Kate Middleton Wears Symbolic Earrings for Surprise Appearance, Goes Without Iconic Engagement Ring

Kate Middleton chose a meaningful pair of earrings for her surprise outing with Prince William, but went without one of the most iconic items in her royal jewelry box.

The Princess of Wales, 42, joined her husband for an unannounced visit to Southport, England, on Oct. 10, making the trip to support the community grieving in the wake of a mass stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class over the summer where three young girls were killed. It was also Princess Kate’s first public engagement since she announced that she completed chemotherapy.

Kate wore her Catherine Zoraida Gold Fern Drop Earrings, which she’s owned for years and previously sported for a children’s picnic at the Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023. Kate’s choice of fern earrings carried special significance. The fern is widely regarded as a symbol of endurance, resilience and new beginnings, due to its ability to flourish in diverse conditions. Its unfurling fronds represent fresh growth and renewal.

PEOPLE understands that the Prince and Princess of Wales wanted to visit Southport to show the community they have not been forgotten and that they’ll continue to stand by them, making the hope the earrings signify a poignant choice for the emotional day.

Princess Kate also stepped out with a stack of sparkling rings on her left ring finger. In a possible hint at a new proclivity, the Princess of Wales was without her iconic sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which previously belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

Although Kate has spent much of this year out of the spotlight, she showcased the dazzling sparkler that Prince William used to propose in 2010 during her two official summer outings—Trooping the Colour and Wimbledon—before her visit to Southport. However, she did not wear her engagement ring during her subsequent appearances.

She also did not have it on when she meet with a teen photographer navigating a rare and aggressive form of cancer during a private meeting at Windsor Castle on Oct. 2. However, she did wear another pair of meaningful earrings.

Princess Kate didn’t have the sapphire ring on in the Aug. 11 video she and Prince William issued to congratulate Team Great Britain on their success at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and skipped it again in the video released on Sept. 9 where she announced that she completed chemotherapy.

Instead, Kate wore what looks like the same eternity band of dark gems and diamonds — a hypothesis one expert verified to PEOPLE.

“The ring that Kate wore is definitely a newer addition to her jewelry box. It’s a slim, sparkling eternity-style band with alternating light and dark gemstones,” said Lauren Kiehna, founder of The Court Jeweller blog. 

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“Many of these eternity bands reflect family relationships. Given that her children’s birthstones are rubies, emeralds and diamonds, it wouldn’t surprise me if the gems set in the new ring are linked to [her children] George, Charlotte and Louis,” Kiehna said about what the deeper meaning may be. 

While out in Southport on Oct. 10, Princess Kate stacked the same multicolored eternity ring with what looked like her Welsh gold wedding band, her white gold and diamond Annoushka ring and what appears to be a second new diamond band.