KEY POINT
- Meghan Markle received Princess Diana’s Asprey aquamarine ring from Prince Harry and wore it at their 2018 wedding reception.
- Harry incorporated two diamonds from Diana’s collection into Meghan’s three stone engagement ring.
- Meghan has also worn Diana’s Cartier diamond tennis bracelet at several major public appearances.
Princess Diana’s jewelry collection continues to have a visible connection to the next generation of the royal family, with Meghan Markle wearing several pieces inherited through Prince Harry.
Before her death in 1997, Diana added a “letter of wishes” to her will expressing her desire for her jewelry to be allocated to her sons so their future wives could eventually wear or use the pieces. Prince William and Prince Harry subsequently became associated with different items from their mother’s collection.
Among Meghan’s most recognizable pieces is Diana’s Asprey aquamarine ring. The emerald-cut aquamarine was given to Diana by her friend Lucia Flecha de Lima and was later mounted by Asprey in 1996. Diana wore the ring during appearances in the final years of her life, including a Christie’s auction preview in London in 1997.
Harry later inherited the ring and gave it to Meghan, who wore it as her “something blue” during the evening reception following her May 2018 wedding. She has also worn it during subsequent public appearances and royal tours.
Diana’s connection to Meghan’s engagement ring is more subtle. Harry designed the three stone ring with a large center diamond from Botswana and two smaller diamonds from Diana’s personal collection. Meghan later changed the original yellow l gold band to a micro pavé diamond setting in 2019.
Another significant piece is Diana’s Cartier diamond tennis bracelet. Meghan was first seen wearing the bracelet during the couple’s 2018 tour of Fiji and Tonga. She subsequently wore it during her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Salute to Freedom Gala and the TIME100 Summit.
While Diana’s famous sapphire engagement ring ultimately went to Kate Middleton, Meghan’s jewelry collection includes several pieces that preserve a direct connection to Harry’s late mother.
The jewelry provides a tangible link between Diana and the women who later married her sons. Meghan’s pieces range from a complete heirloom, such as the aquamarine ring, to individual diamonds incorporated into a new design.
Sources:
Supplied source material on Princess Diana’s jewelry and Meghan Markle
