A former royal butler has revealed the romantic story behind Meghan Markle’s engagement ring and how Prince Harry incorporated personal details into its design.
Speaking to GB News on behalf of Slots Temple, Grant Harrold explained that Harry designed the ring himself and chose to use diamonds belonging to his late mother, Princess Diana.
These were combined with stones from Botswana, the destination where the couple took their first holiday together.
Mr Harrold said he was not surprised when he learned how the ring had been created, recalling the Harry he knew as “very caring and sentimental”.
He also discussed how he believes Harry reacted when Meghan asked to alter the ring after their engagement.
The Duchess of Sussex has previously updated the design by thinning the band and later adding further detailing.
According to Mr Harrold, such changes are not unusual among royal women, noting that Princess Diana also made adjustments to her engagement ring during her marriage.
He said Harry would have wanted Meghan to be completely happy with the piece.
Prince Harry ‘not offended’ after Meghan Markle altered engagement ring
|GETTY
Mr Harrold said: “Prince Harry designed the ring himself, and wanted to include a nod to the couple’s love story and also to his late mother.
“When William proposed to Kate, he said giving her Diana’s ring meant his mother was involved, and I imagine Harry would have wanted to do something similar by including her diamonds.
“I always knew Harry to be very caring and sentimental, so I wasn’t at all surprised when I heard he popped the question with such a thoughtful piece of bling.
“She’s altered it slightly over the years, first thinning the band and then bringing some extra bling.
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Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017 | GETTY
“This isn’t unusual, and many royal women - including Princess Diana - have made tweaks to their ring.
“Harry would have wanted Meghan to be 100 per cent happy with her ring, so I don’t think he would have been upset or offended at all when she asked to change it. It’s a stunning piece.
“And of course, when they tied the knot the following year, Meghan added a plain gold band wedding ring.
Meghan Markle famously altered the band of her engagement ring in 2019
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“This would have been made from Welsh gold, which was a gift from Queen Elizabeth.
“All royal brides, if lucky enough, get the gold from this Welsh gold. It’s a tradition that dates back to 1923.”
Mr Harrold worked within the royal household for several years and has previously spoken publicly about his experiences alongside senior members of the family.