Meghan Markle’s ring has been voted the most popular engagement ring in the world, while Kate’s came in fourth, according to a poll commissioned by the Natural Diamond Council.
The poll asked 2,000 British adults: Which famous engagement rings are your favourites?
The Duchess’s jewel, designed by Prince Harry in 2017, is a trilogy ring originally set with a 2.5/3-carat cushion-cut Botswanan diamond between two round diamonds that had belonged to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana.
Harry followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, who is said to have been involved in the designing of Her Late Majesty’s engagement ring, as well as the Edinburgh Wedding Bracelet, both of which used diamonds from a Romanov tiara that belonged to his mother.
Diana’s engagement ring, a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by fourteen diamonds, which was given to Catherine, now the Princess of Wales, in 2010 by Prince William, came fourth in the poll.
This exquisite royal ring was picked out by Kate and Meghan’s late mother-in-law from a selection of rings at Garrard, the former Crown Jeweller. It has become one of the most famous rings of all time.
Meghan is thought to have had her engagement ring altered some four times since she received it, as reported in MailOnline Royals at the beginning of January this year.
Most recently the central diamond is said to be looking more like an emerald cut than the original cushion cut – as though the setting has been altered.
Prince Harry followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and designed Meghan’s engagement ring just like this grandfather who helped design the Queen’s diamond ring
It is a trilogy ring originally set with a 2.5/3-carat cushion cut Botswanan diamond between two round diamonds that had belonged to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana
When attending the Invictus Games in The Hague in 2022, it is believed that additional diamonds were added to the setting surrounding the central diamonds. Lifting the stones a little higher, delicate diamonds were incorporated into the setting beneath the main stones
Following appearances without the ring in 2023, viewers caught glimpses of the updated design in the trailer for Meghan’s new Netflix show. The centre stone appears to have been upgraded from the original rounder cushion cut to a square emerald cut diamond
But if the diamond has indeed been recut, she is following another Hollywood actress turned princess: in 1956 Prince Rainer of Monaco proposed to Grace Kelly with a 10.47-carat emerald-cut Cartier engagement ring which is said to have propelled the diamond cut into popularity.
The current Princess of Wales famously once said about her mother-in-law’s ring: ‘It’s the same ring, and it’s exactly the same size as when I tried it on.’
Other rings that made the top five were Mila Kunis’s, which came in at number two. It is a Tiffany ring from Ashton Kutcher and is a round-cut 5-carat diamond set in the iconic Tiffany six-prong (high) setting, which makes it stand out magnificently on the platinum band.
She has admitted to keeping the beautiful ring, which he proposed with in early 2014, in a safe and often wears a $90 replica for safety!
Adele’s ring showcased at the Brits in 2022 came in at number three. When the singer was first spotted wearing the ring, engagement rumours began to swirl – hardly surprising as the elegant jewel is set with huge 8-10-carat pear-shaped diamond on a thin diamond set platinum band.
She only confirmed her engagement last August at a concert in Germany, when answering a man with a cardboard sign in the audience asking if she’d marry them! She said: ‘I can’t marry you because I’m already getting married.’
Only last month at the Golden Globes did we see the ring voted fifth favourite in the poll. Zendaya’s engagement ring from Tom Holland was designed and made by British based jeweller Jessica McCormack.
And although the design is not typical for engagement, it is no less exquisite.
Catherine, the current Princess of Wales, famously once said about her mother-in-law’s ring: ‘It’s the same ring, and it’s exactly the same size as when I tried it on’
Kate was given Princess Diana’s engagement ring, a 12-carat Ceylon sapphire surrounded by fourteen diamonds
Prince Philip designed the square-cut diamond engagement ring with jewellers Philip Antrobus Ltd. The ring is a platinum ring set with a 3-carat round solitaire, flanked by clusters of smaller diamonds on each shoulder
Zendaya’s engagement ring from Tom Holland, which came in fifth, was designed and made by British based jeweller Jessica McCormack and had it’s first outing at the Golden Globes, 2025
Adele’s elegant jewel is set with huge 8-10-carat pear-shaped diamond on a thin diamond set platinum band, seen here at the Brits in 2022
Set in what is called an East-West bezel design – the cushion-cut diamond is horizontal as opposed to the normal vertical orientation.
This east-west setting, which dates to the 16th century and was popular during the Art Deco period, is said to represent two equal partners moving together across the world, it also produces an optical illusion – the diamond looks larger!
Lisa Levinson, Head of the Natural Diamond Council in the UK, said: ‘The Duchess of Sussex’s engagement ring encapsulates what makes diamonds special.
‘The two side stones symbolise the heirloom aspect of diamonds – passed onwards from a mother to her son and to his beloved.
‘The centre stone originates from Botswana, a country that is a blueprint to the rest of the world on how to transform natural resources to national wealth and wellbeing.’
The New York-based Natural Diamond Council, who commissioned the poll, is a not-for-profit organisation which is committed to educating consumers on the rare and responsible principles of natural diamonds and the positive impact of the diamond industry, in four continents.
