When the world first got a look at the sparkler Prince Harry slid onto Meghan Markle's finger back in 2017, the internet basically broke. It was classic. It was yellow gold. It was, well, very royal. But if you’ve been paying attention lately, that ring has lived about four different lives since the engagement announcement at Kensington Palace.
Most people focus on the big diamonds, but the Meghan Markle wedding ring story is actually a wild mix of 100-year-old traditions, ethical mining, and some pretty gutsy design choices that ruffled more than a few feathers behind palace walls.
The Welsh Gold Tradition (And Why It's Basically Priceless)
Let's talk about the actual wedding band first. You can’t just walk into a jeweler and buy the metal Meghan wears. Her band is made from a specific nugget of Welsh gold, gifted to her by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
This isn't just a "nice gesture." The British Royal Family has been using gold from the Clogau St. David’s mine in North Wales for over a century. We’re talking about a tradition started by the Queen Mother in 1923. The thing is, these mines are closed. There is no more being pulled out of the ground. When the Queen gave Meghan that gold, she was handing over a piece of a finite, royal stockpile.
The color is what usually catches people off guard. It’s a very distinct, warm, almost orangey-yellow. It’s meant to look "raw" and "pure," which stands out quite a bit if you’re used to the pale, mixed alloys you see in most mall jewelry stores. Honestly, it’s the most "royal" thing about the whole set.
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That Massive 3-Carat Center Stone
Now, for the engagement ring. Harry didn't just pick something out of a catalog. He went to Botswana to find the center stone. It’s a cushion-cut diamond, roughly 3 carats. Why Botswana? Because that’s where they camped under the stars when they first started dating.
The side stones are where the emotion kicks in. They are two round diamonds from Princess Diana’s personal collection. Harry’s quote about it still hits home: he wanted to make sure his mom was "with us on this crazy journey together."
The Break-Down of the Stones:
- Center: 3-carat cushion cut from Botswana (ethical sourcing was a huge deal for them).
- Sides: Two round diamonds from the late Princess Diana.
- Original Band: Solid 18kt yellow gold.
- Jeweler: Cleave & Company (the court jewelers).
The 2019 "Upgrade" That Nobody Expected
About a year and a half after the wedding, right after Archie was born, the ring suddenly looked... different. Meghan (reportedly with Harry’s blessing) swapped the solid yellow gold band for a much thinner, micro-pavé diamond band.
This was a massive shift. The original ring was sturdy, traditional, and a bit "chunky" by modern standards. The new version, crafted by celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, made the whole thing look way more "L.A. chic." It added a ton of sparkle, but it also signaled that Meghan was moving away from the rigid aesthetic of the institution she’d married into.
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The Secret "Underside" Symbols
If you think the diamonds on top are the only story, you're missing the coolest part. Around their first anniversary, Harry gifted Meghan an eternity ring. It’s typically worn in a stack with the wedding band and the engagement ring.
Inside that band, hidden against the skin, are three birthstones:
- Peridot for Meghan (August).
- Emerald for Archie (May).
- Sapphire for Harry (September).
It’s a "hidden" detail that the public almost never sees. It’s a nice reminder that while the world is obsessed with the price tag and the carat count, for them, it’s basically a family scrapbook in jewelry form.
Is there a new Emerald Cut in 2026?
Here is where things get really interesting. In early 2026, rumors went wild after trailers for her new projects showed a ring that looked nothing like the original cushion cut. Some experts think the center stone was swapped for an emerald-cut diamond.
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Emerald cuts are "step-cut," meaning they have long, hall-of-mirrors facets instead of the sparkly "crushed ice" look of a cushion cut. It’s a much more confident, architectural look. Whether she actually replaced the Botswana stone or just has a "travel ring" is the subject of endless debate in the jewelry world. But if it is a permanent change, it’s her fourth major modification since 2017.
How to Get the Look (Without the Royal Budget)
You don't need a vault of Welsh gold to channel this vibe. If you're looking for something similar, focus on the trilogy setting. The three stones represent the "past, present, and future" of a relationship, which is why it’s such a popular style for anniversaries.
- Look for a 1.5mm to 2mm band: This mimics the delicate "redesign" look.
- Choose a Cushion Cut: It gives you that vintage, soft-cornered look that's less harsh than a standard square.
- Go with Yellow Gold: It’s having a massive comeback, and Meghan is a big reason why.
The real takeaway here is that a wedding ring doesn't have to stay the same forever. Meghan treats hers like a living thing—changing it as her life changes, moving from "Princess-in-waiting" to "Global Media Mogul." It’s a bit controversial for traditionalists, sure, but it’s undeniably hers.
To truly understand the value, you have to look past the carats. Between the heirloom diamonds from Diana and the rare gold from the Welsh hills, the set is physically worth maybe $350,000, but historically? It's priceless.
If you're planning your own ring or an upgrade, start by thinking about the "hidden" details—like those birthstones on the inside of the band. That’s the stuff that actually matters when the cameras aren't flashing. You can look into ethically sourced diamonds from Botswana or lab-grown alternatives if you want to mirror the couple's focus on sustainability.