10 Royal Engagement Rings We Love

We’re all waiting with bated breath to see what Prince Harry will choose when he proposes to Meghan Markle. Will he go with a brand new design from the House of Garrard, a royal family favorite and designer of Duchess Catherine’s sapphire sparkler? Or will he delve into the family’s collection for a stone or ring with a little history? Either way, we’re sure it will be an absolute stunner! But that’s not the only royal engagement ring worth ogling.

Here are ten of our favorites, from England and beyond, that we would definitely say “yes!” to!

Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen’s engagement ring, given to her by Prince Philip in 1947, will never go out of style. The diamonds were taken from a tiara that belonged to Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Greece—a gift she received from Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia! The round 3-carat center stone is flanked by clusters of smaller stones, all set in timeless platinum. Queen Elizabeth II pairs the ring with a Welsh gold band, a nearly century-old tradition in the family.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex

Married to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip), Sophie’s engagement ring is a Garrard design. The diamond sparkler features three stones: An oval-cut center stone, flanked by two heart-shaped diamonds, all set in white gold. The silhouette of the ring is totally classic, and those heart-shaped stones are a sweet, romantic addition.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden

The youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Princess Madeleine married financier Christopher O’Neill in 2013. Her engagement ring features a large Asscher-cut stone in a minimalist setting, atop a simple pavée shank. She paired it with a matching delicate pavée band, which doesn’t compete with the Art Deco facets of the center stone.

Queen Letizia of Spain

Known for her flawless taste in fashion and accessories, it’s no surprise Queen Letizia’s engagement ring makes a statement. Instead of the usual center stone on a band, the Queen’s ring is a modern eternity band featuring a series of baguette-cut diamonds. Like Queen Elizabeth II and Duchess Catherine, she too mixes metals and pairs the ring with a yellow gold wedding band.

Zara Tindall

Daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Zara is an Olympic equestrian and is married to rugby player Mike Tindall. When he proposed in 2010, he presented her with a ring fit for royalty. The round center diamond is set above a split-shank band, with an extra dose of sparkle coming from channel-set diamonds.

Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco

The actress-turned-princess gave a generation of girls hope that they, too, might marry royalty, and it all started with an eye-catching engagement ring. The centerpiece of the Cartier ring is an over 10-carat emerald-cut diamond, which is flanked by baguettes and set in platinum.

Princess Charlene of Monaco

Married to Grace Kelly’s son, Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene is yet another royal Olympian with a spectacular engagement ring. Her ring is a break from many more traditional designs, featuring a three-carat pear-cut diamond that flatters the Princess’s long fingers. Surrounding round diamonds enhance the center stone’s inherent sparkle.

Queen Mother

While the Queen Mother’s original engagement ring was a little more classic (she became engaged to King George VI when he presented her with a sapphire ring with diamond accents), it’s the ring she swapped it out for later in life that really caught our attention. The ring featured a large pearl, surrounded by a collar of diamonds, that was equally feminine and unusual.

Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

Sapphires have popped up time and again as the featured stone of royal engagement rings, and the same goes for the ring worn by Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. A cabochon sapphire in an East-West setting is placed alongside a heart-shaped diamond in an elegant and non-traditional pairing.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark

Yet another Olympic love story! Crown Princess Mary met Crown Prince Frederik in Sydney, Australia in 2000, when both were attending the summer games. When the Prince proposed three years later, he presented his now-wife with a ring inspired by Denmark’s flag. The stepped design features a center emerald-cut diamond, with emerald-cut rubies on either side.

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