.png)
10 ENGAGEMENT RINGS OF
THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY
1 PRINCESS BEATRICE
The most recent headline-making British Royal engagement was that of Princess Beatrice to property tycoon, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, announced on 26th September 2019. After 11 months of dating, Beatrice and Edoardo announced they are getting married in 2020.
2 PRINCESS EUGENIE
Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice’s sister, was engaged to Jack Brooksbank on 1st January, 2018. Her ring seems to be inspired by her mother, Sarah Ferguson’s, engagement ring (see more about Sarah’s ring No. 5 below). Since the rumor is that the couple designed the ring themselves, this is very likely to be the case. The unique gemstone in this ring is a padparadscha sapphire. The ring’s band is made of gold.
​
A padparadscha is a very rare type of sapphire and extremely expensive. Its colour is a glowing blend of pink and yellow sapphire, creating a sparkling peachy colour. The main gemstone in Eugenie’s ring is surrounded by 10 round diamonds, plus flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds that sit on the ring’s “shoulders” on the band. We estimate the ring’s value to be around £75K-£100K.
3 MEGHAN MARKLE
Perhaps the biggest Royal announcement since Prince William’s engagement to Kate Middleton – in terms of media coverage and worldwide attention – took place in November 2017. This is when Prince Harry’s engagement to actress Meghan Markle was made public.
According to Prince Harry, it took him six months to design Meghan’s ring. It is a stunning diamond trilogy design.
4 PRINCESS DIANA / KATE MIDDLETON
Princess Diana’s iconic 12-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring now sits on the finger of Kate Middleton, following her marriage to Prince William in 2012. The ring is estimated to be worth over £300,000. The beautiful ring was William’s way of continuing his mother’s legacy and keeping her very much at the heart of such a big milestone in his life. Beautifully encased by a halo of 14 glittering solitaire diamonds, this breathtaking ring caused a scandal at the time of Diana’s engagement:
Not having a unique, custom-made ring was unthinkable for a Royal engagement and some newspapers went as far as calling it a ‘commoner’s ring’.
If diamonds aren’t your first choice in engagement rings, a stunning sapphire is a superb, luxurious option, and a beautiful alternative for those looking for a less conventional ring. We estimate the ring’s current value to be around £200K-£250K.
5 SARAH FERGUSON, DUCHESS OF YORK
When Prince Andrew proposed to Sarah Ferguson in 1985, he chose a gorgeous Burmese ruby, allegedly to match her vibrant red hair.
The red ruby was surrounded by 10 sparkling diamonds in a floral style and set in stunning yellow gold. Rubies make a fitting gemstone for engagement rings, especially for someone who is looking for a colorful and less conventional stone.
Rubies, like sapphires, are also incredibly tough, almost as hard as diamonds. So their heirloom quality is well suited to engagement rings worn daily for a lifetime. We estimate the ring’s value to be anywhere between £75K-£125K.
6 CAMILLA, DUCHESS OF CORNWALL
Once belonging to the Queen Mother, Camilla’s enchanting engagement ring from Charles in 2005 is a beautiful family heirloom.
The classic piece is a large, emerald cut diamond with baguette diamonds either side, set in platinum for ultimate luxury. It is one of the largest and most valuable of all the engagement rings worn by the Royal Family.
The Art Deco design of this piece gives it a distinct vintage elegance, particularly suitable for someone looking for a classic yet eye-catching style of engagement ring. We estimate the ring to be worth approximately £300K-£350K.
7 PRINCESS MARGARET
Inspired by her middle name, Rose, Princess Margaret’s eye-catching engagement ring has romantic rubies surrounded by smaller classic diamonds. It was designed by her future husband, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, to look like a rose bud. Not only are rubies popular for their beauty and durability, making them an ideal gemstone for engagement rings. Their rich and vibrant color is also synonymous with royalty and passion.
8 QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Her Majesty’s breathtaking 3-carat diamond engagement ring created headlines in 1947, when Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark proposed to her. The ring showcases diamonds from Philip’s mother’s tiara, Princess Alice of Battenberg, as is customary in Royal Families. Phillip designed the round cut diamond ring himself. The large stone sitting between elegant side stones. The piece is set in platinum. We evaluate its worth to be about £100K-£150K.
9 WALLIS SIMPSON
Little could stop Edward, Prince of Wales from marrying the woman he loved – even abdicating the throne in 1937 to marry her and causing a huge scandal at the time. The lady in question was none other than the US actress, Wallis Simpson.
The staggering 19.77-carat emerald piece was made even more personal and romantic as Edward had the words, ‘We are ours now 27 x 36’, inscribed on the inside of the band. The numbers were shorthand for the date Edward proposed to Ms Simpson on October 27th, 1936.
10 QUEEN VICTORIA
8.QUEEN VICTORIA
During her reign in the 19th Century, it was customary for a female monarch, due to her high status, to propose to her prospective fiancé.
Queen Victoria’s engagement ring, by today’s standards, had a unique and somewhat curious design – a serpent.
It may seem like an unusual motif for a ring that represents love, but serpents at the time symbolized wisdom, loyalty and commitment.
Victoria’s ring had a mix of emeralds, rubies and diamonds set in it. Unique and with personal meaning to her, it was vibrant and colorful, like her much-adored personality.
