The Real Reason Why Meghan Markle Hasn’t Been Wearing Her Engagement Ring

The Duchess of Sussex was spotted without her three-stone diamond sparkler during a lunch date with friends last week.

On November 17, 2017, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made their first debut as an engaged couple after the Duke of Sussex popped the question with a three-stone diamond engagement ring. Ever since then, the Duchess of Sussex has almost always worn the sparkler—no matter the occasion. However, on August 15, 2023, Markle was spotted without the valuable piece of jewelry on her left ring finger, which sparked rumors about the royal couple’s current marital status. Markle was enjoying a lunch date with two of her friends, Cleo Wade and Kadi Lee, celebrating a belated birthday lunch, which was most likely for the duchess, who turned 42 on August 4, 2023. A photo taken of the group shows that Markle’s diamond rock was absent, replaced by a gold band. A few days after the luncheon, on August 18, 2023, an insider revealed the real reason why Markle ditched her engagement ring, and it has nothing to her marriage to Harry. The source tells Page Six that the ring is simply “being fixed.”

Louella Anderson, cofounder of So Synced, markle-ditches-156k-engagement-30732618″ data-ylk=”slk:told;elm:context_link;itc:0″ class=”link “>told The Mirror that there could be other reasons why Meghan decided to ditch her engagement ring. “Meghan Markle has always had her own unique sense of style,” she says. “It’s possible that her decision to change or remove the engagement ring reflects her evolving taste or desire for something different. She’s not over the top about her jewelry and usually chooses to keep her look quite simple and classic. Taking off the ring could be her way of expressing this personal preference for a less flashy look. Meghan’s engagement ring was particularly large and may have been uncomfortable to wear on a day-to-day basis. It could be practicality that has caused her to take off the ring and opt for something more comfortable.”

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Either way, both the insider and Anderson clarify that the missing rock has nothing to do with the couple’s relationship. The source explains to Page Six that speculation of a breakup is false. “It’s not true,” the insider says. “It’s literally made up.” Anderson takes a similar stance on the matter. “There is speculation that Meghan has removed her engagement ring as a symbol of her and Prince Harry’s relationship status potentially being rocky,” she notes. “However, it’s clear Meghan Markle still has a ring on her wedding finger. It’s just a much more understated and practical piece of jewelry and one that is likely more suited to her personal tastes.”

Harry proposed to Markle with a stunning diamond ring that has since spawned many copycat designs. Although the sparkler cost Harry $150,000 to customize, the piece of jewelry also has sentimental value to the couple. The center stone is a three-carat, cushion-cut diamond, which Harry sourced from Botswana—where the duo went on their third date and fell in love.

Two smaller, round-cut diamonds, each estimated to be about one carat, appear on either side of the middle stone. Harry actually borrowed these gems from Princess Diana’s personal jewelry collection “to make sure she’s with us on this crazy journey together,” Harry told the BBC during the couple’s engagement interview. Markle also gushed to the outlet about the ring being “incredible,” especially due to the way the sparkler honored Diana. “Everything about Harry’s thoughtfulness and the inclusion of [Diana’s stones] and obviously not being able to meet his mom—it’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us,” Meghan said during the interview.

All three gemstones were set on a yellow gold band—which was Markle’s favorite metal at the time—that royal jeweler Cleave and Company crafted. However, the duchess swapped the original band for a micro-pavé one after she gave birth to the duo’s first child, Prince Archie.

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