Once we get over the excitement of a new royal engagement, the next thing we want to know about is the ring! While diamonds are arguably the most popular choice (Royals included), rich coloured gems like rubies and sapphires crop up quite regularly. Take a look at all of the royal engagement rings of the last century.
The Queen Mother – engaged in 1923
It took numerous proposals from the Duke of York to get the desired response from Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons, and it turns out she later eschewed her original engagement ring for an entirely different one!
The Duke presented the Earl of Strathmore’s youngest daughter with a Kashmir sapphire ring with diamond accents, one either side. Good photos of this particular piece have been very difficult to find, thanks to the camera quality of the day, and that she wore gloves most of the time, but you can see it was quite a considerable stone. This is from 1930.
As early as the 1930s, however, Elizabeth decided to exchange her engagement ring for a large pearl one surrounded by diamonds.
Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor – engaged in 1936
Perhaps the largest royal engagement ring in history, Wallis Simpson was given a huge 19.77-carat emerald ring for her engagement to Edward VIII.
Made by Cartier, the inside was engraved: ‘We are ours now 27.X.36’, representing the couple’s initials, and their engagement date – also the day her divorce was granted.
Originally with simple platinum setting, Wallis had it reset in a diamond leaf setting later on, which put diamonds around the base of the emerald, facing outwards.
After her death, the ring went to auction, and was sold along with the rest of her jewellery. The sale at Sotheby’s in Geneva, in 1987, caused a stir in the jewellery world: sales totalled £31 million, and set a new world record for the sales of a single-owner jewellery collection.
The Queen – engaged in 1947
It was to one of his mother’s tiaras that Prince Philip turned for Princess Elizabeth’s engagement ring. In an early sign of his eye for design, Philip designed the ring; it features a large central brilliant-cut diamond, with stones pave-set into a triangular section of the ring, all set in platinum.
In reusing materials, he possibly mitigated the extravagant appearance at a time the country was in the throes of post-war recovery
This is a truly stunning and timeless piece, crafted by Philip Antrobus.
The Queen’s engagement ring is made of diamonds from one of Prince Philip’s mother’s tiaras
British royal weddings through the ages – from George VI to the Cambridges
Princess Margaret – engaged in 1960
Antony Armstrong-Jones gave his royal fiancee a ruby and diamond ring, made to look like a rosebud honouring her middle name. The diamonds are set up to give the illusion of leaves, or petals.
Princess Margaret’s engagement ring was a ruby and diamond rose-shaped piece
Princess Margaret and her fiance, photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, pictured at Royal Lodge, Windsor, where the newly-engaged couple spent the weekend.
Princess Anne – engaged in 1973 and 1992
Mark Phillips proposed to Princess Anne with a beautiful classic sapphire set between two equally sized diamonds. This made it quite the statement piece.
Princess Anne’s first engagement ring was a sapphire and two diamonds
30th May 1973l PRINCESS ANNE AND CAPTAIN MARK PHILLIPS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, THE MORNING AFTER THEIR ENGAGEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED
The Princess also received a sapphire ring from her second husband, Timothy Laurence. This one is a blue cabochon stone flanked by three small diamonds on each side, set on a yellow gold band. It is a simple ring, given a lift of uniqueness with the sapphire – well-suited to the no-nonsense, low-maintenance Royal.
Princess Anne’s engagement ring features a cabochon sapphire and six small diamonds flanking it. (UK in Phillipines/Flickr, cropped)
Diana, Princess of Wales – engaged in 1981
Whilst the proposal itself took place in Windsor Castle’s nursery, Diana chose the ring herself from a selection later presented to her by Garrard at Buckingham Palace. It features a uniquely coloured Ceylon sapphire, surrounded by a halo of 14 round diamond accents, set on an 18K white gold band.
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In the ring’s design, Garrard was inspired by a sapphire-and-diamond cluster brooch that Prince Albert had custom made for Queen Victoria as a wedding gift in 1840. The Queen wore it on her special day as her “something blue.” It is a brooch still seen regularly on our current Queen.
The Queen wearing Victoria’s sapphire brooch – a wedding gift from Prince Albert. Picture by i-Images / Pool
It is variously said that she chose the ring because it resembled her mother’s, that she chose it because it sported the largest gem or that it matched her cornflower blue eyes. Whatever the reason, she loved it and wore it assiduously until her divorce.
Sarah, Duchess of York – engaged in 1986
Andrew turned to Garrard, as many members of his family had done, for his ring. He presented them with some initial sketches, when it was his turn to pop the question. He finally proposed to Sarah at Floors Castle, in the Scottish borders, when they were there for the weekend.
It is strongly reminiscent in style to Diana’s ring, with the central gem swapped out for an oval cut Burmese ruby, reportedly because it reminded Andrew of Sarah’s flaming locks.
Reports have also suggested that the Prince intended to give his fiancee an emerald ring, but she requested ruby instead.
Sophie, The Countess of Wessex – engaged in 1999
Prince Edward also proposed with a ring from go-to royal jeweller, Garrard. He gave Sophie Rhys-Jones a two-carat oval diamond, with two smaller heart-shaped gems.
It was reported at the time of the couple’s engagement announcement that this was – to that point – the most expensive royal engagement ring, at an estimated £105,000.
The Countess of Wessex’s engagement ring features a large round diamond flanked by two heart-shaped ones
Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall – received in 2005
The striking art deco style ring Prince Charles used to propose to Camilla in 2005 once belonged to The Queen Mother. Featuring a fabulous five-carat emerald-cut diamond in the centre, it is flanked by three diamond baguettes, graduated in size, on each side.
The Art Deco piece is one of the larger engagement rings in the main Royal Family, and is often said to be one of the most valuable.
Camilla’s engagement ring was once The Queen Mother’s
Interestingly, Camilla also turns to The Queen Mother’s collection when it comes to tiaras and is frequently favours the Greville tiara.
It is no surprise that Charles has bestowed his grandmother’s heirlooms to Camilla. His special relationship with his beloved granny is well-known.
Autumn Phillips – engaged in 2007
Autumn Kelly received a ring from Peter Phillips that featured a central oval stone, with another smaller diamond each side, and finally two baguette stones, as it leads into the band.
Sadly, the couple announced their separation, and intention to divorce, earlier this year.
Autumn Phillips’ engagement ring features five stones – a central oval diamond, two brilliants and two baguettes
Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge – engaged in 2010
Prince William chose to giving his fiancee his mother’s engagement ring – his way of making sure his mother was part of the day, he explained in their engagement interview.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s sapphire engagement ring belonged to her late mother-in-law, Diana
When Diana died, Prince William and Prince Harry were given their mother’s jewellery to share between them. Harry chose her iconic ring, whilst William opted for her gold Cartier watch. When the moment came for William to propose to long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton, they swapped so that Kate could wear Diana’s ring.
In their engagement interview, William confessed to having carried the ring in his rucksack for three weeks whilst the couple travelled around Kenya with friends, as he waited for the right moment to pop the question.
It is thought that Catherine wore the ring on a necklace until the moment she was able to wear it on her ring finger – ie once the announcement was public.
Zara Tindall – engaged in 2010
Zara received a custom-designed central round diamond set above a split-shank band with additional sparkle coming from two rows of channel set pave cut diamonds.
Mike Tindall reportedly designed the stunning ring himself.
Zara Tindall’s engagement ring features a split band, set with diamonds, and a large central stone
Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex – engaged in 2017
In a throwback to his grandfather, Prince Harry also designed Meghan’s ring. Its central feature is an incredible five-carat cushion cut diamond, framed by two 0.75 carat brilliant diamonds from Diana’s personal collection – a way “to make sure she is with us on this crazy journey together,” Harry said.
The central stone originates from Botswana, reflecting the couple’s link to the country: it was the first place they holidayed together and a country Harry holds close to his heart.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding invites have been printed and sent out. Picture by Stephen Lock / i-Images
Whilst the ring originally had a plain gold band, this has now been swapped for a thinner, pavé-set band. The change was made at some point between Febraury and June, possibly after the birth of Archie.
Princess Eugenie – engaged in 2018
With Jack proposing on their Nicaraguan holiday, Eugenie’s ring is very similar in style to her mother’s.
Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring features a unique three-carat oval brilliant Padparadscha sapphire (in a salmon pink tone) with a distinctive floral halo of round brilliant diamonds, and two pear shaped stones at the the flank; these total between two and a half, to three carats. They are mounted on a Welsh gold band.
Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring contains a pink Padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds.
At the time their engagement was made public, Jack said: “Why I loved it so much is it changes colour from every different angle that you look at it, which is what I think of Eugenie, that she changes colour, and it’s just so amazing.”
Princess Beatrice – received in 2019
Whilst the proposal took place as the couple holidayed in Italy in September 2019, Edo had actually consulted Mayfair based jeweller Shaun Leane to design the engagement ring months before he proposed.
The central stone is 2.5 carats with two baguettes either side, which weigh 0.75 carats each. The claws holding the main stone are filed to a point, giving an edge to an otherwise classic design. Some estimates put the ring’s value as high as £250,000.
Princess Beatrice’s engagement ring was designed by her now-husband, Edo Mapelli Mozzi and Shaune Leane (Handout)
I’m so excited to announce my engagement to Edo pic.twitter.com/MvvwRRk0HT
— Princess Beatrice of York (@yorkiebea) September 26, 2019
“The diamonds are ethically sourced [from Botswana] and of the highest colour and clarity,” said Leane.
“What I wanted to do with him – because he had an aesthetic for art deco and Beatrice has an aesthetic for Victorian – we fused the two and mixed an art deco element with a Victorian element to the ring so that there was a fusion of their favourite aspects.”
It is one of the most beautiful royal rings, and its romance is added to, following the couple’s surprise nuptials earlier this month!
The Queen and Prince Philip with Princess Beatrice and Edo on their wedding day
