From solitaires to triple-stone settings, diamond rings have long been the tradition when declaring undying love.
The Queen’s Engagement Ring
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip met as teenagers. She was 13 and he was 18 when they first locked eyes during a royal tour of Dartmouth Naval College. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth never considered any kind of relationship between them, as Princess Elizabeth was far too young. The princess was not deterred – she kept a photo of Philip in her room and wrote to him while he was overseas.
This ring was given to Princess Elizabeth as a token of Prince Philip’s love. After a friendship of several years, Philip had dismantled one of his mother’s old tiaras to provide the diamonds for this ring.
The Duchess of Cornwall’s ringIt was announced by Clarence House that Camilla Parker-Bowles (neé Shand) and the Prince of Wales were engaged. Charles proposed with a ring that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother – his beloved grandmother.
When presented with the ring, Elizabeth was yet to be queen. She was still HRH The Duchess of York, married to the second son of King George V.
Prince Albert was so overjoyed when Elizabeth gave birth to their first daughter, he gave her this emerald-cut diamond with 3 diamond baguettes along each side.
HRH The Countess of Wessex’s Oval and Hearts Ring
When the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, proposed to Miss Sophie Rhys Jones, he did something different from his three siblings – he proposed with a diamond ring.
Edward broke the mould and gave Sophie a 2-carat oval diamond with heart-shaped diamonds on either side. Her wedding band, like all British royal brides, was made with Welsh gold. That’s one tradition that never changes despite the varying styles and designs of engagement rings!
Rocking Tradition
Some royals chose to buck the diamond trend and instead go for a colorful gem. Look no further than this fascinating array of gems worn by several royal lovebirds for inspiration:
The most famous precious gem in recent times belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The eye-popping oval sapphire surrounded by tiny baguette diamonds was chosen by Diana herself for her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981. The engagement ring is now worn by her daughter-in-law Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
jewelry.about.com Charles and Diana’s son, Prince William, used this ring to propose to the former Kate Middleton while on holiday in Kenya together. With Diana in his thoughts, “this was my way of keeping her close to it all,” said William.
However, Diana was not the first to wear a sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Several styles of royal rings over the years have incorporated the diamond and sapphire theme.
In 1973, Captain Mark Phillips presented the Queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne, with a triple-stone set ring – a sapphire flanked by two diamonds.
Personal Perfection
Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, the Queen’s younger sister, was engaged to photographer friend Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960. He had the ruby and diamond ring designed to resemble a rose in honor of the princess, whose full name was Margaret Rose. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, proposed to his flame-haired girlfriend Sarah Ferguson with an oval ruby surrounded by smaller diamonds mounted in gold.
The prince chose a ruby to match his fiancée’s red hair.
Fast Facts Engagement Sheet!
Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip
Engagement announced: July 9th, 1947
Married: November 20th, 1947
HRH Princess Anne & Captain Mark Phillips
Engagement Announced: May 29th, 1973
Married: November 14th, 1973
(Princess Anne remarried Timothy Laurence on December 12th, 1992)
HRH The Prince of Wales & Camilla Parker-Bowles
Engagement announced: February 10th, 2005
Married: April 9th, 2005
HRH Prince Edward & Ms. Sophie Rhys Jones
Engagement announced: January 6th, 1999.
Married: June 19th, 1999
HRH Prince William of Wales & Ms. Catherine Middleton
Engagement announced: November 16th, 2010
Married: April 29th, 2011
For all of your dreamy royal rings, check out Gemvara! You can personalize ANY ring and make it as unique as you are!
The Queen’s Engagement Ring
© HM The Queen
This ring was given to Princess Elizabeth as a token of Prince Philip’s love. After a friendship of several years, Philip had dismantled one of his mother’s old tiaras to provide the diamonds for this ring.
The Duchess of Cornwall’s ringIt was announced by Clarence House that Camilla Parker-Bowles (neé Shand) and the Prince of Wales were engaged. Charles proposed with a ring that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother – his beloved grandmother.
When presented with the ring, Elizabeth was yet to be queen. She was still HRH The Duchess of York, married to the second son of King George V.
Prince Albert was so overjoyed when Elizabeth gave birth to their first daughter, he gave her this emerald-cut diamond with 3 diamond baguettes along each side.
HRH The Countess of Wessex’s Oval and Hearts Ring
When the Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward, proposed to Miss Sophie Rhys Jones, he did something different from his three siblings – he proposed with a diamond ring.
Edward broke the mould and gave Sophie a 2-carat oval diamond with heart-shaped diamonds on either side. Her wedding band, like all British royal brides, was made with Welsh gold. That’s one tradition that never changes despite the varying styles and designs of engagement rings!
Rocking Tradition
Some royals chose to buck the diamond trend and instead go for a colorful gem. Look no further than this fascinating array of gems worn by several royal lovebirds for inspiration:
The most famous precious gem in recent times belonged to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. The eye-popping oval sapphire surrounded by tiny baguette diamonds was chosen by Diana herself for her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981. The engagement ring is now worn by her daughter-in-law Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
However, Diana was not the first to wear a sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Several styles of royal rings over the years have incorporated the diamond and sapphire theme.
In 1973, Captain Mark Phillips presented the Queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne, with a triple-stone set ring – a sapphire flanked by two diamonds.
Personal Perfection
© ringswithlove.com
The prince chose a ruby to match his fiancée’s red hair.
Fast Facts Engagement Sheet!
Princess Elizabeth & Prince Philip
Engagement announced: July 9th, 1947
Married: November 20th, 1947
HRH Princess Anne & Captain Mark Phillips
Engagement Announced: May 29th, 1973
Married: November 14th, 1973
(Princess Anne remarried Timothy Laurence on December 12th, 1992)
HRH The Prince of Wales & Camilla Parker-Bowles
Engagement announced: February 10th, 2005
Married: April 9th, 2005
HRH Prince Edward & Ms. Sophie Rhys Jones
Engagement announced: January 6th, 1999.
Married: June 19th, 1999
HRH Prince William of Wales & Ms. Catherine Middleton
Engagement announced: November 16th, 2010
Married: April 29th, 2011
For all of your dreamy royal rings, check out Gemvara! You can personalize ANY ring and make it as unique as you are!
