You Won't Believe How Much Kate Middleton's Engagement Ring Is Really Worth

Like a fine wine, some engagement rings simply get better with age.

Such is the case for Kate Middleton's bling as her engagement ring from Prince William has seen a tenfold increase from what it was valued in 1981, the year it was bought by Prince Charles to give to then-fiancée Princess Diana.

Originally valued at £28,000 ($47,000), the 12-carat sapphire which is surrounded by 14 diamonds is now worth £300,000 ($500,000). Impressive!

The inherited jewelry piece has increased in value due to its significance and is worth three times more than Queen Elizabeth II's engagement ring, which is reportedly valued at £100,000 ($168,480).

Middleton's sparkler tops the list of the world's 20 most famous engagement rings. The list was compiled by Vashi Dominguez, a jewelry expert on ITV's This Morning,

"It's Kate's quiet confidence to lead as a style icon that makes the ring so special," Dominguez said.

Coming in second place is the queen's bling, followed by Michelle Obama's ring from Barack, which is currently valued at $33,680 (a large increase from it's previous value of $12,636).

As for No. 11 on the list?

That belongs to none other than Beyoncé, whose bling from hubby Jay Z was worth nearly $4.5 million when the rapper proposed in 2007 and is now valued at over $9.7 million.

Hip-hop royalty, indeed!

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Prince George Airbrushed on Magazine Cover?

Prince George is an adorable baby—but will his chubby cheeks sell magazines?

Prince William and Kate Middleton's 9-month-old cutie is featured on the May 5 cover. The adorable photo was taken during an Apr. 20 visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. According to The New York Post's Page Six, however, the weekly magazine might have airbrushed the future King of England's appearance. "They enhanced gorgeous George with emerald green eyes, rosier cheeks and stronger strawberry-blond-tinged hair and brows," editor Emily Smith alleged Thursday night. "The already adorable prince appears in multiple photos inside with darker brown eyes and paler cheeks."

 "The original image used for the Prince George cover was dark and bluish in tone and needed to be given an overall color shift for printing purposes," a rep for the magazine tells, in a statement. "By no means did we go in and alter the color of his eyes or cheeks in this process."

Photo controversy aside, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's son was in good spirits at the zoo. When the park's director handed him a stuffed bilby, he threw it on the ground. Moments earlier, he squealed with delighted when he saw the real marsupial. "He's trying to grab his ear!" Middleton said.

As the duke soothed George with a kiss on the forehead, he quipped, "If he gets it, he'll never let go!"

It wasn't just Us Weekly that edited a photo of the world's most famous baby: for its May 5 issue, OK! appeared to mirror an image from George's Apr. 9 playdate at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. Again, this is common in the magazine industry in order to make covers pop on stands.

During the playdate, local mom Ingrid Alve told that George "seemed very excited to be with all the children and the toys." George even played with her daughter, Eden, for "around 15 minutes."

The Cambridges wrapped up their 19-day tour Friday and headed back to England. "The tour of New Zealand and Australia has been an incredible experience for both The Duke and Duchess and the couple really have enjoyed it immensely," a Kensington Palace spokesperson told in a statement. "We always said this would be an opportunity for the Duke to introduce both countries to the Duchess and Prince George and the couple have been bowled over by the extraordinarily warm welcome shown to them as a family by people everywhere they went."

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Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George Wave Goodbye to Australia

Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George capped off their 19-day visit Friday. Before leaving, however, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a surprise 5 a.m. appearance at a ceremony commemorating ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day, a special day of remembrance.

"Very early on the Palace advised us that it was likely that the Duke would attend the Dawn Service and we were advised a few days ago that the couple would both attend," the memorial's director, Dr. Brendan Nelson, told local press. "I thanked them both very much for attending and I said to them this means a lot to us, it means a lot to our country and it means a lot to our veterans. Suffice to say they were very, very committed to be here and found the service very meaningful."

Later that day, the royal couple visited the Australian War Memorial in the nation's capital. While there, they planted a Lone Pine tree in the memorial garden to honor the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in Gallipoli 99 years ago. They also laid a wreath, which featured a handwritten note from William: "Never forget those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom."

The Cambridges then joined Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the leader of the opposition Bill Shorten to check out the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier

Middleton's bouquet, which featured rosemary and Kangaroo Paw flowers, contained a handwritten note that read: "In every second of every day, you will be remembered for your courage and your bravery. Thank you for your sacrifice and for what you have done for us. For that, I am truly grateful."

The Duchess, modeled a navy and white tweed Emilia Wickstead coatdress, which she paired with a Jonathan Howard hat, a Russell and Bromley clutch, a Cartier watch and an Asprey charm pendant.

Not long after, the royal family boarded a plane at Fairbairne Airbase in Canberra, Australia. Before taking flight, however, the Duke and Duchess waved goodbye to their admirers as their 9-month-old son, looking cute as a button in a red cardigan and striped shorts, made funny faces at the crowd.

"The tour of New Zealand and Australia has been an incredible experience for both The Duke and Duchess and the couple really have enjoyed it immensely," a Kensington Palace spokesperson tells E! News in a statement. "We always said this would be an opportunity for the Duke to introduce both countries to the Duchess and Prince George and the couple have been bowled over by the extraordinarily warm welcome shown to them as a family by people everywhere they went."

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Kate Middleton Wears Two Dresses in One Day, Receives Poo Paper Painting and Goes "Glamping"

Kate Middleton looked lovely as ever in Australia Tuesday.The Duchess of Cambridge wore Roksanda Ilincic's belted cap-sleeve dress when she touched down at Ayers Rock Airport in the Northern Territory. The taupe-colored frock was reminiscent of the dove gray version from the label's Spring 2011 collection; Middleton stepped out wearing the lighter version in July 2011 and July 2012. Of course, the 32-year-old completed her look with nude L.K. Bennett pumps.

First on Middleton's agenda: visiting the National Indigenous Training Academy with Prince William; the facility provides training for the hospitality and tourism industries in 12-month residential courses. After meeting with students and staff, the royal couple presented certificates to graduating members.

Speaking to the crowd, Middleton asked, "Did everyone have a fun Easter?"

The Brits then made their way to the Cultural Center at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Before their arrival, however, Middleton did a quick wardrobe change. She recycled her beloved Hobbs fit-and-flare '50s-inspired gray and white dress. She also swapped her pumps for L.K. Bennett espadrille wedges.

During their trip, the Duke and Duchess admired local artists' works and received traditional dot paintings. The designs were done on mala paper, which is made from wallaby feces. When she was given clapping sticks that afternoon, Middleton said, "George loves anything that makes noise."

Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. Speaking about the beautiful landscape, Middleton reportedly told local Amanda Bartels, "It's absolutely stunning from the air."

"I asked her if she was missing George and she said she was, so I said my son could be her George substitute," she said. "She let him play with her bracelet and she said, 'You like that. Do you want it?'"

Student Kamurin Young also presented William with a spear that had been made from local wood. "William was pleased. He was so thankful," Young said. "I told him it was made from wood from the Mulga tree and that it had kangaroo vein, used as twine, on it he was shocked he said, 'Wow.'"

Next, they watched a traditional aboriginal performance. William was given a hand-carved shield, while his wife received a necklace. As she swatted bugs, Middleton said, "I was told about the flies."

Middleton reportedly told a student that her 8-month-old son has grown an extra roll of fat during the tour. She also revealed that the future King of England can get a bit grumpy during the longer flights.

The Duke and Duchess then headed to Ayers Rock, the nation's largest natural sandstone. They left George with his nanny in Canberra, marking their second night away from him during the royal tour.

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Kate Middleton Tells Prince William The "Bald" Truth

When it comes to being honest with each other, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge don't mince words.

On Friday, April 18, Prince William and Kate Middleton continued their tour down under, visiting the The Sydney Royal Easter Show. It was there that the topic went from alpaca wool to Prince William's receding hairline. Read on for all the hairy details. The Sydney Royal Easter Show takes place every year, and is marked by the shaving of an alpaca's overgrown wool. After watching the demonstration, Wills and Kate were presented with a piece of the sheared alpaca tuft.  An exhibitor for the event told the British Press Association, "The Prince was interested in the alpaca and as I showed it to them the princess said he should put it on his head." The Duchess then took the tuft and suggested that William should put it on his head. She jokingly remarked to her husband, "You need it more than me," instantly sparking a roar of laughter from Prince William and the rest of the crowd.

William's diminishing 'do has become more noticeable in recent years, and is similar to his father, Prince Charles', hardly-there hair. So, although Prince William may one day inherit the royal throne, he has already inherited his father's royally receding hairline.

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Prince George, Prince William & Kate Middleton Color-Coordinate Outfits En Route to Sydney

Prince George just gets cuter with every new photo op! The 8-month-old heir to the British throne reappeared in New Zealand on Wednesday, April 16, as he and his parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William, boarded a flight to Sydney, Australia.

The royal family arrived at Wellington Airport following their visit to the Royal New Zealand Police College earlier in the day. All three were in shades of blue, the Duchess, 32, wore a skirt suit by New Zealand designer Rebecca Taylor, while her husband and son color-coordinated in navy and white. 

George wiggled in his father's arms as they walked across the airfield and up the steps to the plane. It marked the first time the Duke had been photographed holding the little prince since they left the hospital in July.

The remaining week and a half of the family's tour will take place in Australia. Plenty still awaits them, but it will be difficult to top their experience in New Zealand, which the Duke of Cambridge praised in a speech at Wigram Air Force Museum earlier this week.

"As you all know, this is Catherine's first visit to New Zealand, and the two of us could not be more grateful for the way in which we have been made to feel so very welcome," he said. "There have been many highlights from the past 10 days in this beautiful country. Catherine beating me at sailing does not count amongst them, not for me anyway."

He went on to praise the "resilience and adaptability" of New Zealand and, in particular, the city of Christchurch, which weathered a devastating earthquake in 2011. "You should be proud that, because of the undaunted spirit of New Zealanders, Christchurch is a city that has chosen not only to survive but to thrive," Prince William said. "Catherine and I look forward to returning to see how this historic and yet energetic, 21st century city takes shape."

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Prince George Joins Kate Middleton, Prince William for New Zealand Playgroup on Royal Tour

Best royal playdate ever! Prince George continued his reign of cuteness on Wednesday, April 9, when he attended his first official overseas engagement with Kate Middleton and Prince William in Wellington, New Zealand. Looking his usual adorable self, the 8-month-old heir to the British throne joined the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Government House for a baby playgroup coordinated by the parent support organization Plunket.

The event is likely the first time baby George has played with a large group of infants, but he and his parents seemed right at home. Clad in navy "sailboat-smocked" dungaree shorts from Rachel Riley and a white babygro, the little prince made the rounds with the Duchess, 32, who looked chic in a patterned Tory Burch dress and black heels. At one point, George briefly grabbed the hand of a little girl in a polka-dot onesie. "He looked really happy and was kicking his legs," an onlooker tells , noting that he was especially enthralled by the toys.

The scene was much busier and more chaotic than Princess Diana's Government House stop back in 1983. During that tour, she and Prince Charles were photographed playing with a then-10-month-old Prince William on the picturesque lawn of New Zealand's other Government House in Auckland. Prince George's stop, conversely, took place in the Blundell Room and  was overflowing with kids and toys. "It's madness," the Duke quipped to one of the other parents. "There are babies everywhere!"

Prior to the engagement, 10 families were chosen by Plunket to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Each has a baby who was born within a few weeks of Prince George's birthday on July 22, 2013. Among the lucky families are a gay couple and their young daughter, a single mother and her son, and a man whose daughter will be the fourth generation of his family to meet a royal visitor.

"The parents are a spread of all the communities in New Zealand, including Maoris, Samoans, people of Chinese descent, and gay couples," Plunket president Tristine Clark explained. "This is a very multicultural country, and we wanted the Duke and Duchess to meet people from all backgrounds."

One thing they have in common? Like Prince William and Duchess Catherine, they are all first-time parents. "We've been through the sleepless nights, and we can talk to them about our experiences," 29-year-old tax accountant Kate Bainbridge explained. (Bainbridge and husband Jarrid, 32, welcomed daughter Sophie 11 days before Prince George's birth.) "It should be quite easy to chat with them," she said.

Added 40-year-old Philip Gray, whose wife Alana, 31, gave birth to baby Lily last July 16: "The good thing about kids is that they're unpredictable, so I'm sure there will be a lot of laughter. Babies are a great ice-breaker."

Gray also noted that his family has a history of royal encounters; his grandfather met Queen Elizabeth II when he was serving with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and his father met Prince William's dad, Charles, Prince of Wales. "Now I'm meeting the next two generations down," he said. "Maybe our daughter will meet Prince George's children one day."

For others, like single mom Tui Funaki, 30, the royal visit is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "I'm a little bit nervous," Funaki admitted. "But I'm just going to be myself and see what happens." She joked, too, that her son Levi is about the same size as Prince George. "They're both big boys," the former hotel chef quipped.

The Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, known more commonly as just Plunket, was founded in 1907 by pediatrician Sir Frederic Truby King. Today, the nonprofit offers families free childcare advice, home visits, and services such as car seat rentals.

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Kate Middleton and Prince William Encounter Men in Thongs, Receive Nose Kisses in New Zealand

What a welcome!

Prince William and Kate Middleton kicked off their royal tour in New Zealand Monday. Before he greeted the famous family on the tarmac, a proud Prime Minister John Key told his 107,000+ Twitter followers, "The Royals have arrived in Wellington. Let's make them feel welcome, New Zealand."

After touching down with Prince George (and new nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo in tow), they headed to Wellington's Government House, where George watched proceedings from the window.

The Duke and Duchess received a traditional Hongi welcome from Maori elders Hiria Hape and Lewis Moeau, which involved pressing their noses and foreheads to the elders' noses and foreheads.

The Maori ceremonial welcome, also known as the Powhiri, included several speeches, as well as dancing and singing. The Duke then inspected a Guard of Honor before a 21 gun salute was fired.Three tattooed male toa, armed with spears and wearing thongs, uttered war cries during one ritual. They performed an intricate and intimidating series of martial arts moves before one of the warriors offered William, 31, a rakau tapu (dart). He bent down to pick it up with his eyes fixated on the toa.

Following a haka powhiri (welcome dance), 32-year-old Middleton described the ceremony as "super."

Locals were eager to get a glimpse of the royals, who are on their first official visit since George's birth. Per press reports, one little girl said, "Kate is just so perfect. She is a proper princess. She said her hair was stringy because of the rain but it looked amazing to me. They said they were really excited to be in New Zealand and they were sorry they couldn't bring baby George outside but it was too rainy."Middleton wore a Catherine Walker coat and a Gina Foster hat. She accessorized with a diamond brooch in the shape of a silver fern, New Zealand's national symbol, on loan from Queen Elizabeth II.

When the royal couple's trip was first announced, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said, "There is no hiding the enthusiasm for this visit by both The Duke and The Duchess. The Duke has no doubt that his wife will fall in love with New Zealand and Australia every bit as much as he did, some years ago."

William has visited New Zealand several times over the years, most recently just before his April 2011 wedding. At the time, he had decided to visit Christchurch to meet those affected by the earthquakes.

Before this trip, Her Majesty gave special permission for William and George to fly together, as two heirs to the throne seldom do. The Queen gave the same consent to Prince Charles when he made the same trip to Australia in 1983 with his then-wife, the late Princess Diana, and a 9-month-old William.

The royals will spend the next two days recovering from jet lag at a private residence. Their official engagements begin Wednesday when George meets other babies on the Government House grounds.

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Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George Arrive in Wellington, Begin Three-Week Tour in New Zealand and Australia

Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince George's three-week tour Down Under has officially begun.

The royals landed at the Military Terminal at Wellington Airport Monday morning local time to begin their highly anticipated trip in New Zealand and Australia.

The Duchess of Cambridge toted the adorable 8-month-old on her hip and the Duke of Cambridge waved as the family disembarked from the Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, their connecting flight from Sydney.

The 32-year-old kicked off the trip in style, clad in a Catherine Walker button-adorned red coat, a silver fern diamond and platinum brooch borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II, a scarlet Gina Foster pill box hat and black pumps. The well-behaved alert tiny prince, with his perfect round cheeks and soft blond hair, looked positively precious in a cream sweater, white shorts and little booties. The 31-year-old sported a dark suit with a red and blue patterned tie.Following their arrival, Kate and William will attend a Ceremonial Welcome at the Government House in Wellington around lunchtime.

The family's first official event, as well as George's first public appearance since his royal christening, will be at a parents and baby group on Apr. 9 at the Government House. A sweet sidenote: baby Will crawled there during his very first trip outside the United Kingdom back in 1983.

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Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince George Have an Adorable New Family Photo

Just in time to make your day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, aka Prince William and Kate Middleton, have released a brand new family photo that will melt your heart.

Taken by famed English photographer Jason Bell at Kensington Palace, the family portrait also stars their adorable eight-month-old, Prince George, and Lupo the dog.

Fun fact, this photo is only the third official family photo that's been taken since George was born in July.

William and Kate are currently prepping for their upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand, during which George will make a public appearance at an event for new parents and their children.

This isn't the first time Bell has photographed the royal couple. He also took the picture of the royal family at George's christening in October.

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Kate Middleton, Prince William Hire Prince George a New Nanny

Prince George will be in good hands! Following the Thursday, March 20 news that Kate Middleton and Prince William chose Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo to be the nanny for their 7-month-old son Prince George, source has uncovered more details about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's new hire.

Borrallo, 43, grew up in Palencia, Spain, and was trained at London's Norland College. The institution specializes in nanny training, and is famous for its Mary Poppins-style uniforms. The college issued a congratulatory message to their former student, saying, "We wish her all the best for her new position."

Borrallo comes from a wealthy family and has three brothers. Her uncle, Emilio Turrion Borrallo, told Spanish newspaper ABC: "We are pleased for her." Her parents, Luis and Maria, married in Madrid in 1969.

Middleton, 32, and Prince William, 31, recently started working with Borrallo in their new residence at Kensington Palace in London; Borrallo will accompany them on their family tour of Australia and New Zealand in April, a palace rep confirmed on Thursday. "We will not be giving further details on Maria or her employment, except to say that the Duke and Duchess are of course delighted she has chosen to join them," the rep said at the time.

Borrallo is the first foreign nanny to look after a future British monarch. Prince George's previous, part-time nanny was Jessie Webb, who cared for Princes William and Harry when they were children.

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Pippa Middleton Knew You Were Staring at Her Butt During the Royal Wedding

Kate Middleton made women gasped in delight when she stepped out in her stunning Alexander McQueen wedding dress during her royal wedding, but it was Pippa Middleton and her ivory-clad derriere that made ladies everywhere green with envy that day.

Now, almost three years since her butt captivated thousands around the world, the Duchess' sister is speaking out about that bridesmaid's dress that got her all the attention.

"As I have found out, recognition has its upside, its downside and you may say its backside," she joked in her speech during a Women in Advertising and Communications dinner in London Tuesday. Telling the crowd that she was glad that she was able to fit into her McQueen dress on the day of the ceremony, she quipped, "in retrospect, it fitted a little too well."

In 2012, the party planner and Celebrate author also made a crack about her behind to Mail on Sunday, telling the British publication, "It is a bit startling to achieve global recognition before the age of 30 on account of your sister, your brother-in-law and your bottom."

"One day I might be able to make sense of this," she added.

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