Welsh Gold Tradition Continues, Sparking Imitation Sales And Talk

The Welsh gold in Kate Middleton's ring continues a tradition that's been alive since the wedding of Prince William's great-grandmother, Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, who became George VI's Queen and later the Queen Mother. As reported by the BBC,

In 1923, the royal ring was fashioned from a gift of Clogau gold with enough left over for the weddings of The Queen in 1947 as well as those of the late Princess Margaret, the Princess Royal and the 1981 marriage of Prince Charles and Diana.

The stock of the original Clogau gift is believed to be almost exhausted, having been replenished over the years with donations from several other Welsh mines.

Clarence House is remaining tight lipped over the precise source of the Welsh gold for Kate's wedding band.

Yes, the old stiff upper lip has been deployed. The continuance of the tradition has speaked a host of hawkers, including four shopping channels, selling Welsh gold themselves. Since the last mine in Wales closed in 1998, and the last commercial-scale mine closed way back in 1911, there's going to be some speculation about how "Welsh" the gold pegged as Welsh gold really is.

There's already speculation about the Welsh genuineness of the future Princesss Catherine's ring.