Royal Romance: The Most Stunning Engagement Rings and the Fascinating Stories Behind Them
Royal engagement rings hold a unique kind of depth, symbolizing a union that isn't just about marriage, but also about the aristocracy. Not only are these gems highly valued, but they are also personalized and have intriguing stories behind them.
From a King who stepped down from the throne for his bride to a commoner who rose to the position of Queen, these engagements make your average marriage look like a cakewalk. Read on to discover some truly remarkable rings and the even more exquisite stories behind them.
Meghan Markle's 3-Carat Cushion Cut Diamond
Meghan Markle's engagement ring features a 3-carat cushion cut diamond in the center, flanked by two slightly smaller diamonds. The specially-made ring features two diamonds from Princess Diana's collection.
The center diamond came from Botswana. Initially, her band was a soft, yellow gold. In 2019, the gems were reset, this time on a micro-pavé band (StyleCaster). The stylish ring is perfect for Meghan as it is gorgeous but not over-the-top, as well as noticeable without demanding your attention.
The "Cozy" Proposal
When you imagine a prince proposing to an actress, you probably think of massive ordeal with fireworks and maybe even a flash mob. Prince Harry and Meghan have proven themselves to be far more down-to-Earth than that, though.
So, it's no surprise that the proposal was intimate and private. While roasting a chicken in their Nottingham Cottage, the Prince got down on one knee and proposed. Meghan said that the "cozy night" was "sweet and natural and very romantic" (Town & Country Magazine).
Kate Middleton's 12-Carat Ceylon Sapphire
Kate Middleton's large sapphire engagement ring is impossible to miss against her fair skin. A total of 14 diamonds surround the oval Garrard 12-carat Ceylon sapphire gem and are set in white gold (Brides).
The beautiful ring is elegant yet strong, which seems to suit the duchess. The deep color picks up on her dark green eyes. Though the color isn't clear like a traditional diamond, it goes with any outfit she wears and doesn't clash with other jewelry.
The Proposal Was At Mount Kenya
Prince William and Kate Middleton's proposal story is similar to that of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's in one sense: they both took place in cottages. However, William and Kate's scenario was a little more extravagant.
Rather than being in their own home roasting dinner, they were on vacation in Mount Kenya (People). They went on the trip with friends, but we would venture to guess that they were alone when the Prince popped the question.
Princess Diana's Ring Later Became Kate Middleton's
If this ring looks familiar, it's because it's the same one we just saw on Kate Middleton's finger! Indeed, Kate and Prince William's proposal held special meaning in that he offered her the engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana (People).
The Princess was known for her grace and charm, and wore the 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire ring with grace. The deep color made Diana's big, blue eyes all the more radiant and underscored her elegance.
The Secret Proposal
King Charles III proposed to then Lady Diana Spencer at the Buckingham Palace during a private dinner (Town & Country Magazine). It's impossible to say who knew that the engagement occurred when it did because the couple kept the news under wraps for weeks.
Plus, the castle is enormous, featuring a whopping 775 rooms, many of which are off-limits to the public. We love the idea of the couple hiding away in a room few know about to soak in their wedding plans before anyone else caught wind.
Queen Camilla's Emerald-Cut Diamond
In 2005, about eight years after Princess Diana tragically passed, King Charles III asked Queen Camilla Parker for her hand in marriage. This time around, he proposed with a beautiful emerald-cut diamond flanked by two sets of baguette trio diamonds (Town & Country Magazine).
At first glance, the ring looks vaguely similar to that of Meghan Markle due to its rectangular shape and the flank design. It's suiting that King Charles III proposed with his mother's ring, while Prince Harry proposed with a similar looking ring to his father's second wife.
The Forbidden Love
King Charles III and Queen Camilla met in 1970 at a polo match and had a loving relationship ever since (TODAY.com). Queen Camilla was married at the time, so the two had to hold off on the romance.
According to People, the royal family wanted King Charles III to marry Princess Diana because she was the kind of girl they were looking for and he was already 30-years-old.
Queen Elizabeth II's 3-Carat Round Diamond
At the time that Prince Philip proposed to then Princess Elizabeth, Britain had just come out of WWII and a modest ring seemed the most appropriate. Thus, he had a jeweler craft a 3-carat, round diamond ring (Brides).
He also included 10 small diamonds set in platinum that fit on either side of the center diamond. Though the ring isn't the most extravagant, the story behind how it was created is one of the most touching of the royals.
The Tiara-Turned-Engagement Ring
When Prince Philip decided he was ready to propose to the Queen-to-be, he wasn't in the best financial place. His father had abandoned the family, and the war forced his mother to take the children to Paris to find refuge.
Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, came to her son's rescue when he was looking for an engagement ring. She offered him one of her precious tiaras, out of which he crafted her engagement ring (Brides).
Grace Kelly's Ruby And Diamond Eternity Band
When Prince Rainier III of Monaco proposed to Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, he presented her with a beautiful ruby and diamond infinity band. The gems symbolized his country's colors, red and white (Vogue).
Though the ring was stunning and sentimental, the Prince wanted to adorn the star with something more jaw-dropping. Shortly after their engagement, Grace Kelly doted a platinum Cartier 10.47 carat emerald-cut diamond with two baguette diamonds on each side. The famous ring even made an appearance in the film High Society.
He Proposed Shortly After Meeting Her
While King Charles III and Princess Diana only had a few dates before becoming engaged, that's nothing compared to Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. The bold royal promptly proposed shortly after meeting her.
The pair met during a 1955 trip to the Cannes Film Festival. (Town & Country Magazine) Prince Rainier became spellbound by the accomplished beauty. Albeit abrupt, their love was strong, and the couple remained married until Grace passed in 1982.
Princess Eugenie's Padparadscha Sapphire
Princess Eugenie's engagement ring is unique in that its center gem is not a diamond or a blue sapphire, but rather a 3 carat, blush-colored padparadscha sapphire, one of the rarest of its kind (Brides).
The stunning gem compliments the York princess' skin tone and her feminine spirit. Diamonds surround the beautiful gem for an added touch of sparkle, making the ring all the more eye-catching. The gems are set in a soft yellow gold band.
The New Years Day Proposal
Some can only imagine the pressure of someone who isn't a royal getting ready to propose to someone who is. Such was the case with Jack Brooksbank, who knew he had to make his proposal to Princess Eugenie a special one.
He popped the question while the pair were on a Nicaragua trip, but that's not all. He also did it on New Year's Day 2018. According to Harper's Bazaar, he proposed to the princess without a ring.
Sarah Ferguson's Burmese Ruby
Many have drawn comparisons between Princess Eugenie's engagement ring and that of her mother, Sarah Ferguson. Though they don't feature the same central gem, the designs look similar. Even the way Sarah and Prince Andrew positioned their hands to announce the engagement is like that of Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie.
Sarah's ring features a Garrard, oval-cut Burmese ruby surrounded by ten diamonds. The red-pink hue and yellow-gold band are some of the features that make it look so similar to Eugenie's ring (hellomagazine.com).
The Double Proposal
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew reportedly knew one another as small children, but lost touch until 1985 (People). The following year, while on a trip to Floors Castle, Prince Andrew popped the question at midnight.
As romantic as the scene was, Sarah was completely caught off guard and even thought it was a joke. Prince Andrew proposed again the following morning, convincing his bride-to-be that this was, indeed, no joke. It was then that Sarah gave her Prince a resounding "yes." The couple divorced in 1996 after 10 years of marriage.
Wallis Simpson's 19.77 Carat Emerald
Wallis Simpson's 19.77 carat emerald engagement ring is the largest in royal history. The mesmerizing ring also has a heartfelt engraving inside that reads, "We are ours now 27 x 36" (Royal Central).
The "27" marks the day King Edward VIII proposed to the socialite, while the "x" marks the month (October) and the "36" marks the year, 1936. If you think that's romantic, just wait until you hear what the King sacrificed to marry Wallis.
The Rebellious Proposal
Wallis Simpson may have been a socialite, but she was also an "American divorcee." She'd been previously married not once, but twice, which at that time was a huge red flag to the royal family.
Despite the blatant disapproval, King Edward VIII proposed to Wallis on the day that her divorce proceedings from her second husband began (Brides). The King then declared his abdication, ending his reign. The two stayed married until his passing in 1972.
Queen Letizia's Baguette Band
Queen Letizia of Spain's engagement ring isn't one you may expect to find on the finger of a queen, but that may be the point. After all, Letizia was a news anchor at the time she became engaged to the future King.
Though the ring doesn't feature an enormous, flashy gem, it does have 16 white diamonds set in the white gold band (hellomagazine.com). At first glance, it may seem common, but in actuality, it is a valuable piece.
Proposing To A "Commoner"
Queen Letizia was a news anchor at the time she became engaged to King Felipe VI of Spain. On top of that, she had been previously married. Little is known about her relationship with King Felipe VI or the proposal, for the two kept everything under wraps until the big announcement (hellomagazine.com).
Fortunately, King Felipe VI's family welcomed Letizia into the royal family. In 2014, she became the first commoner Queen of Spain.
