Since the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales on 29th April 2011, sapphire sales have rocketed, due to Kate Middleton receiving Princess Diana’s classic sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
Prince William gave Kate Middleton diamonds that belonged to his mother, however is it possible that he took this tradition from his grandfather?
Whilst Diana’s ring has a rich history, Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring from Prince Philip also has a special story, as the diamonds used to create the ring came from a tiara belonging to his mother – Princess Alice of Battenberg.
Engagement ring specialists at Steven Stone have revisited the beautiful story of Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring.
How did Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip meet?
Queen Elizabeth II met Prince Philip when they both attended the wedding of Philip’s cousin, Princess Marina of Greece, who was set to marry The Duke of Kent. This was in 1934, when the then Princess Elizabeth was a teenager and Prince Philip was an 18-year-old Royal Navy officer.
They met again at Dartmouth Royal Navy College in 1939, and Prince Philip tried to impress the soon to be Queen on the tennis court. Soon after, the couple started writing to one another and Prince Philip declared his love. Their engagement was announced on 9th July 1947, after Philip asked King George VI for permission to marry his daughter.
The wedding took place four months after the engagement on 20th November at Westminster Abbey and was viewed by 200 million people worldwide.
As rationing was still in effect at the time, Princess Elizabeth’s wedding dress was simple, with a fitted bodice and heart-shaped neckline which was paid for by clothing coupons. To show their support, hundreds of people across the UK sent her their own coupons to help – however they had to be returned as it would have been illegal for her to use them.
What do we know about Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring?
Prince Philip designed the square-cut diamond engagement ring with jewellers Philip Antrobus Ltd.
The ring is a platinum ring set with a 3 carat round solitaire, flanked by clusters of smaller diamonds on each shoulder.
Using diamonds from his mother’s tiara may have been a way to save money, as well being as a sentimental gesture, as whilst Prince Philip was born a Greek prince, it seems his family were not extremely wealthy.
The estimated value of Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring
After taking a close look at Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring, our diamond experts estimate is likely to be worth around £207,000 on today’s market.
In comparison, Meghan Markle’s ring is estimated to be worth around £120,000, whilst Kate Middleton’s is now worth around £350,000 thanks to its timeless legacy.
Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding ring is made from a nugget of Welsh gold from the Clogau St David’s mine, near Dolgellau – the same nugget has been used to make Princess Anne, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton’s.
“Prince Philip personally designed Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum engagement ring, which boasts a 3-carat round cut solitaire diamond, flanked by clusters of smaller stones.
Crafted with diamonds from his Mother’s tiara, the ring embodies both sentimentality and practicality, reflecting his thoughtful approach during a time when his family’s wealth was modest.
After examining the sentimental sparkler, I’d estimate its current value to be around £207,000. In comparison, Meghan Markle’s ring is valued at approximately £120,000, while Kate Middleton’s – thanks to its timeless legacy – is now worth around £350,000.”
maxwell stone, creative director, steven stone
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