Royal Engagement Rings and Their Stories
A famous sapphire worn by two princesses, a ring designed by a prince — the romantic histories behind the most admired royal engagement rings.
A royal engagement ring is studied, copied and adored like few other pieces of jewellery — and the best of them carry stories every bit as romantic as the proposals. Here are three of the most famous, and the histories that make them so beloved.
The sapphire worn by two princesses
The most famous royal engagement ring of the modern age is a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by diamonds, set in white gold. Prince Charles gave it to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 — and, unusually, she chose it from a Garrard catalogue rather than having a one-off made, which raised a few eyebrows at the time. After Diana’s death, the ring passed to her sons, and in 2010 Prince William used it to propose to Catherine. Today it is one of the most recognised rings in the world — and a poignant link between two Princesses of Wales.
Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond solitaire
The late Queen’s engagement ring was a beautiful piece of family history. When Prince Philip proposed in 1947, the ring he gave her — a three-carat diamond solitaire flanked by smaller diamonds — is said to have been made using diamonds from a tiara belonging to his own mother, Princess Alice. It was a quietly personal choice, and the Queen wore it for the rest of her long life.
Meghan’s trilogy ring
When Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017, he designed the ring himself: a trilogy ring in yellow gold, its three stones representing the past, present and future. Most touchingly, the central stone was sourced from Botswana — a place special to the couple — flanked by two diamonds drawn from Princess Diana’s personal collection, so that his mother might be “part of the day”.
More than a jewel
What unites these rings is that none is really about the stone. Each is a small vessel of memory and meaning — a sapphire that links generations, a tiara remade for a young bride, a mother honoured in diamonds. That is the royal way with jewellery: the story is always the truest gem.
Details of royal jewels are drawn from widely published accounts; some specifics vary between sources.
