Kate Middleton took off her engagement ring yesterday
Kate Middleton and her massive (very, very beautiful) engagement ring normally go everywhere together. But not yesterday, it seems, as the Duchess of Cambridge turned up for a visit at London children's hospital, Evelina, without the famous rock on her fourth finger.
Kate, who dressed in a black and white Dolce & Gabbana tweed skirt suit for the occasion, removed both the engagement ring and her diamond eternity ring for a day - leaving only her Welsh gold wedding band to adorn her fingers. The Duchess' eternity ring is believed to have been gifted to her by husband Prince William, following the birth of their first son, Prince George, back in 2013.
So why would the royal temporarily ditch her sentimental jewels? Well, it's for a pretty practical reason, it seems.
It's been confirmed that the senior royal removed her jewelled rings for hygiene reasons, seeing as she was visiting a hospital. The intricate nature of the bands mean they could have been a health risk for bringing bacteria into the wards - and because the hospital specialises in the care of seriously unwell children, it was even more imperative that the Duchess remove any potential health and safety hazards.
During her visit to Evelina, Kate met children who have been treated in the hospital, as well as their families and the staff who have cared for them. The Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English, who attended the royal engagement, noted on Twitter that "Kate was noticeably more hands-on than I’ve seen her before."
The mum-of-three was apparently "posing for umpteen pictures with patients" - which isn't something she has previously done much - and "generally seemed more sure-footed." Her relaxed approach reportedly "went down well with patients", suggesting it might be a side of Kate we see more and more going forward.
The Duchess has had a busy week, with three engagements in three days, and when she turned up to a London nursery to promote her new early years survey, the engagement ring was firmly back on her finger where it belongs.
At the Stockwell Gardens Nursery & Pre-School, Kate got stuck in, serving breakfast and playing games with the children. Who knows, maybe she might fancy sending Prince Louis there when he joins nursery later this year?
Follow Cat on Instagram.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
You Might Also Like
A ranking of the very best hair straighteners - according to our Beauty Editors
11 products you'd be mad to miss from the Net A Porter beauty sale
