The royal engagement rings of Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle range in estimated value from $250,000 to $520,000

Catherine, Princess of Wales on October 11, 2023 in Nottingham, England ; Meghan on December 1, 2017 in Nottingham, England ; Queen Elizabeth II on May 18, 2002.Credit : Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ; Christopher Furlong/Getty ; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

First comes love, then comes the royal engagement ring.

Over the past century, the late Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have all said “I do” in showstopping affairs that have captivated the world’s attention. But before the royal brides walked down the aisle, they each said yes to their respective prince’s proposal — and accepted a stunner of an engagement ring in the process.

While the Queen, the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex’s engagement rings are all unique in their design, they each carry sentimental value and cultural significance, including everything from diamonds that date back to the Romanov dynasty to the stones that came from Princess Diana’s personal jewelry collection.

Here’s everything to know about Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle’s engagement rings — including which royal bride received the most expensive sparkler.

How much was Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring worth?

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their engagement photos.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty

Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring was created using stones from a diamond-and-aquamarine tiara that belonged to Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg (later known as Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark).

After receiving it as a wedding gift from Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia, Princess Alice of Battenberg bequeathed it to her son when she learned he was planning to propose, per Town and Country. Prince Philip then worked with a local jeweler named Philip Antrobus Ltd. to create the royal engagement ring, which features a three-carat round brilliant diamond set in platinum and five pavé set diamonds on either side.

He quietly proposed in the summer of 1946, but the couple held off on officially announcing their engagement until July 1947, when Elizabeth was 21. From then on, Queen Elizabeth wore the platinum ring and continued to do so after Prince Philip’s death in 2021.

Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring would be worth an estimated $250,000 today, according to WWD.

How much is Kate Middleton’s engagement ring worth?

Prince William and Kate Middleton after announcing their engagement.Chris Jackson/Getty

Prince William followed in his grandfather’s footsteps when it came time to propose to Kate Middleton, turning to his late mother’s jewelry collection for his future bride. He ultimately got on one knee with Princess Diana’s engagement ring while on safari in Kenya in 2010.

Following their engagement, William shared in November of that year that using his mother’s ring was his way of “keeping her sort of close to it all.”

“It’s very special to me,” he told reporters. “As Kate’s very special to me now, it was right to put the two together.”

Prior to then-Prince Charles proposing in 1981, Princess Diana broke from royal tradition and selected the iconic sapphire-and-diamond ring herself from the Garrard catalog, rather than having a ring custom made.

The engagement ring features a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire set in 18-karat white gold and surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds. While it wasn’t a bespoke creation, it was originally inspired by a brooch that Prince Albert had commissioned for his bride-to-be, Queen Victoria, in 1840.

The piece of jewelry, which was later declared an heirloom of the crown, was worn by Queen Victoria on her wedding day as her “something blue” and featured a large sapphire surrounded by 12 round diamonds. It has been worn by every single Queen (and Queen Consort) since Victoria’s death.

Kate Middleton’s engagement ring was originally valued at $37,500 in 1981 when Charles proposed to Diana. However, it is now worth an estimated $520,000, according to Brides.

How much is Meghan Markle’s engagement ring worth?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after announcing their engagement.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry followed his big brother’s lead when he proposed to Meghan Markle in November 2017, popping the question with a ring that had special ties to his late mother, Princess Diana.

Harry proposed to Meghan with a three-stone engagement ring that he custom designed himself with the help of Cleave & Company, the late Queen Elizabeth’s regular jeweler. The world’s most searched engagement ring features a cushion cut center stone sourced from Botswana (where Harry and Meghan took their first vacation together), weighing in at an estimated three carats. It is flanked on either side with two round diamonds from Princess Diana’s personal jewelry collection, “to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together,” Harry said in his official engagement interview.

“It’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us,” Meghan added in an interview with PEOPLE.

The three-stone ring originally featured a solid yellow gold band, which Harry chose because it was Meghan’s favorite. However, following their son Archie’s birth in May 2019, Meghan debuted an upgraded engagement ring band — replacing the solid gold with a thin micro-pavé band. A few years later, in 2022, Meghan also added a hidden halo around the three stones in her engagement ring.

Meghan Markle’s engagement ring is worth an estimated $300,000 to $350,000, according to InStyle.

Which royal bride received the most expensive engagement ring?

Kate Middleton in October 2023.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Given their cultural, sentimental and historical significance, the engagement rings of Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are arguably priceless. However, when looking solely at the estimated value of the engagement rings, the most expensive royal engagement ring belongs to the Princess of Wales.

Kate’s heirloom ring is estimated to be worth more than $500,000. It also features the largest center stone of the three rings, with its oval Ceylon sapphire weighing in at 12 carats.

Meghan’s engagement ring comes in as the second most expensive at an estimated $300,000 to $350,000 for the three-stone diamond ring. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring is estimated to cost $250,000 today.

Outside of the British royal family, the most expensive royal engagement ring belonged to the late Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. The iconic ring, designed by Cartier, features a whopping 10.48-carat emerald cut diamond as its center stone, with two bezel-set baguette diamonds on either side. Prince Rainier of Monaco reportedly spent $4 million on the ring in 1955 — but the ring has a current estimated value of $38.8 million.

Where is Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring now?

Queen Elizabeth in 1982.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring has not been seen publicly since her death in September 2022. Because it was a part of her private jewelry collection, Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring is not considered a crown jewel. (Crown jewels belong to the monarch and are housed in the Tower of London for safekeeping.)

Additionally, since the contents of Queen Elizabeth’s will were not made public, it is not known who inherited her engagement ring, according to Brides. Some popular theories, however, are that she left it to her daughter, Princess Anne, or that it is being kept in a secure vault at Buckingham Palace for potential future use by one of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.