Kate Middleton, who had long dreamed of a fairytale wedding, feared her hopes of a proposal from Prince William were dashed during their 2010 trip to Kenya. According to royal expert Katie Nicholl's book 'Kate, The Future Queen', the then-28-year-old had 'dared to hope' she might return from Africa with a ring on her finger, but as the holiday drew to a close, there was 'no sign of a proposal' and 'Kate's heart was heavy'.
The couple had met at St Andrews University in September 2001, bonding over a mutual love of skiing, and their romance blossomed after Kate modelled a sheer dress in a charity fashion show. Nine years later, after a brief separation, rumours of an engagement were circulating. However, during the Kenya trip, which included treks to Ishak Bin and stays at Lewa, William showed no signs of popping the question, leaving Kate disappointed.
Having made peace with the idea that a proposal was off the cards, Kate busied herself with enjoying the scenery and photographing wildlife. But William had secretly added an extra leg to their trip, booking a night at the Il Ngwesi Lodge, a remote log cabin near Lake Rutundu. There, he got down on one knee and asked Kate to marry him, presenting her with his late mother Princess Diana's 12-carat oval Ceylon blue sapphire ring, surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds.
Kate was left 'speechless' by the surprise, later describing it as 'very romantic' and a 'total shock'. William had been carrying the ring in his backpack for three weeks during their Africa adventure. The ring, purchased by King Charles for Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 for £28,000, is now valued at upwards of £300,000 and is considered one of the most famous pieces of jewellery in history.
