Why King Charles III Never Removes Ring on Pinky Finger
Tuesday marked the beginning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit to Kenya, where they were welcomed by President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto.
The morning ceremony at State House Kenya for the King and Queen of the United Kingdom included the King inspecting the Guard of Honour.
Throughout the years, King Charles has been photographed wearing a ring on his little finger, and astute observers immediately noticed it.
The ring has been worn by the king since the mid-1970s, and as befits a monarch, it is made of gold.
The ring is believed to be over 175 years old and traces back to the reign of Queen Victoria.
The gold ring is a signet ring, which is commonly referred to as a ‘gentleman’s ring.’
So why does the British monarch always wear the middle ring?
Beatrice Behlen, the senior curator of fashion and decorative arts at the Museum of London, asserts that the practice has its origins in an Old Testament tradition.
According to the Bible, signet rings were used to authenticate documents and identify their proprietors.
Men of high social standing have traditionally worn the ‘gentleman’s ring’ to represent their family’s heritage and distinctive signature.
ALSO READ:
- Police Bust Ongata Rongai Church for Selling Bhang During Services
- New Twist as Brian Mwenda Claims He Works for US Global Law Firms
- Fresh Twist: Italian Petitions, Denies Selling 1,000-Acre Land to Late MP Kirima
Beatrice disclosed in an interview with Bloomberg that signet rings became popular during the rise of the bourgeoisie, or the middle class.
The signet ring was worn by members of the middle class to distinguish themselves from the proletariat, or working class.
Occasionally, signet rings denote kinship and membership in a society or club.
Experts observe that men in England’s Upper Class were significantly more likely to wear a gentleman’s ring than a wedding ring.
Typically worn on the ring finger of his non-dominant hand, King Charles has occasionally worn his signet ring alongside his marital band on his ring finger.
The signet ring of King Charles bears the official crest of the Prince of Wales, a reference to the title he held before becoming king.
The current Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, Prince William, also wears a signet ring.
In recent years, women have also embraced signet rings, with royals such as the late Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, observed wearing them.
Even though signet rings are no longer used to sign documents, they still typically indicate the wearer’s social status.
Why King Charles III Never Removes Ring on Pinky Finger
