Since then the priceless sentimental jewellery has always been spotted on the Princess’ hand.
Prince William describe the sentiment behind the ring and how it helped him keep his late mum, who died in a car crash in 1997, close to everything around him.
He said: “Obviously, she’s not going be around to share in all the fun and excitement, so this is my way of keeping her close to it all.”
However, the Prince of Wales also said at the time there was no pressure on his future wife to be the next “Diana”.
He added: “No one is trying to fill my mother’s shoes. It’s about carving your own future and your own destiny, and Kate will do a very good job at that.”
The TV chat aired on ITV News on the same day as the announcement.
Princess Kate said although she had considered that he might have been thinking about asking her to marry him, it still came as a big surprise to her when he did.
She said: “It was a total shock when it came. There’s a true romantic in there.”
While William shared his thoughts leading up to the proposal: “As every guy out there will know, it takes a certain amount of motivation to get yourself going.
“So I was planning it and then it just felt really right out in Africa. It was beautiful.”
