A few hours after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement news broke around the world, the beaming couple posed for a photo call in the Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace. There, Markle’s new diamond ring was on full view for everyone to see for the first time. The sparkler features a large central diamond, flanked by two smaller diamonds and set in a gold band. The central diamond is from Botswana, where the couple has vacationed together, and the other two diamonds are from Prince Harry’s late mother Princess Diana’s personal collection. The band is gold and was made by Cleave and Company, the Queen’s court jewelers.
According to Hello and Hola magazines, a ring with two round stones supporting what appears to be a 2.5 carat cushion cut diamond set in a band of white gold would typically start at around $66,800. However, the use of diamonds from the late Princess Diana’s collection makes the ring, like Kate’s before it, of inestimable value. (The last royal engagement that came with a trilogy ring like this one was Sophie Wessex’s in 1999 to Prince Edward. Her ring featured a round center stone and two heart shaped side stones.)
The couple looked completely and utterly in love as they hugged and posed for their first official pictures together, following their public debut at the Invictus Games in September. When asked if the proposal had been romantic, Markle responded, “Very!” And the Prince added, “Of course!” The fifth in line to the British throne also romantically added that he knew Meghan was the one “since the very first time we met.” And with that, we’re already counting down the days until their Spring 2018 wedding.