Royal engagement ringsare some of the most recognizable pieces of jewelry in history.
Whether it'sKate Middleton's iconic sapphire-and-diamond ring to the 3-carat ring thatQueen Elizabethwore for more than seven decades, theengagement ringssported by the royal family are often well known for their impressively-sized diamonds and gemstones.
But beyond the sizable center stones and intricate designs are the lesser-known, hidden details. These special elements, from romantic inscriptions to heirloom stones, add an extra layer of sentimental significance to these already-impressive rings.
From sparklers worn by 19th century British royals to gems for modern-day monarchs, here's everything to know about 12 royal engagement rings with hidden details.
Queen Victoria's ring featured a snake design to symbolize eternal love
Queen Victoria's engagement ring from Prince Albert was loaded with hidden meaning. The ring, which Prince Albert had specially designed for his bride-to-be in 1839, featured a coiled snake design, as snakes were a symbol of eternal love in the 1800s.
The snake's head was set with an emerald, Victoria's birthstone, while the eyes were rubies, a stone associated at the time with passion.
Alexandra of Denmark's gemstones paid homage to a nickname
When future King Edward VII proposed to Alexandra of Denmark in 1862, he did so with an acrostic ring, or a ring that spells out a message through the first letter of each gemstone used.
Queen Alexandra's ring featured a beryl, emerald, ruby, topaz, jacinth (to represent the letter "i") and a final emerald — spelling out "BERTIE," the affectionate nickname Alexandra had for her husband-to-be.
Wallis Simpson's ring was engraved with a special date
King Edward VIIIproposed to American actressWallis Simpsonwith a Cartier ring featuring a 19.77-carat emerald.
But the showstopping ring also featured a hidden, sentimental detail: It was engraved with the words "We are ours now 27 x 36" — referencing the couple's initials ("W" and "E") and the date Edward proposed (October 27, 1936).
King Edward ultimately abdicated the throne to marry Simpson, leaving the crown to his brother (and Queen Elizabeth's father), King George VI.
Queen Elizabeth's diamonds came from a family tiara
Queen Elizabeth's engagement ringfromPrince Philipfeatured a 3-carat round brilliant cut solitaire diamond with five smaller pavé diamonds on either side and set in platinum.
But those 11 diamonds were steeped in family history: The stones used in the ring came from a diamond-and-aquamarine encrusted tiara that was worn by Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, on her wedding day.
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Princess Margaret's ring intentionally looked like a rosebud
Antony Armstrong-Jonespopped the question toPrincess Margaretin 1960 witha three-ruby ring that featured six smaller diamondson either side. The design was intended to mimic a rosebud, in a romantic nod to Margaret's middle name, Rose.
Princess Diana's sapphire ring was inspired by a royal family heirloom
Princess Dianabucked royal traditionby selecting a ring from the Garrard catalogue for herengagement ring, rather than havePrince Charlesdesign a piece. But the iconic sapphire-and-diamond ring, which now belongs toKate Middleton, has discreet royal ties in its design.
The ring, which features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire set in 18-carat white gold and surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, isinspired by a piece of jewelrythat Prince Albert had made for his bride-to-be, Queen Victoria, in 1840. Victoria wore the sapphire-and-diamond brooch as her "something blue" on her wedding day.
Kate Middleton shares a ring size with her late mother-in-law
When Prince WilliamproposedtoKate Middletonin 2010, he did so with a piece of jewelry close to his heart: His late mother's engagement ring.
But the Princess of Wales shares more than just the iconic sapphire-and-diamond ring with Princess Diana. In April 2023, Kate revealed that she and Dianashare the same ring size— making the ring "exactly the same" as when Princess Diana wore it.
Meghan Markle's diamonds have sentimental connections
Meghan Markle's engagement ringfromPrince Harryis rich in sentimental value: The cushion cut center stone diamond is sourced from Botswana, where the couple took their first vacation together.
Meanwhile, the side stones are from a bracelet in Princess Diana's personal jewelry collection.
Queen Camilla's Art Deco ring originally belonged to the Queen Mother
The engagement ring thatKing Charlesproposed toQueen Camillawith in 2005features an Art Deco designwith an 5-carat emerald-cut diamond set in platinum and six diamond baguettes on the sides.
The ring once belonged toQueen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother— Charles' grandmother.
Queen Mary of Denmark's ring represents the Danish flag
Queen Mary of Denmark's engagement ring from King Frederik features an emerald cut diamond flanked by a pair of ruby baguettes — which is a subtle nod to the red and white colors of the Danish flag.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands' ring features the country's national color, orange
Queen Maxima of the Netherlandsis another royal with a patriotic-inspired engagement ring. The centerpiece of her ring is an unusual orange oval diamond, which pays tribute to the Dutch Royal Family — the House of Orange-Nassau — and represents the country's national color.
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