Franklin Dean
Princess Diana's wedding ring was made from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the royal family for centuries. It is said that she wore very little jewellery at her wedding, opting only for diamond earrings that belonged to her mother, the Spencer family tiara, her engagement ring, and the wedding band placed on her finger by Prince Charles. Interestingly, Princess Diana's engagement ring was crafted by Garrard, the Crown Jewellers, and featured a stunning 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold. The ring was not custom-made, which went against royal tradition, and it is believed that she chose this particular ring because the sapphire matched the colour of her eyes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Design | A 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds set in 18-karat white gold |
| Inspiration | A brooch commissioned by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria in 1840 |
| Sentimental value | Princess Diana's engagement ring matched her blue eyes and was a symbol of marriage, family, and love |
| Wedding band | Made from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the royal family for centuries |
| Wedding jewellery | Diamond earrings that belonged to her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, and the Spencer family tiara |
| Eternity ring | Worn regularly, originally from the Spencer family collection |
| Aquamarine jewels | An "emerald cut Aquamarine stunner" first worn at a 1997 auction of her clothes, believed to be worn as a replacement for her wedding band and engagement ring |
| Wedding ring ownership | Princess Diana's wedding ring now belongs to Meghan Markle, who wore it at her wedding |
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What You'll Learn
- Princess Diana's wedding ring was made from Welsh gold
- She wore her engagement ring, a diamond ring, and a wedding band at her wedding
- She received an eternity ring from the Spencer family collection
- She wore an aquamarine ring as a replacement for her wedding band
- She wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring before her marriage
Princess Diana's wedding ring was made from Welsh gold
Princess Diana's wedding ring was crafted from Welsh gold, in keeping with royal tradition. The gold used for the ring had been in the family for centuries, with the same nugget used to create wedding bands for Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and Queen Elizabeth, among others.
Princess Diana's wedding band was not the only piece of jewellery that attracted attention during her lifetime. Her engagement ring, a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, set in 18-karat white gold, became one of the most famous pieces of jewellery in the world. The ring was crafted by Garrard, the Crown Jewellers, and was inspired by a brooch that Prince Albert commissioned for Queen Victoria in 1840. The piece featured a large sapphire surrounded by 12 diamonds and was set in gold. Queen Victoria loved the brooch so much that she wore it on her wedding day as her "something blue".
Princess Diana's choice of engagement ring was symbolic. As the "People's Princess", she chose a ring that was available to the public, rather than a custom-made ring. The sapphire stone was also a non-traditional choice for an engagement ring, though it paid homage to the royal family's use of sapphires. It is believed that Diana chose the ring because the sapphire matched the colour of her eyes.
Princess Diana's jewellery collection was divided between her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, after her death in 1997. Prince Harry inherited her engagement ring and offered it to Prince William to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010. Diana's iconic "divorce ring", a 13-carat aquamarine ring, was worn by Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, at their wedding.
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She wore her engagement ring, a diamond ring, and a wedding band at her wedding
Princess Diana's wedding jewellery was simple and elegant. She wore three rings on her wedding finger: her engagement ring, a diamond ring, and a wedding band. The engagement ring, crafted by Garrard, the Crown Jewellers, featured a stunning 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold. The design was inspired by a brooch Prince Albert commissioned for Queen Victoria in 1840. The sapphire was a traditional royal blue and was thought to have been mined in South Africa.
The wedding band was made from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the royal family for centuries. It is a royal tradition to use this gold for wedding bands, and many other royal women have received wedding bands from the same piece, including Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and Queen Elizabeth.
Princess Diana also wore a diamond ring on her wedding finger. This was likely the eternity ring she received from Prince Charles before their marriage, which she wore regularly. It was originally from the Spencer family collection.
The princess wore very little jewellery at her wedding, apart from the three rings. She wore diamond earrings that belonged to her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, and the Spencer family tiara.
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She received an eternity ring from the Spencer family collection
Princess Diana received an eternity ring from the Spencer family collection, which she wore regularly. She was often photographed wearing the ring on her left hand during her marriage, along with her wedding band and engagement ring. The eternity ring was made of diamond and white gold.
The Princess also wore jewellery from the Spencer family collection on her wedding day. She wore the Spencer family tiara, along with her engagement ring and a wedding band. The wedding band was made from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the Royal Family for centuries.
Princess Diana's jewellery collection was divided between her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, following her death in 1997. Prince Harry ultimately inherited his mother's beloved engagement ring and offered it to Prince William to propose to Kate Middleton. However, in his memoir, Harry revealed that the ring was never his to give. Harry's wife, Meghan Markle, wore Princess Diana's "divorce ring", a 13-carat aquamarine ring, at their wedding.
Princess Diana's wedding band and engagement ring were not always worn together. During the final months of her life, she wore an emerald-cut aquamarine ring, which she had commissioned, with her eternity ring. It is believed that she wore these rings as a replacement for her wedding band and engagement ring.
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She wore an aquamarine ring as a replacement for her wedding band
Princess Diana's engagement ring is one of the most iconic pieces of jewellery in the world. The ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold. The design was inspired by a brooch that Prince Albert commissioned for Queen Victoria in 1840.
Princess Diana wore her engagement ring and a wedding band at her wedding ceremony on 29 July 1981. However, following her divorce from the Prince of Wales in 1996, she began wearing an emerald-cut aquamarine ring flanked by small, solitaire diamonds and set in 24-carat yellow gold. It is believed that she wore this aquamarine ring as a replacement for her wedding band and engagement ring. The aquamarine stone was given to her by her best friend, Lucia Flecha de Lima, and was sourced from a mine in Brazil.
Princess Diana first wore the aquamarine ring at the 1997 auction of her clothes at Christie's. She wore it with an eternity ring that she had often worn as a teenager, which was originally from the Spencer family collection. She wore the aquamarine ring again when she visited Sydney, Australia, in the summer of 1997. After her death, the ring was passed to her son, Prince Harry, who gave it to his wife, Meghan Markle, to wear at their wedding reception in 2018.
Meghan Markle has been seen wearing Princess Diana's aquamarine ring on several occasions. She wore it on her right hand at the couple's wedding reception and paired it with a sleek reception dress and modern Cartier earrings. She also wore the ring for an official dinner in Tonga in October 2018, pairing it with a white gown and diamond earrings.
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She wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring before her marriage
Princess Diana had an extensive collection of jewellery, including several rings. Before her marriage to Prince Charles, she often wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring of three yellow gold bands on the little finger of her right hand. The ring, also known as a triple rolling ring, interlocking ring, or trinity ring, was adapted by Cartier in the 1920s from a design that originated in 19th-century Russia. The three bands are typically made of yellow, rose, and white gold, symbolising the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Catholic Church. Some also interpret the metals to represent friendship, fidelity, and love, or the past, present, and future.
Princess Diana also wore a diamond and white gold eternity ring from her family's collection on her third finger. She continued to own these rings after her marriage, but they were rarely seen in public. On occasion, she was photographed wearing both rings on her left hand, along with her family's signet ring.
Princess Diana's engagement ring, now famously worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales, was crafted by Garrard, the Crown Jewellers. It featured a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, all set in 18-karat white gold. The design was inspired by a brooch that Prince Albert commissioned for his bride-to-be, Queen Victoria, in 1840. Princess Diana wore this engagement ring at her wedding, along with diamond earrings that belonged to her mother, the Spencer family tiara, and a wedding band placed on her finger by Prince Charles.
Princess Diana also owned a Bulgari yellow gold and diamond band, which she called a "friendship ring", as well as an emerald cut aquamarine ring flanked by small, solitaire diamonds and set in 24-carat yellow gold. This aquamarine ring was commissioned by Princess Diana in 1997 to be worn as a replacement for her engagement ring after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Princess Diana had a wedding band made from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the Royal Family for centuries.
Princess Diana's wedding band was designed to fit underneath her engagement ring and sit flush against it. However, it is not known whether the two rings matched in appearance.
After her divorce, Princess Diana replaced her wedding band and engagement ring with an emerald-cut aquamarine ring.
Prior to her marriage, Princess Diana wore a gold Cartier Russian wedding ring on her right hand and an eternity ring on her left hand.
It is unclear what happened to Princess Diana's wedding band after her death. However, her engagement ring was inherited by her son, Prince Harry, who gave it to his brother, Prince William, to propose to Kate Middleton.
