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The intriguing history of Princess Diana’s engagement ring has recently come to light, shedding new perspectives on this iconic piece of jewelry.
Known globally as a symbol of elegance, it has been reported by People that the ring once sparked debates due to its unconventional origins within the royal family.
The ‘controversial’ story behind Princess Diana’s engagement ring has been revealed
At just 20 years old, Diana Spencer, who was engaged to the now King Charles III, opted for a ring from Garrard, the official royal jeweler, by choosing directly from their catalog rather than having a custom piece designed.
Her choice—a stunning 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire encircled by 14 diamonds—was priced at over $37,000 at the time. Unlike typical royal engagement rings, this one was available for anyone to purchase, marking a significant departure from royal tradition.
The piece – a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by 14 diamonds – was valued at more than $37,000 at the time and was available for public purchase, a detail that set it apart from traditional royal engagement rings.
Diana wore the ring throughout her marriage and was occasionally seen wearing it after her divorce in 1996.
In later years, the ring became a defining symbol of Diana’s style and influence. Sara Prentice, creative director at Garrard, has said about the piece: “All of our designs at Garrard are rooted in our heritage, and we continue to capture the elegant classicism of Princess Diana’s engagement ring in our 1735 jewels.”
Diana’s choice was seen as unconventional because it departed from the royal preference for custom-made jewellery.
But the design itself had historical roots.
It was inspired by a sapphire brooch given to Queen Victoria by her husband in 1840, which was later worn by Queen Elizabeth II.
Victoria is said to have worn the brooch on her wedding day as her “something blue”.
Following Diana’s death in 1997, the ring passed to her younger son, Prince Harry, now 41, who later gave it to his brother, Prince William, now 43, when William proposed to Catherine, Princess of Wales, 44, in 2010.
William spoke about the decision during an interview with ITV.
He said: “Obviously, (Diana’s) not going to be around to share in all the fun and excitement, so this is my way of keeping her close to it all.”
Harry later incorporated elements of Diana’s jewellery into the engagement ring he gave to his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 44.
Meghan said in an interview with the BBC: “It’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us. It’s incredibly special to be able to have this, which sort of links where (Harry comes) from and Botswana, which is important to us. It’s perfect.”
Sara Prentice later reflected on Diana’s influence in a separate interview with The Times.
She said: “Princess Diana was my muse for this collection, not just because of her Garrard cluster engagement ring, but because of her style, her elegance and her attitude. Diana was a trailblazer and Blaze is modern and bold, just as she was.”
Diana’s ring has since influenced jewellery design and has been replicated in various collections, with sapphire engagement rings becoming more widely adopted by a series of celebrities.
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