A gift from Prince William.. Kate Middleton wears a new ring in a surprise video appearance to congratulate the British team

Amidst the joyous atmosphere, many keen-eyed royal watchers couldn’t help but notice that Kate had chosen a unique ring for the surprise video. Sitting elegantly on her wedding ring finger, fans initially speculated that the piece might be the promise ring Prince William gave Kate when they first started dating as students at the University of St Andrews.

The promise ring is set in a rose gold Victorian band and is set with the royal couple's birthstones: a pearl for the June-born prince; and a garnet for the January-born princess. The garnets worn by Kate Middleton on her graduation day are said to represent commitment, and pearls are known to symbolize innocence and purity. The promise ring was crafted by master jeweler Steven Stone. Named The ring is considered “priceless” in the Princess of Wales's “very valuable jewellery collection” due to its sentimental significance.

But others have suggested that the mystery ring wasn’t actually a sentimental throwback to the couple’s happy university days, but rather appeared to be a gold band studded with diamonds and rubies, which commenters have speculated is an eternity ring. Fans have wondered if it’s the same eternity ring that Prince William reportedly gave to his wife to commemorate the birth of their first son, Prince George. The piece appears to be a replacement of sorts for Kate Middleton’s most famous piece of jewellery, her ruby ​​and diamond engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.

A symbol of remembrance, love and legacy, the ring features a 12-carat opal-cut ruby ​​surrounded by 14 round-cut diamonds. While Princess Diana caused some controversy with her choice of engagement ring—traditionally, royals were expected to commission bespoke pieces for such occasions, and this piece has already appeared in a Garrard catalogue—it quickly became a favourite of the late Princess of Wales, who passed it on to her sons after her death in 1997. Prince Harry was originally the owner of the ruby ​​ring, but he offered it to his brother William after the prince proposed to Kate Middleton.