What is that ring on King Charles's pinky? It's not his wedding ring, although he also wears that piece of jewelry on his left pinky. This large gold band is called a signet ring, or a gentleman's ring, and is often worn on the pinky of one's nondominant hand.
The use of the left-hand pinky finger as the wedding ring and royal signet or initial ring of the British Royal Family is an ironclad tradition dating back to the sons of Queen Victoria, who favored pinky rings in imitation of their mother as well as following German custom.
Traditionally, a pinky ring worn on your dominant hand, which for most men is the right hand, represents things you have accomplished personally, while a pinky ring worn on the other hand indicates family accomplishments.
While the signet ring has traditionally been worn by men, the women of the royal family are no strangers to it. Princess Diana and Kate Middleton – they all have been, time and again, spotted wearing their own versions of this ring on their pinky fingers.
Left Pinky Ring
Left pinky rings have two meanings: 1. When worn by a man, a left pinky ring historically signified that the ring-wearer was married, so long as there was a signet on top of the wedding band. 2. If a man wore just a single ring on their pinky finger, it meant that they were tied to the mafia.
Most commonly, a single ring was worn on the pinky finger to indicate a man's wealth and status. Even today, men who wear pinky rings intend to make a statement about their wealth and prosperity. With no other rings on the hand, a pinky ring can show off a man's riches — or draw attention to its owner.
Traditionally, a signet ring is worn on the little finger of the non-dominant hand, which is typically the left hand for right-handed individuals and the right hand for left-handed individuals. However, in modern times, signet rings can be worn on any finger or hand according to personal preference and style.
While the style is often considered a gentleman's ring, it's favored by royal women, too: Princess Diana wore a signet ring given to her by Charles before their wedding, and Meghan Markle and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, both have their own symbolic signet rings.
"He's never worn any. He decided he didn't want to wear one now. It's all down to personal preference." Keep reading to see how and where the other Royals wear their rings.
While it is now common practice for both the bride and groom to give each other a ring as a sign of their eternal devotion, a royal aide explained that Prince William's decision not to wear a ring was 'simply down to personal preference'.
Right pinky finger - Professional status
Sometimes wearing a ring on the right, however, symbolises professional status. A ring on the pinky can be a symbol of graduating with a degree in a specific field, usually in engineering or ecology.
Originally used to stamp initials or a family crest onto sealing wax (hence the pinky placement, for easy use), the men's signet ring has since become a simultaneous symbol of flash and gentlemanly elegance — and embraced by musicians past and present.
Earlier, Dr Gareth Nye, Senior Lecturer at the University of Chester, shared the possible cause of the monarch's fingers. He said: "Oedema is a condition where the body starts to retain fluids in the limbs, normally the legs and ankles but also in the fingers which causes them to swell.
It's actually just more of an unspoken, celebrity-based decision as. According to The Express (opens in new tab), it's widely known amongst famous fashionistas that a bright orange look will never photographs well, and is usually avoided at all costs.
"If you look closely, you can see a visible yellowish cast on Kate's skin when wearing that orange-red coat. This is essentially scattered orange light around her face because she could only partially absorb the temperature of this specific colour.
As an old tradition dictates, royal couples never share the same bed or bedroom, allowing them to move freely while asleep. It allows them much needed alone time after hours of being in the limelight.
Well, it's just practical. Prince Philip's cousin, Lady Pamela, explained in Sally's biography: “In England, the upper class always have had separate bedrooms. You don't want to be bothered with snoring or someone flinging a leg around. Then when you are feeling cozy you share your room sometimes.
James's Palace. William proposed during a holiday in Kenya last month and gave Kate the oval blue sapphire surrounded by diamonds, from the jeweller Garrard, that his mother, Princess Diana, once wore. William is second in line to the British throne after Charles, his father.
The Duchess of Cambridge has worn Diana's engagement ring since her betrothal to Prince William in 2011.
The engagement ring Camilla received from Prince Charles is an emerald-cut diamond ring surrounded by smaller diamonds, set in 18-karat gold. The design of the ring is said to be inspired by the engagement ring ofQueen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother owned Camilla's wedding band and frequently wore it in the 1980s.
However, there is one accessory that Queen Camilla simply cannot get behind. The 75-year-old has never had her ears pierced, nor does she intend to. This is despite having access to some of the best jewellery collections in the entire world.
A man should wear a ring on the fourth finger of his left hand. This is traditionally considered the most appropriate place for a ring, as it is believed to have a vein connecting directly to the heart. However, it's also recommended that men only wear one ring at a time to keep their look clean and classic.
The Middle Finger
A ring worn at the center of the hand symbolizes balance and responsibility. Also, a ring worn on a middle finger is a bold decision that catches attention, and it can be a fashion and conversation starter.
This is because it is believed that the right hand represents virtue and honor, just as the Bible mentions Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. In Jewish tradition, during the wedding ceremony, the wedding ring is placed on the index finger of the right hand.
Most men, if they are married, will wear their wedding ring on the left hand and a style ring on their right-hand pinky finger or right-hand ring finger.