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The Queen Mother’s Engagement Ring
One of the earliest iconic royal engagement rings belonged to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as the Queen Mother and the mother of Queen Elizabeth II. She received the ring from Prince Albert, Duke of York, who would later become King George VI, when the couple became engaged in 1923.
The design features a Kashmir sapphire set between two diamonds in a classic three stone arrangement. Contemporary reports described the sapphire as an exceptional blue and noticeably larger than the two flanking diamonds, creating a composition that emphasized the richness of the center stone. By the 1950s, however, Elizabeth was rarely seen wearing the sapphire ring and instead favored other jewelry pieces, including a large pearl surrounded by diamonds.
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Queen Elizabeth II’s Engagement Ring
When Prince Philip proposed to the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947, he did so with a diamond ring crafted from stones taken from his mother’s tiara.
The ring features a round brilliant cut diamond estimated at approximately three carats set in platinum. Ten smaller pavé diamonds line the shoulders of the band, five on each side, adding additional brilliance while keeping the focus on the center stone.
The diamonds used in the ring carried deep family history. Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, gave him an antique diamond and aquamarine tiara she had received as a wedding gift. Philip used several of the tiara’s diamonds to create Elizabeth’s engagement ring.
Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring is estimated to be worth between $200,000 and $250,000 and remains one of the most historically significant royal engagement rings of the twentieth century.
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Princess Margaret’s Engagement Ring
Princess Margaret’s engagement ring stood apart from traditional royal designs with a vivid ruby surrounded by diamonds arranged in the shape of a rosebud when she became engaged to Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960.
The ring was designed by Armstrong-Jones himself before the proposal. The rosebud motif was a deliberate reference to Margaret’s middle name, Rose. The romantic design distinguished the ring from the diamond solitaires more commonly worn by members of the royal family.
Few photographs of the ring exist today, but accounts confirm its distinctive ruby center stone and rosebud shaped cluster. It remains one of the most unusual engagement rings worn by a British royal.
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Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
Few engagement rings have become as recognizable as Princess Diana’s sapphire cluster, first presented when Prince Charles proposed in 1981.
The ring features a 12 carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 round diamonds set in 18K white gold. The striking halo design immediately distinguished the ring from traditional royal engagement rings.
The design was created by Garrard, the official Crown jeweler at the time. Its inspiration came from a sapphire and diamond brooch Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria as a wedding gift in 1840.
At the time, Diana’s choice of ring attracted attention because it was not custom made or unique. The design appeared in Garrard’s jewelry collection and was available for purchase by the public. Despite this unusual detail for a royal engagement ring, the sapphire cluster quickly became inseparable from Diana’s public image.
When Prince Charles proposed in 1981, the ring was valued at upwards of $37,500. Today it remains one of the most famous engagement rings in royal history and continues to influence engagement ring design around the world.
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Princess Anne’s Engagement Ring
Princess Anne is one of the few British royals who have received two sapphire engagement rings over the course of her life.
Her first engagement ring from Captain Mark Phillips features a sapphire set between two diamonds in a classic three stone arrangement. Phillips proposed in 1973 with a ring created by Garrard & Co., the same Crown jeweler responsible for several royal engagement rings of the era. When asked about the design, Anne famously described it simply as “a sapphire in the middle and a diamond on each side.”
Nearly two decades later, Anne received a second sapphire engagement ring when Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence proposed in 1992. This ring features a 3 carat oval cabochon sapphire flanked by clusters of three diamonds on each side.
Princess Anne’s first sapphire engagement ring is estimated to be worth approximately $13,000. Her second ring, which features a larger sapphire and additional diamond accents, is estimated to be worth between $25,000 and $32,000.
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Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge’s Engagement Ring
Kate Middleton’s engagement ring already carried decades of royal history before it was ever placed on her finger when Prince William proposed in 2010.
The ring features a 12 carat oval Ceylon blue sapphire surrounded by 14 round brilliant cut diamonds set in 18K white gold. It is the same sapphire ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.
The design was originally created by Garrard in 1981 when Prince Charles proposed to Diana. Because of its connection to Diana, the ring carried both historical and emotional significance when Prince William later presented it to Kate.
When Prince Charles first purchased the ring in 1981, it was valued at upwards of $37,500. Today, due to inflation and its royal provenance, the ring is estimated to be worth between $400,000 and $520,000.
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Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall’s Engagement Ring
Camilla’s engagement ring from Prince Charles came from within the royal family itself when the couple announced their engagement in 2005.
The ring features a 5 carat emerald cut diamond set at the center of an Art Deco style design surrounded by smaller diamond accents. The geometric setting and stepped diamond arrangement suggest the ring dates to the 1920s or 1930s.
Buckingham Palace confirmed at the time of the engagement that the ring was a royal family heirloom. Photographs from the 1980s show the same ring worn by the Queen Mother, strongly suggesting that it once belonged to her.
Camilla’s emerald cut diamond engagement ring is estimated to be worth approximately $288,000 and remains one of the most distinctive heirloom engagement rings within the British royal family.
Photo Credit: Tim Graham / Getty Images
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex’s Engagement Ring
Meghan Markle's engagement ring from Prince Harry features a three stone design centered on a cushion cut diamond estimated at roughly three carats. The center diamond was sourced from Botswana, a country that holds special meaning for Prince Harry and where the couple took their first trip together. Two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana's personal jewelry collection flank the center stone, which Harry said was his way of ensuring his mother would be part of their journey.
Prince Harry worked with Cleave & Company, the late Queen Elizabeth II's longtime jeweler, to create the custom ring. The design is set on a yellow gold band, a choice Harry made because it is Meghan's favorite metal. The classic three stone arrangement allows the Botswana diamond to remain the focal point while the diamonds from Diana's collection add a direct connection to royal family history.
In total, the ring is estimated to weigh approximately 3.8 carats and is estimated to be worth between $300,000 and $350,000. Because two of the diamonds once belonged to Princess Diana, some experts believe the ring carries significance that extends beyond its market value.
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Princess Eugenie of York’s Engagement Ring
Princess Eugenie’s engagement ring stands out among royal jewels for its rare gemstone when Jack Brooksbank proposed in 2018.
The ring features an oval padparadscha sapphire estimated at approximately five carats. Padparadscha sapphires are among the rarest varieties of sapphire and are known for their distinctive pink orange hue that shifts subtly depending on the light.
The sapphire is surrounded by a halo of round diamonds and set on a band made of Welsh gold. The design bears a striking resemblance to the engagement ring Eugenie’s mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, received from Prince Andrew in 1986.
The ring is estimated to be worth between $50,000 and $250,000, with much of its value coming from the rarity of the padparadscha sapphire.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Brady / Getty Images
Princess Beatrice of York’s Engagement Ring
Princess Beatrice’s engagement ring reflects a blend of historic design influences and modern craftsmanship. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi proposed with the ring in 2019. The ring features a 2.5 carat round brilliant cut diamond flanked by tapered baguette diamonds. The center diamond and side stones are ethically sourced from Botswana and set in a platinum band.
Mozzi collaborated with a British jeweler to design the custom ring. He knew he wanted a round diamond set in platinum and was drawn to elements of both Art Deco and Victorian jewelry design. The final ring blends those influences in a subtle way. The clean lines of the tapered baguette diamonds echo the geometry of Art Deco jewelry, while the overall composition retains the softness often associated with Victorian era designs.
Princess Beatrice's engagement ring is estimated to be worth approximately $165,000 and stands out among modern royal engagement rings for its elegant mix of historic design influences.
Photo Credit: Princess Eugenie's Instagram
