VIDEO: Prince William On Kate Middleton 'No One's Trying To Fill My Mother's Shoes'
Nov. 16 2010, Published 6:30 a.m. ET
In their first television interview after announcing to the world that they are engaged, Prince William and Kate Middleton sat down with CNN to address their wedding plans, the late Princess Diana, and Kate's new high-profile status.
On Tuesday, the royal said that Kate will "carve out her own future. No one's trying to fill my mother's shoes. It's about making your own future and your own destiny and Kate will do a very good job with that.”
The Prince popped the big question with the blue sapphire and diamond ring that his father Charles, the Prince of Wales, gave to Diana back in February 1981.
Princess Diana chose the ring from a selection presented to her by the jewelers Garrard.
She may have the late Diana's ring on her hand, but Kate said she would have liked to have met her mother-in-law.
"I would love to have met her," Kate told CNN. "She's obviously an inspirational woman to look up to."
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Prince William revealed that he waited to propose to Kate because he wanted to make sure she was ready for a high-profile and royal life.
"I wanted to give her a chance to see and back out if she needed to before it got all too much," the Prince said. "I just wanted to give her the best chance to settle in and see what happens on the other side."
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