ that was never made, not a smear campaign.
Following their mother Princess Diana‘s death in 1997, William and Harry both got to keep a piece from her jewellery collection. It was so the then youngsters would have something to remind them of their mother.
It’s believed Diana’s engagement ring was chosen by Prince Harry, while William chose the Princess’ watch. However, the dad-of-two told the truth about what really happened in his memoir Spare years later.
Butler claims Prince Harry ‘gave Princess Diana’s engagement ring to William’ for him to propose
In Amazon Prime show The Diana Story, Paul Burrell claimed Harry offered the ring to William in 2010. At the time, William was preparing to propose to Kate Middleton.
Paul said: “Harry said to William: ‘Wouldn’t it be fitting if she had mummy’s ring?’
“Then one day that ring will be sat on the throne of England. Harry gave up his precious treasure.”
“His one thing he kept from his mother, he gave to his brother. That’s selfless, kind and exactly who Diana was,” he added.
Although it was a compliment and put the Duke in a good light – it wasn’t true.
Read more: Princess Diana’s ‘desperate plea’ as she decided to step away from the royal family
Duke sets the record straight
After Kate and William were engaged, news reports claimed Prince Harry gave up Princess Diana’s engagement ring for the couple. But he denied those assumptions.
He said William was the original owner, so he never had to give anything up.
Harry explained: “The papers published florid stories about the moment I realised Willy and Kate were well matched, the moment I appreciated the depth of their love and thus decided to gift Willy the ring I’d inherited from Mummy, the legendary sapphire.
“A tender moment between brothers, a bonding moment for all three of us, and absolute rubbish.
“None of it ever happened. I never gave Willy that ring because it wasn’t mine to give. He already had it. He’d asked for it after Mummy died, and I’d been more than happy to let it go.”
Royal butler spoke out after Harry’s memoir
Paul Burrell wanted to set things straight himself.
After Prince Harry’s memoir came out, detailing what happened with Princess Diana’s engagement ring, he spoke to the Daily Mirror.
He explained he witnessed the brothers sorting through their mother’s jewellery collection at Kensington Palace after her death. Paul says he heard Harry ask for Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, he doesn’t know what happened next.
Read more: Princess Diana’s most controversial moments and the times that broke royal tradition
The former staffer said: “Harry said to me, ‘I always remember holding mummy’s hand, and that ring hurting me because it was so big. And that’s why when the boys came to Kensington Palace, I said to them, ‘You must take something of your mother’s. You must take something to remind yourself of your time here at Kensington Palace and your mother’s life.'”
He added: “Harry obviously gave up his treasure to his brother, so that it could be on the ring finger of his wife who would one day be queen.”
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