as upcoming queen of Britain, it's the least of what she'll have to do for her title.

Pretty much. I mean, she's marrying the Prince. It comes with the relationship. If you want a marriage about YOU, don't marry royalty.

And it's a pretty ring. And it was his mom's.

Clean your jewellery.

That is disgusting. Ugh.

I wear my rings all the time, only taking them off to clean them or put on hand lotion (if I remember before I have slopped the lotion on). I also look at them all the time, because they are pretty and sparkly and frequently in front of my eyes, so I notice pretty fast when they are not so sparkly anymore and need cleaning. Old toothbrush + rubbing alcohol = sparkly again.

My memory is trying to convince me that there was something notable about Diana's ring when Charles gave it to her, like that it was not an heirloom, but I don't actually remember.

I have some vague memory of the saphire being significant.

To Google I go...

Nope:

About Princess Diana's Engagement Ring

Prince Charles initially proposed without an engagement ring, insisting that Diana consider the implications of the role of his wife - being a couple under constant camera barrage and the pressure to provide the next generation's heir - before accepting. Diana, however, needed little encouragement, and after she accepted a selection of engagement rings was presented for her consideration by Garrard Jewellers. Diana choose an oval blue sapphire engagement ring that weighed in at an astounding 18 carats and was surrounded by 14 small diamonds in an elegant cluster setting.

Unlike many celebrity engagement rings, when the public must hypothesize about an engagement ring's price and jewelers are sworn to discretion and secrecy about their client's privacy, the public knew the cost of Diana's engagement ring instantly. It was actually a piece in the regular Garrard catalog and therefore could be purchased by anyone, for the hefty price of 28,000 British pounds, or the equivalent of $65,000 (at 1981 exchange rates).

At first, the engagement ring caused a bit of a stir both among the royal family as well as the public when it was discovered that it had not been especially designed for Diana. As with any bride-to-be, however, Diana's preference overruled those concerns, and the rich blue sapphire became an elegant symbol of the couple's commitment.

Yes, you are correct -- Google tells me Charles bought it at a store after she agreed to marry him.

Since its not some sort of Official Royal Thing and they've dated for eight years I'm going to guess they discussed it at some point.

Part of me thinks it's sweet, but a part of me thinks that Kate shouldn't have to be saddled with any of the Diana baggage.

Too late!

I hope Kate has enough of her own gumption not to get shoved into a Diana Revisited kind of thing. Kate's at least been out in the world a bit more than Diana was.

Plus more of an actual relationship and not "I love one person but I must marry another for political reasons."

Man, I need to redo my nails.

I am not having a good day. Had to take a lorazapam to get in shape to be able to get from school and to therapy.

I'm so sorry, msbelle. I hope the meds are kicking in.

I haven't watched this, but does it make a difference to animal rights if they were asking for it?