With every new royal engagement, comes a new shiny royal jewel for us all to awe at. From the big, the bold and the beautiful to the sweet and sentimental, we take a look at the most incredible royal engagement rings of all time.
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Meghan Markle
As news spreads that Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle are now engaged, all eyes are on her sparkling new engagement ring. The gorgeous ring features three stones; a large diamond in the centre from Botswana (which is where their Harry first took Meghan during their initial dates) and two smaller diamonds on each side, both of which are from Harry’s mother, Princess Diana’s, own personal collection. As Meghan told People, “Not being able to meet his mum, it’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us.”
Image via Elle UK
Lady Diana, Princess of Wales
Possibly one of the most famous royal engagement rings, this ring is truly iconic. When Charles proposed to Diana he gave her the option of picking her own engagement ring from a selection of rings presented by Garrard Jewelers. She went for an 18-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set in white gold. Although we don’t know for sure, there are several theories surrounding why she chose this stunning piece either the sapphire matched her eye colour or simply because it was the biggest! In true Diana fashion, picking a sapphire engagement ring became a global trend.
Image via : Express
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
In 2010, Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton presenting her with his late mother’s gorgeous sapphire engagement ring. After Diana’s death, it was reported that Prince Harry had inherited her ring and William was given her watch. However, there was a quick switch around once William was ready to propose to Kate. We think this is a truly sentimental gesture and makes for a beautiful legacy.
Image via : Daily Mail
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip serve up true couple goals with this gorgeous royal jewel. Prince Philip had the Queen’s square cut diamond engagement ring with diamond side stones set in platinum, designed himself. It was created from diamonds taken from a tiara that belonged to his mother, Princess Andrew of Greece. Unlike other royals, the Queen still wears this ring everyday paired with her Welsh gold wedding band. How sweet!
Image via : Artemisias Royal Jewels
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Princess Margaret’s engagement to Antony Armstrong-Jones was highly published in its time. The couple had to keep the engagement secret for several months and were even encouraged not to marry at all. Although, her engagement ring was terribly sentimental. A gorgeous ruby surrounded by diamonds, designed to look like a rosebud in honour of the princess’s middle name: rose.
Image via : Express
Wallis Warfield, Duchess of Windsor
Their marriage may have caused a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom, but their story is truly romantic. When Edward VIII abdicated the throne to marry American socialite Wallis he presenting her with an enormous Colombian emerald. Just under 20-carats the emerald was set in a ring from Cartier, inscribed with the words “We are ours now 27 x 36”, a shorthand for the date he proposed.
Image via : Oh No They Didn’t
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall
Prince Charles proposed to Camilla Parker Bowles with a diamond that belonged to his beloved grandmother, the Queen Mother. It features a massive emerald cut diamond ring with baguettes on either side. The ring has art deco influences and is said to have been a gift from King George to the Queen mother when she gave birth to Elizabeth. This has to be one of the biggest ring in the British royal family. Go Charles!
Image via : Daily Mail
Mary Donaldson, Princess of Denmark
Mary’s gorgeous engagement ring features an emerald-cut diamond flanked by a pair of ruby baguettes. The ring was supposedly chosen to reflect the colours of the Danish Flag. Recently the engagement ring has had an upgrade, with an extra two diamonds added to either side of the ring.
Image via : Oh No They Didn’t
Princess Madeleine of Sweden
Despite having a more modern aesthetic, Princess Madeleine’s engagement ring is definitely a new classic. A 4-carat Asscher cut diamond surrounded by a multitude of smaller diamonds; this ring has a home at sparkle central.
Image via : Mon Bo Miroir
Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco
Another truly iconic ring, Grace Kelly’s 12-carat emerald cut centre diamond, flanked by two baguettes designed by Cartier is inspiring. The ring is so grand in size (and sparkle) it was used as a film prop for her role in High Society. However, it wasn’t the first engagement ring that Prince Rainer gave Grace. When he first proposed he gave her a Cartier eternity band of rubies and diamonds, but realising that the eternity ring wasn’t in American tradition he gifted her the second ring.
Image via : Diamond Hedge
Charlene, Princess of Monaco
Following Grace Kelly’s major ring, it’s only tradition for a Monegasque princess to be gifted with a huge diamond ring. Created by Parisian jeweller Maison Repossi, Charlene’s ring is a 3-carat pear shaped diamond encrusted with smaller round brilliant cut diamonds. Simply breathtaking in its size and brilliance.
Image via : Daily Mail
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Originally posted June 11
