Nearly two thirds of Brits believe that married men should wear a wedding ring, while three quarters say the same about women, our survey has found. Just one in five married Britons choose not to wear a ring to denote their status. The results come in light of next week’s royal wedding and the news that Prince William has decided against wearing a wedding ring of any sort, due to, a spokesman stated, ‘personal preference’.
- 64% believe that married men should wear a wedding ring, with only 7% against it
- 76% say married women should wear one, with 3% feeling it is not necessary
- Of the married people we asked, 77% do wear a ring, and just 23% choose not to
- 91% of married women say they wear a wedding ring
- 63% of married men say they wear a wedding ring
Prior to the Second World War it was unheard of for men to wear wedding rings, but during the conflict it became customary for soldiers serving overseas to wear a wedding band reminding them of home and their commitment to their wives and families. The popularity of wedding rings for men has since soared, but there is still divided opinion on whether wearing one is ‘obligatory’ or not.
The exchanging of rings has long been a customary, rather than compulsory, part of the traditional wedding ceremony, signifying a married couple’s eternal love and commitment to one another, so Prince William’s decision to bypass this may come as a surprise to many. However as some sources have cited, ‘It was something the couple discussed, but Prince William isn't one for jewellery’.
