Harry to wed with Welsh gold ring

When Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in May he is expected to follow the royal tradition of using a wedding band made from Welsh gold.

His great- grandmother the Queen Mother began the tradition when, as Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, she married the future King George VI in 1923.

Her example was followed by Queen Elizabeth when she married Prince Philip in 1947 and then by royals through to Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011.

For Harry’s wedding, the rare gold ring with the Welsh dragon stamp will probably be made by jeweller Wartski at their London workshop.

Ben Roberts, managing director of Clogau Gold of Wales – who use gold from the same mines as the royals – said: “Looking at her engagement ring, it will probably have to match, so it will probably be yellow.”

The royals first received Welsh gold from the Clogau St David mine in 1923.

In 1986, the Queen received a second gi f t of Wel sh gold f rom Gwynfynydd mine.

The 24-carat Welsh gold has a higher percentage of pure gold than standard 18-carat gold, giving it a rich, warm colour.

If Welsh gold is used in Meghan’s ring, Roberts said official confirmation from the palace will only come after the wedding.

The Clogau St David and Gwynfynydd mines are currently closed, having last operated in the 1990s.