Ring designed by Harry and made with Diana’s diamonds
LOVED-UP, excited, giggly and arm in arm with her fiance, Meghan Markle yesterday showed off the diamond trio engagement ring that Prince Harry designed for her.
It was, as diamond expert Vashi Dominguez noted, a handwritten love note to the American actress, featuring a centre diamond from Botswana and two flanking diamonds that once belonged to Harry’s mother Princess Diana. Royal love gestures rarely come more romantic than that.
In the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, this year poignantly renamed the White Garden in honour of the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death, the couple posed briefly for a photocall, watched by a 100-strong royal press pack of photographers, reporters and television camera crews. They walked down to the garden hand in hand, smiling and laughing, and as they walked back arm in arm, Meghan rubbed Harry’s back affectionately as if to say well done.
She was wearing an elegant ensemble for her first appearance as a royal bride-to-be: a white belted coat by Canadian brand Line the Label and a £437 green dress by P.A.R.O.S.H. She teamed the outfit with £365 nude heels by Aquazzura and a pair of £850 yellow gold and opal earrings by Canadian brand Birks.
The Meghan Effect is sure to be a boon for fashion houses. The outfit sent royal fans into a frenzy and Line the Label’s website crashed as fashion followers rushed to emulate her style.
Beaming, she showed off her sparkling ring – estimated to be worth at least £200,000– with the large diamond from Botswana demonstrating the country’s significance for Harry. The band is made of yellow gold and the ring was made by Cleave and Company, court jewellers and medallists to the Queen.
Harry was following in the footsteps of his grandfather Prince Philip in designing the engagement ring, using jewels that belonged to his mother. The Duke of Edinburgh designed an engagement ring for the Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, in 1947.
Vashi Dominquez was impressed by Harry’s choice. “It resonates with me that Harry chose to design and made his own ring,” he said.
“It’s a truly personal ring – a handwritten love note – from him to Meghan incorporating diamonds from his mother’s jewellery.”