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Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017 with a ring he designed himself. The ring featured a cushion-cut diamond from Botswana, flanked by two smaller diamonds from Princess Diana's collection. In 2019, Meghan altered the ring by replacing the original yellow gold band with a thinner, diamond-studded band. This was reportedly done by jeweler Lorraine Schwartz at Harry's request. Harry also gifted Meghan an eternity band, crafted by Schwartz, to commemorate their first wedding anniversary and the birth of their first child. The changes to Meghan's engagement ring sparked speculation, with some believing she had altered it again in 2022 by adding more diamonds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for redesigning the ring | To have a cohesive set of three rings: her engagement ring, her wedding band, and her new eternity ring |
| Who redesigned the ring | Jeweler Lorraine Schwartz |
| Who gifted the eternity ring | Prince Harry |
| Occasion for the eternity ring | Their first wedding anniversary and the birth of their first child |
| Changes made to the engagement ring | Reset with a sparkly new diamond band, replacing the original plain gold band with a thin micro-pavé band |
| Original design of the engagement ring | A cushion-cut diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, sourced from Botswana, with two round diamonds from Princess Diana's collection |
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What You'll Learn
Harry's involvement in the ring's design
When Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017, he designed the engagement ring himself. The ring featured a cushion-cut diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, sourced from Botswana, where the couple went on their first holiday together. The central stone was flanked by two smaller diamonds from a brooch that belonged to Harry's late mother, Princess Diana. Harry wanted to include his mother's jewels to ensure she was with them "on this crazy journey together".
Harry worked with jewellers Cleave and Company to craft the ring. The original band was crafted from plain yellow gold, Meghan's favourite. "The ring is obviously yellow gold because that's [Meghan's] favourite, and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the little diamonds on either side are from my mother's jewellery collection, to make sure that she's with us on this crazy journey together," Harry said in a BBC interview after the couple announced their engagement.
In 2019, Meghan altered the ring for the first time, swapping the original band for a thinner, yellow gold micro-pavé band set with diamonds. This was reportedly done by jeweller Lorraine Schwartz, who created an eternity band to pair with the engagement ring. The eternity band featured the birthstones of Harry, Meghan, and their son Archie.
In 2022, there was speculation that Meghan had altered the ring for a second time, adding additional diamonds to the setting surrounding the central diamond.
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The ring's original design
Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017 with a tri-stone diamond ring he designed with Cleave & Company, the late Queen Elizabeth's royal jeweller. The centre diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, was sourced from Botswana, where the couple had their first holiday and where Harry decided he wanted to marry Meghan. The two smaller diamonds on either side, each about one carat, came from Princess Diana's personal collection. Harry included his mother's jewels "to make sure that she's with us on this crazy journey together". The ring is yellow gold because that's Meghan's favourite.
In 2019, Meghan updated the design by replacing the original plain gold band with a thinner micro-pavé band, also in yellow gold. This was reportedly done by jeweller Lorraine Schwartz, who also resized and reset the ring. The new band added sparkle to the three diamonds and matched the diamond eternity band that Meghan added to her wedding stack. The eternity band was designed by Harry as a gift to Meghan in honour of their one-year anniversary and the birth of their first child.
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The ring's first alteration in 2019
The rings' first alteration in 2019
When Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in November 2017, he designed the ring himself. The ring featured a cushion-cut diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, sourced from Botswana, where the couple went on their first holiday together. The central stone was supported by two round diamonds from Princess Diana's personal collection. The ring initially had a plain gold band crafted by Cleave & Company, the late Queen Elizabeth's regular jeweller.
In 2019, Meghan altered the ring for the first time, swapping out the original band for a much thinner, yellow gold version set with micro-pavé diamonds. In the 2022 book Finding Freedom, royal experts Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie claim that it was Harry's idea to replace the band. Jewellery designer Lorraine Schwartz, who reportedly made the adjustments, said, "He's the loveliest person ever. So romantic, so thoughtful." Scobie adds, "So much so that Harry also thought to have Lorraine resize and reset Meghan's engagement ring with a new diamond band."
There has been much speculation about Meghan's decision to alter her ring. Some have suggested that she didn't like the original design, while others have speculated that she wanted to add more diamonds to the setting. It is also possible that the ring needed to be resized or reset due to wear and tear.
It is unclear how Harry felt about Meghan's decision to alter their wedding ring. While some sources suggest that Harry was involved in the alteration process, others speculate that Meghan made the changes without his input. It is important to note that altering or resetting engagement and wedding rings is not uncommon, and individuals may choose to do so for various personal reasons.
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The ring's potential second alteration in 2022
When Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017, he designed the engagement ring himself. The ring featured a cushion-cut diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, sourced from Botswana, where the couple took their first holiday together. The central stone was supported by two round diamonds from Princess Diana's personal collection.
In 2019, Meghan altered the ring for the first time, swapping out the original plain gold band for a thinner, yellow gold version set with micro-pavé diamonds. In 2022, there was speculation that Meghan had made a second alteration to the ring when she attended the Invictus Games in The Hague. It appeared that additional diamonds had been added to the setting surrounding the central diamond. However, Meghan did not remove the diamonds from Princess Diana's collection.
In trailers for her 2025 Netflix series, Meghan's ring appears to have undergone a fourth alteration, featuring an emerald-cut diamond instead of the original cushion cut. This has sparked debate among fans, with some speculating that she has traded in the sentimental centre stone from Botswana for a new one. However, others suggest that the setting may have been changed to give the original stone a more square-shaped look.
Overall, while Meghan has made alterations to her engagement ring, she has retained the diamonds from Princess Diana's collection and continues to wear her wedding ring and eternity band. The changes made to the ring reflect her personal style and the significance of the couple's relationship and history.
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The significance of the ring's jewels
Wedding rings are more than just jewellery; they are profound symbols of the promises we make. They are a sign of married status and a symbol of fidelity and love. The circular shape of the ring symbolises eternity and never-ending love.
The tradition of wedding rings is believed to have started with the Pharaohs of Egypt, who used circles of hemp or rush (a grass-like plant) to symbolise eternity. The idea of using a ring, however, is believed to have originated with the Romans, with the earliest rings being made of iron. In medieval times, gold set with gems became fashionable. Gold traditionally represented enduring beauty, purity, and strength, while the jewels selected also had symbolic meaning.
For instance, rubies were believed to be the colour of the heart, sapphires reflected the heavens and meant marital happiness, aquamarines were said to bring a long and happy marriage, and pearls were considered especially precious. In many societies, selecting rings with diamonds or other bright stones is about imbuing the ring with clarity and brilliance that reflect the couple's vision for their life together.
In the case of Meghan Markle's engagement ring, the jewels hold a great deal of significance. When Prince Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017, he designed the ring himself, incorporating elements of their shared history. The ring features a cushion-cut diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, sourced from Botswana, where the couple holidayed together and where Harry decided he wanted to marry Meghan. The central stone is flanked by two round diamonds from Princess Diana's personal collection, symbolising Harry's wish to have his late mother be "a part of this with us".
Over the years, Meghan has made several alterations to the ring's band, replacing the original plain gold band with a thinner, yellow gold version set with micro-pavé diamonds. These changes reflect Meghan's desire to personalise the ring and incorporate elements that are meaningful to her and Harry.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Meghan Markle changed her wedding ring.
Meghan Markle first changed her wedding ring in 2019, two years after receiving it.
Markle replaced the original plain gold band with a thin micro-pavé band.
Prince Harry was supportive of Meghan Markle's decision to change her wedding ring. He worked with the jeweller Lorraine Schwartz to resize and reset the ring with a new diamond band.
There could be several reasons why Meghan Markle changed her wedding ring. One reason could be that she wanted a thinner band to create a cohesive set of three rings: her engagement ring, her wedding band, and her new eternity ring. Another reason could be that she wanted to include more diamonds in the setting to symbolise everlasting love.
