A reproduction of Kate Middleton’s engagement ring—the sapphire that originally belonged to Princess Diana—will not be sold at palace gift shops, after all. Whatever. The real question: Is this Kate’s handiwork????

That’s according to The Daily Mail. They say that the repro ring was supposed to be offered as part of a collection of Princess Diana pieces sold at the Kensington Palace gift shop, as well as online. But it wasn’t to be, a manufacturer spokesperson said: “We do make the ring but they don’t want us to supply it to the gift shop.”

Shoppers can still pick up the matching earrings for £14.99 or the accompanying necklace for £29.99. Otherwise you’ll simply have to make do with several varieties of fine china, and/or stuffed corgis.

But could it be there’s more than mere merchandising strategy at work, here? Could it be that the fingerprints of one Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are all over this move? Let’s go off-road. The Daily Mail breathlessly suggests that “Royal sources believe that Kate herself may have banned their sale because the real ring has such deep personal significance for her and her husband, Prince William.” Banned!! (MAYBE!) The tab consulted with more specifically a “Palace source,” who offered this dishy quote:

‘I expect the feeling at Kensington Palace is that it’s rather naff to sell cheap copies of Diana’s engagement ring.

‘One can hardly blame Kate for vetoing the idea of them selling a knock-off of the ring she wears every day.’

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As wacky royal rumors go, I give it a B+ for entertainment value. But it’s quite clearly a stretch, if not outright conjecture, and how can we even begin to trust this information without knowing the identity of this “Palace source”? Are we dealing with a low-level functionary or perhaps a very nosy chambermaid? (Do they still have chambermaids?) Is it Prince William, rolling his eyes? Is it an animate-but-bored painting of Queen Anne? Is it Fergie? Anybody with information regarding internal palace politics, please advise.

Contact the author at kelly@jezebel.com.

Photo via Getty Images.

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