Eagle eyed fans spot Princess Kate has switched engagement ring for unusual new collection

stepped out on a royal community engagement with Prince William yesterday in Southport for the first time since her cancer diagnosis.

The couple, who met with emergency responders and the families of the three young girls who were stabbed to death at a dance class earlier this year,

While many were pleased to see the princess, 42, feeling well enough to return to a public duty, many royal fans were also quick to notice the absence of Kate's engagement ring.

Instead, the Princess of Wales was wearing a new collection of jewellery on her wedding finger, which fans were quick to pick up on.

, the mother-of-three opted instead for a thin golden ring along with what is believed to be a new "eternity band".

Tobias Kormind, the co-founder and MD of 77 Diamonds, Europe's largest online diamond jeweller, told GB News that the new ring could symbolise William and Kate's love.

He said: "Kate's new ring may be a symbol of hope for new beginnings, with an emotional tie to the past.

"Eternity rings represent everlasting love, and this style of ring echoed the sentiment of the moving video, where Kate was seen spending time with those closest to her."

The new jewellery choice on Thursday comes just over a month since the confirming the end of her chemotherapy treatment.

In the moving video, the princess spoke about the important things in life such as "loving" and "being loved".

Kate also confirmed a gradual return to public duties, with the visit to Southport being her first community engagement since last year, despite appearing at

The princess paired her new jewellery collection with a