The Stunning Engagement Rings Worn By 8 Royals

Oct 13, 2022 by apost team

All the pomp and glamor of a royal wedding just isn’t complete without the engagement announcements. With this comes the requisite engagement ring. Over the years, it’s been fascinating to see just what prized jewels women of the royal family have chosen. While many choose the tried and true clear diamond, others opt for more colorful stones. For some, their choices boil down to simple aesthetics, while others take a more sentimental route, such as procuring gems from countries that have a special place in their hearts and hold special meaning for the royal couple. Others, such as Queen Elizabeth II and Camilla, Queen Consort, opted for heirloom pieces that come with histories of their own.

Because so many of these women have gone on to become icons of royalty, so too have their engagement rings earned a place in history. Who can forget Princess Diana’s renowned blue sapphire or Sarah Ferguson's fiery red ruby? While these rings have become so celebrated and easily identifiable, the stories behind them are a little less well-known. For example, while many know Prince William bestowed his mother’s famous ring to Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, when they were engaged, fewer still are aware that William did not originally inherit the ring. Meanwhile, others have taken the time and care to design the rings themselves, giving their eventual wives even more reason to cherish their jewels – apart from their price tag, of course!

Let’s take a look back at some of the most exquisite, charming and unconventional choices of the royal family. 

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip announced their engagement on July 9, 1947. The ring Philip used to propose comprised 11 diamonds from his mother’s own wedding tiara. Apart from designing the ring, Philip also used the remaining diamonds from the tiara to create a bracelet for his love. Both together are estimated to be worth $230,000. It was handed down to her only daughter Princess Anne when she died in September 2022. 

apost.com

The relationship between King Charles III and Camilla has definitely raised eyebrows over the years, but they finally married in 2005. Camilla’s engagement ring holds significant sentimental value. Although it was not the Queen Mother’s engagement ring, it was from her personal collection, and some vintage pictures show her wearing it. With a 5-carat emerald-cut diamond center stone with adjoining baguette diamonds, estimates put the ring at a value of about $288,000.

Sarah, Duchess of York, and Prince Andrew married in 1986 but were divorced by 1996. Even after the split, Sarah continued to wear her engagement ring styled in a similar fashion to Princess Diana’s. The biggest difference is the center-set Burmese ruby circled by 10 diamonds. Designed in collaboration with Garrard’s, the ring’s estimated value is about $228,370.

Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, announced her engagement to bar manager Jack Brooksbank on Jan. 22, 2018. Her engagement ring featured a padparadscha sapphire in a combination of red and yellow hues, which makes it appear pink. While Eugenie's stone is similar to what her mother once wore, Sarah's ring is actually red in color. The pair were married on Oct. 12, 2018, at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s other daughter, Beatrice, announced her engagement to property developer Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in September 2019. The ring, which bears a 2.5-carat diamond sourced from Botswana, was made by Shaun Leane. Valued at about $100,000, the piece was a perfect accompaniment to follow them “in great stead for the years ahead, full of love and happiness.” The happy couple was married on July 17, 2020.

Prince Edward is married to Sophie Rhys-Jones, now known as Sophie, Countess of Wessex. They have been married for over 20 years, and Edward is actually the only one of Queen Elizabeth's children who hasn't gotten divorced. Before they were married in 1999, Sophie’s engagement ring was designed by Garrard. Its 2-carat oval diamond center stone is surrounded by two smaller heart-shaped diamonds. It is estimated to have cost Edward a cool $113,885.

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010 with Princess Diana's engagement ring, but it was his brother, Prince Harry, who initially inherited it. However, he offered it to William. Diana chose her ring from a Garrard catalog for her engagement to Prince Charles in February 1981. The ring featured a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds on 18-karat white gold. Its estimated worth is about $500,000, according to Oprah Mag.

Prince Harry designed his own jewelry to propose to Meghan Markle. According to The Sun, the yellow-gold ring featured a central stone from Botswana, a country Harry and Meghan have fond memories of, along with two smaller diamonds from Diana's collection. The ring is estimated to be valued at around $350,000. The prince proposed to Meghan in November 2017 while the pair were enjoying a chicken dinner and were married in May 2018.

What do you think of the beautiful rings? Which one is your favorite? Let us know, and don’t forget to pass this along to friends and family who’d love to take a gander at these shiny jewels.