Prince William doesn’t wear his wedding ring because it is "traditionally not the done thing for gentlemen to wear jewellery".
Etiquette expert William Hanson says it is not unusual for male members of the royal family – including the 34-year-old royal – to not wear their wedding bands as it follows older traditions.
He said: "It is not unusual at all for men from the upper sets in Britain to shun wearing a wedding band. This is not because of any intentions that they may wish to play away from home once married, but because it was traditionally not the done thing for gentlemen to wear jewellery.
"Years ago, this even included watches, but even hardened snobs have relaxed on that front. Not wearing a wedding band is one of those quirky British silent class indicators, like the colour of your shoes on a Thursday, or the way you fold your top pocket handkerchief."
However, things would be different for the Prince – who married Duchess Catherine, 35, in 2011 and has Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, 20 months, together – if he had a signet ring as it "shows lineage" and is "obviously more important" than a wedding band.
He added to HarpersBazaar.co.uk: "The signet ring shows lineage, which is obviously more important than any comparatively trivial romance. Signet rings should only have a family crest on – ones with your initials are treated as a bit suspect."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Kensington Palace previously revealed why the father-of-two opts not to wear his wedding ring.
They said in a statement: "It is simply down to personal preference. It was something that the couple discussed but Prince William isn’t one for jewellery."
Prince William’s ring tradition
