When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stood in St. George’s Chapel back in 2018, the world was basically staring at her dress. It was Givenchy. It was minimal. It was a whole "moment." But if you looked closely at the exchange of vows, you’d see a small, glinting band that carries more weight than just about any other piece of jewelry she owns. Honestly, the story of Meghan Markle’s wedding ring is way more complicated than a simple trip to a jeweler.
It’s about a very specific nugget of gold.
Most people lump her engagement ring and her wedding band together as one big "royal sparkler," but they are totally different animals. While the engagement ring has gone through some pretty wild transformations—changing bands, adding diamonds, and even shifting the center stone's appearance—the wedding ring itself has remained a constant, quiet anchor.
The Mystery of the Welsh Gold
You’ve probably heard of Welsh gold. It’s a thing. A big thing for the British Royals. Since 1923, the family has used a specific cache of gold from the Clogau St. David’s mine in North Wales for their wedding bands. The Queen Mother started it. Then Queen Elizabeth II followed suit. Princess Diana, Catherine (the Princess of Wales), and finally, Meghan.
But here’s the kicker: that gold is finite.
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In his memoir Spare, Harry actually got pretty emotional about this. He mentioned that Queen Elizabeth II gave him a piece of the "family gold" to make Meghan’s band. He wrote that his grandmother told him it was nearly the last of it. Literally, the end of a century-old hunk of metal. It’s kinda wild to think that Meghan’s ring represents the literal bottom of the barrel of a royal tradition.
Who Actually Made It?
While Harry helped design the engagement ring, the wedding band was a more formal affair. It was crafted by Cleave & Company, the Court Jewellers and Medalists to the late Queen. They aren't some trendy boutique in SoHo; they are the people who handle the heavy-duty royal commissions. They kept it simple—a classic, slender yellow gold band. No diamonds. No frills. Just that rare, warm-toned Welsh gold.
Why the Engagement Ring Keeps Changing (and the Wedding Ring Doesn't)
If you follow royal style, you know Meghan doesn’t just "set it and forget it" with her jewelry.
By their first anniversary in 2019, the original solid yellow gold band on her engagement ring was gone. In its place was a thin, micro-pavé diamond band. This was a Lorraine Schwartz job. Harry apparently wanted to "refresh" it, and they added an eternity band to the stack at the same time. That eternity ring is pretty sweet—it has the birthstones for Meghan (peridot), Archie (emerald), and Harry (sapphire) hidden on the underside.
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But notice something? She hasn't touched the wedding band.
- The Engagement Ring: Evolving, trendy, frequently updated.
- The Wedding Band: Untouched, traditional Welsh gold.
- The Eternity Ring: A 2019 addition for their first anniversary.
There was a lot of noise in 2023 when she was spotted without the engagement ring for months. People were losing their minds, thinking it meant trouble in paradise. Turns out, the setting was just loose. It happens to the best of us. Even royals have to send their stuff to the shop for a tune-up.
That "New" Emerald Cut in 2025
Early in 2025, during teasers for her Netflix projects, people noticed the center stone of the engagement ring looked... different. Instead of the original cushion-cut diamond from Botswana, it looked like a sharp, rectangular emerald cut.
Experts like Laura Taylor from Lorel Diamonds have speculated it might be a replica for safety, or perhaps she finally had the original stone re-cut. When you’re cooking on camera or traveling, wearing a $350,000 heirloom with Princess Diana’s diamonds isn't always the smartest move. But through all those "is it a new ring?" debates, the Meghan Markle wedding ring—that simple Welsh gold band—is usually still there, tucked underneath.
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What This Means for Your Own Stack
If you’re looking at Meghan’s jewelry for inspiration, there’s a real lesson in how she mixes sentiment with personal evolution. You don't have to keep your rings exactly as they were on day one.
Actionable Insights for Jewelry Lovers:
- Prioritize the Band: If you want that "royal" look, focus on the gold quality. While you can't easily get the Clogau gold the royals use (the mine is mostly closed), you can look for "high-carat" yellow gold to get that deep, rich warmth.
- The Hidden Birthstone Trick: If you’re doing an eternity band, ask your jeweler about "flush-setting" birthstones on the inside of the band. It’s a private way to keep family close without cluttering the design.
- The "Working" Replica: If you have an expensive or sentimental heirloom, consider having a "travel" version made. It saves a lot of stress during workouts or vacations.
- Embrace the Stack: Meghan’s "Past, Present, and Future" trilogy ring looks best when paired with very thin bands. If your main stone is large (3+ carats), keep the wedding band under 2mm to keep it from looking bulky.
Meghan's choice to keep the wedding band classic while modernizing everything around it is a pretty savvy move. It honors the "Granny" (the Queen) and the institution she married into, while the rest of the diamonds reflect who she is now. Whether she's wearing the full three-ring stack or just the simple gold band, it's clear that the "last of the gold" still holds the most meaning for her.