How she made her engagement ring safe for baby William

DESPITE being the envy of many a woman in Britain — and more than a few royal brides, too — Diana’s sapphire engagement sparkler simply wasn’t suitable for being around a boisterous baby.

The 12-carat sapphire and its diamond surround had sharp, pointy edges, making it inpractical for a hands-on new mum, who worried she might scratch young William.

In official photographs taken with Charles at Kensington Palace in December 1982, when the prince was just six months old, Diana swapped her ring for a stand-in — a polished sapphire cabochon with rounded edges — which was indistinguishable from the original to all but the keenest observer (and the Camera Press photographer, whom she asked not to zoom in too closely).

She paired it with a pretty necklace, made by jeweller Collingwood, comprising cultured pearls set in diamonds, which Charles had given to her as a ‘thank you’ gift to mark William’s birth.

The ring swap left the Princess unencumbered to play freely with her chubby-cheeked young Prince, lifting him up in the air as he squealed with delight — just like any other proud mum. Though she never wore it again in public, the gem may well have become a handy substitute in private.