The Princess of Wales opted not to wear her ornate sapphire wedding ring as she joined her husband for a surprise visit to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims.

Kate Middleton, 42, who made an appearance in her first joint official outing with Prince William since her course of chemotherapy cancer treatment ended in the summer, decided to go without her oval 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold.

The late Princess Diana chose the ring when she was presented with a selection of options by the then Crown jewellers, Garrard of Mayfair upon her engagement to Prince Charles.

The mother-of-three opted instead for a thin golden ring, topped with what some have speculated is a new ‘eternity band’.

Kate appears to have worn the accessory – set with diamonds and sapphires, which would match the royal’s engagement ring – in August while making a Team GB video with William, and during her heartwarming family video released last month.

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The Princess of Wales opted not to wear her engagement ring as she joined her husband for a surprise visit to meet the bereaved families of the Southport stabbing victims

Prince William and Kate meet families of Southport knife attack

Other shimmering diamond rings were stacked on top as Kate was today seen during the outing.

Adding to her accessories, the royal also wore golden fern-leaf shaped earrings from Catherine Zoraida – which now retail for £1,750 on the website.

Kate stunned as she arrived in Southport this afternoon to meet families who were affected by the horrific stabbing attack at a Taylor Swift themed dance class in July.

In her most significant engagement to date this year, Kate, 42, joined Prince William to meet with the families of Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine.

Arriving in Southport as the autumn afternoon sun shone, the Princess, who has undergone several months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, looked beautiful in a berry ensemble. William, in a nod to his wife, also donned a berry jumper.

The royal donned a Whistles Margot polka dot dress from the high street store’s 2018 collection, costing £159 at the time, and appeared to have added a pussybow detail to the collar.

She layered the frock with a structured pea coat from her favourite designer Alexander McQueen. Kate accessorised with her Gold Fern Drop Earrings from Catherine Zoraida, costing £165.

Kate previously donned her structured pea coat to the Earthshot Awards in Boston, when she travelled to the US in December 2022 to support Prince William.

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Kate Middleton, 42, who made an appearance in her first joint official outing with Prince William since her course of chemotherapy cancer treatment ended in the summer, decided to go without her oval 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by a cluster of 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold

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The mother-of-three opted instead for a thin golden ring, topped with what some have speculated is a new ‘eternity band’

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Kate appears to have worn the accessory – set with diamonds and sapphires, which would match the royal’s engagement ring – in August while making a Team GB video with William, and during her heartwarming family video released last month

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Pictured: The Princess of Wales wore minimal jewellery and a £85 Ralph Lauren striped t-shirt for a congratulatory message for Team GB in Auhust

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The Princess was also seen with a a new band on her wedding ring finger, leading royal fans to speculate it is an eternity ring (pictured)

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The Princess of Wales once again swapped out her engagement ring for her stunning eternity band in a touching video shared in September

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During one emotional moment, as the Princess is heard saying: ‘To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey – I remain with you, side by side, hand in hand’, the royal is seen walking through a field

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The late Princess Diana chose the ring when she was presented with a selection of options by the then Crown jewellers, Garrard of Mayfair upon her engagement to Prince Charles. Kate pictured in 2023

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The Princess of Wales proved her style prowess is as strong as ever as she arrived in Southport this afternoon with Prince William

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A smile that will warm the hearts of royal fans: The Princess of Wales beamed as she sat down in Southport

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The Princess of Wales looked picture perfect as she carried out her most poignant and significant engagement of this year

Prince and Princess of Wales visit Southport community centre

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Three girls were killed at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class, including Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven (pictured)

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Bebe King, six, was also killed in the horror attack in Southport in July. Pictured in an undated family photo

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Alice Aguiar, nine, died in the early hours of the morning after being rushed to hospital after being stabbed while at the dance party

During the Waleses’ visit, the couple also spent time with dance teacher Leanne Lucas, 35, who was seriously injured as she shielded youngsters as they were attacked by a knifeman during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday class.

Afterwards the couple spoke to emergency responders who attended and helped on the day.

Prince William had promised the families and local community he would visit as soon as possible and his visit has long been scheduled in for today.

But the decision by his wife to join him was more recent. It is understood that she wanted to ‘show her support, empathy and compassion to the local community’.

At the time of the incident the couple shared a personal message of shock and sympathy for those affected and, like her husband, the princess has kept a keen eye on events since.

It is ids the first public engagement for the princess since she announced last month that she had complete treatment for cancer and would undertake a carefully calibrated return to public duties.

Apart from a small media contingency, the visit was kept deliberately low key as both the prince and princess wanted it to remain as discreet as possible out of respect to those involved.

Their meeting with the victims’ families was held in completely in private and not announced publicly until they had left.

However, the couple then went on to meet with emergency responders who were involved in the aftermath of the attack at a local community centre to hear about their experiences and speak to mental health practitioners who have been working to deliver long term support to the blue light community in Southport.

William and Kate wave to the crowds as they arrive in Southport

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The trip was the first public engagement since Catherine announced she had completed her chemotherapy treatment (Kate and William are pictured in Southport today)

It is understood that it was important to them to go now, three months later, to show the people of Southport that they have not been forgotten and they’ll continue to stand by the community today and in the future.

William and Catherine’s Royal Foundation made a donation to the the National Police and Wellbeing Service’s fundraiser to help fast track psychological and physical rehabilitation for police and ambulance personnel who were involved in the attack and the subsequent riots.

Last month the Princess of Wales announced that she had completed a course of preventative chemotherapy after it emerged earlier this year that evidence of cancer had been found following abdominal surgery.

Kensington Palace said she would embark on a slow and measured return to public duties, bearing in mind her continued recovery.

Although she had held meetings in private and photographs of her hugging cancer patient Liz Hatton were released last week, today’s event is her first official public engagement since then.

She also hopes to join her family on Remembrance Sunday.

In August, King Charles paid tributes to the victims of the Southport stabbing during an emotional visit to the town.

The monarch was greeted with cheers and applause as he viewed a floral display honouring the youngsters killed in the horror knife attack.

He also met with survivors of the rampage.