The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge recently took to Instagram to share images of them working from their home offices during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Watch: Kate Middleton & Prince William thoroughly sanitise hands
But, eagle eyed fans were quick to notice that in one of the photos Kate Middleton wasn’t wearing her engagement ring.
The duchess was pictured sitting at her desk talking on the phone. She was wearing the coral Marks & Spencer suit that she wore on a recent royal engagement to visit the NHS call centre and had her hair down in her trademark blowout.
However, in place of her sapphire sparkler that previously belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, Kate was only sporting a simple gold band.
According to People her decision to forgo the engagement ring while the family are social distancing is actually a very wise decision.
Studies have revealed that it could aid in the effectiveness of handwashing, which helps prevent the spread of Coronavirus.
Yep, according to a 2018 study by Georgia State University, rings can create “a protected area [on the skin] in which bacteria can flourish.” It also found that those who didn’t wear rings were more likely to kill bacteria when washing their hands.
Other experts have also encouraged people to remove rings when washing hands.
“In a situation where we are in extraordinary measures to limit Covid-19 transmission, I think removal of rings/jewellery when washing hands — or perhaps limiting their wear altogether right now — represents a wise move forward,” Rochelle Walensky, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital, told USA Today.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the duchess has removed her engagement ring. She also removed it earlier this year to visit Evelina London Children’s Hospital as they have a policy on wearing minimal jewellery.
Kate often leaves her ring behind during hospital visits which could again be due to the fact that she would likely have to wash her hands before touring the wards.
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