Yes, they’re happy and yes, their families are thrilled. That’s all lovely and only to be expected. But when a royal wedding comes around, there is one other question that has to be answered. What kind of ring is it?
As Princess Beatrice confirmed she is to marry her partner, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, all eyes were on the third finger of her left hand. And there, in the middle of the rather lovely photographs taken by her younger sister Eugenie to announce the engagement, is a diamond so big it might actually be visible from space.
Yes, initial investigations into the sparkler that seals the betrothal between the ninth in line to the throne and her property developer boyfriend, show that it is really rather impressive all round. Close ups of those engagement photos show a large central diamond set on gem encrusted shoulder flanks.
Beatrice has gone for an all diamond ring. It’s a popular choice in the House of Windsor. The Queen’s engagement ring features that most precious of stones and no other as does the design presented by the Earl of Wessex to his bride, Sophie, in 1999. The Duchess of Sussex also wears an all diamond and gold engagement ring, designed for her by the Duke of Sussex and featuring gems that once belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales.
Of course, Diana’s own ring followed another popular Windsor engagement choice, a mix of sapphires and diamonds. Her Garrards ring with its large oval sapphire surrounded by smaller diamonds is one of the most famous pieces of royal jewellery ever. It now belongs to the Duchess of Cambridge who was given it as her own engagement ring by the Duke of Cambridge in November 2010.
Beatrice’s sister, Eugenie, also has a sapphire engagement ring although the central stone in her design is the unusual padparadscha stone which is a pale red rather than the more usual blue. It reflects the colours of the ring presented to Sarah, Duchess of York by Prince Andrew when they got engaged in 1986 with Fergie wearing a ruby to match her flame red hair.
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi will marry in 2020. Further details will be announced in due course.