Kate Middleton‘s engagement ring was off during a surprise outing with her husband, Prince William, but there’s a likely reason her dazzling bling was nowhere to be seen on the couple’s first joint engagement of 2026.
When the Princess of Wales, 43, arrived at Charing Cross Hospital on Thursday, January 8, in a tailored Roland Mouret pantsuit paired with a burgundy blouse and minimal accessories, royal observers quickly noticed that her iconic sapphire engagement ring was not on her left ring finger.
Kate has often been seen wearing a stack of rings since 2024, including two eternity bands in addition to her engagement ring and Welsh gold wedding band. (She debuted her four-ring stack at Wimbledon in July 2025.) The mother of three — who shares kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with William, 43 — also notably donned a five-ring stack in September 2025, adding another eternity band to her set.
There’s likely a solid reason she opted to only wear her wedding band, as she is believed to have been honoring hospital policy to wear minimal jewelry for their visit with staff and local volunteers. According to The Mirror, “rings with large stones are believed to be an infection risk, as many healthcare professionals only wear plain band-style rings for this reason.”
Isabel Infantes – WPA Pool/Getty ImagesKate also skipped putting on the famous $517,000 sapphire and diamond engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana when she stopped by The Royal Marsden Hospital in January 2025.
The royal’s latest hospital outing came one day before her 44th birthday on Friday, January 9.
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In a recent interview, royal butler Grant Harrold predicted that Kate will enjoy “more of an intimate family dinner” this year after the princess announced in January 2025 that she was in remission.
An insider told Us Weekly exclusively in August 2025 that she was “emphasizing her family and her well-being over [intense] duties” going forward. The source added that it was a decision that Kate and William made together. “While they take their responsibilities very seriously, they are not afraid to say no when necessary,” added the source.
Isabel Infantes – WPA Pool/Getty ImagesKate’s loved ones are certainly glad to see her thriving these days, and will likely want to celebrate another trip around the sun, Harrold said.
“I can almost guarantee that the King [Charles] will still host a birthday party for his daughter-in-law. It’s possible that it will be on the actual day of the birthday, unless William’s got something private arranged,” he told Heart Bingo during his recent interview. “There’ll be a celebration, and food-wise, she will be eating some of the things that she likes.”
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As for gifts, Harrold speculated that William will have something special and sentimental in mind. “It could either be something jewelry-based, or it could be something that she needs for the home, or it could be a mixture of both,” he said.
Harrold noted that Kate’s father-in-law, King Charles, may present her with an heirloom as the monarch “could still give something that remains in the Royal Collection.”
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