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Recent appearances have sparked speculation about the state of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s marriage, as Kate was spotted without her iconic engagement ring. During a visit to London’s Charing Cross Hospital on January 8, the Princess of Wales donned a stylish burgundy pantsuit but notably left her 12-carat sapphire engagement ring at home. While she opted for minimal accessories, she did wear her gold Welsh wedding band. The absence of her engagement ring coincides with persistent rumors of marital discord between her and Prince William.
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This scenario echoes a moment when Usha Vance was seen without her wedding ring amid similar divorce rumors. In November, during an appearance at a Marine Corps base with Melania Trump, Usha was photographed without her ring, prompting speculation about her marriage with JD Vance. She later addressed the rumors through a statement to People, explaining that she occasionally forgets her ring due to her busy schedule as a mother.
Kate has not offered an explanation for her ring’s absence, but some outlets suggest it could be for sanitary reasons, given the healthcare setting. Although this theory might seem plausible, it is noted by Town & Country that she wore the ring during a visit to Colchester Hospital in July 2025. This inconsistency, along with other signs, has fueled speculation about possible issues in her marriage.
The timing of Kate’s ringless appearance coincided with fresh rumors of marital strife. Just days prior, a video surfaced on X on January 6, showing Prince George and Princess Charlotte arriving at Kensington Palace by helicopter. In the footage, Prince William is seen greeting his children, while Kate is noticeably absent, prompting speculation about their relationship status. One user commented, “It’s been obvious for a while that Willy & Kate are separated & the kids shuttle between their parents’ homes.”
Further fueling the rumors, a photograph taken a few months earlier showed Kate and William in a car on their way to the Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall in November 2025. Kate appeared visibly annoyed, looking straight ahead, while William seemed somber, gazing downwards. This image, much like the helicopter footage, led many on X to speculate that a divorce might be imminent. A user remarked, “This is not love; these people live separate lives, and William schools her to ensure she smiles before stepping out.”
Deciding to keep the sapphire at home was reminiscent of when Usha Vance wore no wedding ring as divorce rumors swirled. The second lady visited a Marine Corps base with Melania Trump in November, and photos showed that she was ringless. That caused so much discussion about the state of her marriage to JD Vance that Usha later released a statement to People via a spokesperson explaining that she “forgets her ring sometimes” amid the chaos of her motherly duties.
Kate, however, did not release a statement explaining why she went to the hospital without her engagement ring, but a theory was offered by multiple outlets that she simply did it for sanitary reasons while at a healthcare facility. On its face, that seemed to be a valid explanation, but as noted by Town & Country, Kate did wear her engagement ring when visiting the Colchester Hospital in July 2025. The matter was further complicated by other signs that have pointed to trouble in paradise between Kate and William.
Some believe Kate Middleton and Prince William are living separately
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The timing of going ringless raised eyebrows, as another round of divorce chatter had swirled around Kate Middleton and Prince William only days earlier. A video was posted to X on January 6 that showed Prince George and Princess Charlotte arriving at Kensington Palace in a helicopter. In the clip, William is seen greeting the children and carrying their bags, while Kate is not in sight. Some took this as evidence that the royal couple was on the outs. “It’s been obvious for a while that Willy & Kate are separated & the kids shuttle between their parents’ homes,” a user wrote alongside the video.
A couple of months earlier, a candid photo of Kate and William had everyone talking divorce. Photographers captured the Princess of Wales sitting in a car with her husband before they attended the Royal Variety Performance at Royal Albert Hall in November 2025. There was a look of annoyance on Kate’s face as she stared forward, while a grim-faced William’s eyes were directed downward as he turned toward her. Similar to the footage of William meeting the kids at the helicopter, many people on X took this as a clear-cut sign that the two were headed for divorce. “This is not love these people leave separate lives and Williams school her to make sure she put a smile on her face before stepping out,” one person wrote.