After Princess Diana’s tragic death in 1997, it was only natural that her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, would choose one of her personal items in memory of their mother.

Harry reportedly chose Diana’s Garrard sapphire engagement ring, while William opted for her Cartier Tank Française watch.

In 2010, it is believed that the brothers exchanged items so that William could use the ring to propose to Kate Middleton. Later, Harry gave the luxurious watch to Meghan Markle.

However, in his explosive biography Spare, published last year, the Duke of Sussex called the reports “absolutely rubbish”.

Instead, Harry claimed that William was already in possession of their mother’s ring when he proposed to Kate, so he was never asked to give it up.

One of the most famous pieces of jewelry in history, the Garrard sapphire and diamond engagement ring was purchased by Charles for Diana in 1981. It cost £28,000 and is now valued at over £300,000 .

Additionally, Harry said he was unaware of William’s intention to marry Kate until the engagement was publicly announced.

“Shortly after we returned to Britain, the palace announced that Willy was getting married. November 2010,” the prince wrote.

“News for me. During all their time together in Lesotho, he had never spoken about it.

“The newspapers ran flowery stories about the moment I realized Will and Kate were a good match, the moment I appreciated the depth of their love and so decided to give Willy the ring that I had inherited from my mother, the legendary sapphire, a moment of tenderness between brothers, a moment of complicity for the three of us, and absolute bullshit: none of that ever happened.

Harry later denied asking for the jewelry after Diana’s death and wrote: “I never gave Willy that ring because it wasn’t my place to give.” He already had it. He’d asked for it after Mom died, and I’d been more than happy to let it go.

One of the most famous pieces of jewelry in history, the Garrard sapphire and diamond engagement ring, was purchased by Charles for Diana in 1981. It cost £28,000 and is now valued at over 300,000 £.

The ring, inspired by Queen Victoria’s 1840 sapphire brooch, which she wore as “something blue” on her wedding day, symbolized marriage, family and love.

When presented with various options, Diana and Charles reportedly chose this ring together, as it complemented her blue eyes.

Choosing a catalog ring rather than a custom-designed piece broke royal tradition, allowing others to purchase the same engagement ring.

William gave his fiancée Kate the 12-carat oval Ceylon blue sapphire, surrounded by fourteen solitaire diamonds, made by Garrard.

After Diana’s death, it was reported that Harry asked to keep his mother’s Garrard sapphire engagement ring, while William chose her Cartier Tank Française watch.

Kate has proudly worn Princess Diana’s ring for almost 14 years

In his explosive memoir, Spare, Harry claimed William was already in possession of their mother’s ring when he proposed to Kate – so he was never asked to part with it.

Diana’s choice of a catalog ring rather than a custom-designed piece broke royal tradition, allowing others to purchase the same engagement ring.

In another twist, Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell told the Mirror that he was present when the brothers chose the objects in memory of their mother.

Paul said: “Harry said to me: ‘I always remember holding Mum’s hand and that ring hurt because it was so big.’

“And that’s why, when the boys got to Kensington Palace, I said to them: you have to take something that belongs to your mother. You need to take something to remember your time here at Kensington Palace and your mother’s life.

The former royal employee claimed William asked to keep Diana’s Cartier watch, which had been a gift from her father for her 21st birthday, while Harry chose her engagement ring, which has now been worn by Kate since almost 14 years old.

Additionally, Paul says that William was “pleased with the arrangement.”

Diana wore her beloved Cartier Tank Française on several occasions, including during a 1997 visit to London’s Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple and an engagement with the British Lung Foundation that same year.

At the time, the yellow gold watch cost £17,800. Harry then gave it to Meghan, who wore it countless times, often paired with a Cartier Love bracelet.

This is clearly a favorite from his inherited collection.