Meghan Markle fans have speculated the Duchess of Sussex sported Princess Diana’s ring in a new official photograph with Prince Harry wear she also wears her late mother-in-law’s Cartier watch.
In photos released this week, the former actress, 39, wore a favourite suit costing almost £2,300 in total, while her jewellery racked up to a hefty bill, including her £271,000 engagement ring and a £17,800 Cartier watch that used to belong to the Princess of Wales.
Now fans of the royal believe she may have been sporting another jewel from Diana’s collection – which Meghan first debuted on her wedding day in 2018.
Meghan Markle fans have speculated the Duchess of Sussex sported Princess Diana’s ring in a new official photograph with Prince Harry wear she also wears her late mother-in-law’s Cartier watch. In photos released this week , the former actress, 39, wore a favourite suit costing almost £2,300 in total, while her jewellery racked up to a hefty bill, including her £271,000 engagement ring and a £17,800 Cartier watch that used to belong to the Princess of Wales.
Perched on her little finger, the black and white image shows Meghan in a dazzling jewel, which many think is Diana’s Aquamarine ring, which is set in 24-carat yellow gold and was commissioned by the Princess from Asprey after her divorce.
Gemologist Grant Mobley has estimated the value of the piece is around £75,000 in today’s market.
Princess Diana first wore the stunning ring in 1996 during a trip to Australia, and she was pictured wearing the ring at a private viewing and reception at Christies in aid of the Aid Crisis Trust in 1997.
Meghan first sported the ring on her wedding day, with a white halterneck evening gown by Stella McCartney.
She also sported the Aquamarine gem again on a royal tour in Tonga in October 2018 – although this is the first time she is wearing the ring on her pinky finger.
Princess Diana first wore the stunning ring in 1996 during a trip to Australia, and she was pictured wearing the ring at a private viewing and reception at Christies in aid of the Aid Crisis Trust in 1997. She is pictured there with her stepmother
‘Could that possibly be Diana’s aquamarine ring on her little finger?’ one fan account wrote.
‘It looks like Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring she wore on the wedding day,’ said another.
‘Think it is Princess Diana’s watch… but also Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring, the one Meghan wore on her wedding day,’ commented a third.
Meghan first sported the ring on her wedding day, with a white halterneck evening gown by Stella McCartney
She also sported the Aquamarine gem again on a royal tour in Tonga in October 2018 – although this is the first time she is wearing the ring on her pinky finger
The new picture of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was released Friday to coincide with the news the couple will host a special edition of TIME100 Talks on the State of Our Shared Digital Experience on Tuesday.
Presented in partnership with P&G and themed around the topic of ‘Engineering a Better World,’ the special episode is set to reflect the royal couple’s focus on building online communities that are more compassionate, safe, and trustworthy.
They will also discuss what that means for supporting and accelerating progress on critical issues like gender equity, racial justice, and climate change.
The black and white image shows the beaming mother-of-one alongside her husband of two years, who has a protective arm behind her.
The pair are wearing matching outfits, with Harry going without a tie and leaving his top button open in his trademark casual style.
Princess Diana’s gold £17,800 Cartier Tank Française watch
The watch, thought to be a present from Harry, was worth $23,000 (£17,800) at the time but is now likely worth a lot more given its history.
The elegant timepiece was worn by Diana at a number of occasions, including a 1997 visit to London’s Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple and an engagement at the British Lung Foundation that same year.
Meghan is known to be a fan of the Tank watch and splurged on her own two-tone version back in 2015 when ‘Suits’ was picked up for a third season.
At the time, she told Hello Magazine, ‘I’ve always coveted the Cartier French Tank watch. When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season—which, at the time, felt like such a milestone—I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version
In the new picture, Meghan was wearing Princess Diana’s $23,000 Cartier watch, a $6,500 Cartier bracelet and a Alexander McQueen suit from her first evening engagement as a Royal
‘I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M.’ and I plan to give it to my daughter one day. That’s what makes pieces special, the connection you have to them.’
Meghan has been gifted several items from Diana’s collection. They include Diana’s butterfly earrings and gold bracelet which she wore on their Australian tour in 2018.
Yet the watch is a favourite and she has been spotted wearing it often.
The watch had been gifted to Diana by her father on her 21st birthday.
Meghan’s elegant timepiece was originally owned by Diana, who is seen wearing it on her left write at an engagement at the British Lung Foundation in 1997
She also wore a Cartier Tank Française watch, as pictured, gifted by Harry that once belonged to Princess Diana. The watch was worth $23,000 (£17,800) but this once has a special history
The watch had been gifted to Diana by her father on her 21st birthday
Diana’s watch, pictured on her left wrist, was worth $23,000 (£17,800) at the time but is now likely worth a lot more given its history
£2159 Alexander McQueen Grain de Poudre suit
Meghan is re-wearing an Alexander McQueen Grain de Poudre suit—blazer $1,995 (£1,544) and trousers $795 (£615).
She was first seen in the suit back in February 2018 when she attended the annual Endeavour Fund Awards.
That event, a celebration of the achievements of wounded service men and women, marked her first official evening engagement as part of the royal family.
At the time, Meghan was commended for the understated trouser suit which avoided stealing any thunder from the Duchess of Cambridge but also showed she was adopting British designers into her choices.
Meghan’s version is a bespoke version of the suit.
In the picture, Meghan is re-wearing an Alexander McQueen Grain de Poudre suit—blazer $1995 (£1,544) and trousers $795 (£615). She previously wore the suit in February 2018
£5000 Cartier ‘Love’ Bracelet
On her wrist, Meghan has a Cartier ‘Love’ Bracelet worth $6,500 (£5,031), that she’s had since at least 2017.
This was also thought to be a present from Harry, gifted before the couple were engaged.
The oval Cartier band is made of two C-shaped halves screwed together.
The only way to remove it is with a screwdriver, like the 18-carat one supplied – a feature said to be inspired by medieval chastity belts.
The Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson each had earlier versions of the Cartier Love Bracelet as well.
Also on her wrist is a Cartier ‘Love’ Bracelet worth $6500 (£5,031)
The band was said to be inspired by medieval chastity belts
£271,000 engagement ring
And of course, she was wearing her $350,000 (£271,000) engagement ring, that was designed by Harry and court jewellers Cleave and Company using one stone from Botswana and two smaller stones from Diana’s collection.
Harry proposed to Meghan in November 2017 with a glittering ring comprising of a solid yellow gold band set with three diamonds.
She redesigned the ring with a different band.
At the time of their engagement, Prince Harry spoke about creating Meghan’s engagement ring with the help of the Royal jewellers.
‘The ring is obviously yellow gold because that’s [Meghan’s] favourite and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana and the little diamonds either side are from my mother’s jewellery collection, to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together,’ he said.
Meghan called it ‘incredible’, explaining: ‘Everything about Harry’s thoughtfulness and the inclusion of [Princess Diana’s stones] and obviously not being able to meet his mum, it’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of this with us.’
‘It’s incredibly special to be able to have this [ring], which sort of links where you come form and Botswana, which is important to us. It’s perfect.’
Prince Harry proposed to Meghan in November 2017 with a glittering ring comprising of a solid yellow gold band set with three diamonds, pictured
Presented in partnership with P&G and themed around the topic of ‘Engineering a Better World,’ the special episode is set to reflect Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle’s Duchess’ focus on building online communities that are more compassionate, safe, and trustworthy.
The royal couple will also discuss what that means for supporting and accelerating progress on critical issues like gender equity, racial justice, and climate change.
The episode hosted by the couple will feature conversations with a range of guests, including Reddit co-founder and founder of 776 Alexis Ohanian, and Rappler CEO and executive editor Maria Ressa.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will host a special edition of TIME100 Talks on the State of Our Shared Digital Experience on Tuesday. It comes after Meghan Markle made a bold comparison between social media users and drug addicts during her latest virtual summit appearance on Tuesday (pictured)
Amongst those featuring will also include Center for Humane Technology president and co-founder Tristan Harris, activist and founder of The Loveland Foundation Rachel Cargle, author and co-director of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry Safiya U. Noble.
Disinformation researcher Renée DiResta, Somewhere Good founder Naj Austin, and the hosts of Teenager Therapy will also make an appearance.
In addition to developing the theme, guests, and topics, the Duke and Duchess will make opening and closing remarks and lead conversations.
They will also discuss creating safe, trustworthy and compassionate online communities with TIME editor in chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal during the show.
TIME editor in chief and CEO Edward Felsenthal commented: ‘Since launching in April, TIME100 Talks has focused on solutions and visions of a better future through conversations with extraordinary leaders from around the world.’
‘This special episode marks our first collaboration, and we are thrilled to partner with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to explore these urgent issues.’
In a video filmed for Times 11, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle called on American voters to ‘reject hate speech, misinformation and online negativity’ in ‘the most important election of our life.’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will host a special edition of TIME100 Talks on the State of Our Shared Digital Experience on Tuesday. Pictured, the royal couple joined Malala Yousafzai for a virtual chat on Sunday
Dan Macsai, TIME executive editor and editorial director of the TIME100, added: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, both TIME100 alumni, are among the most influential voices in the world.
‘We look forward to working with them to elevate essential voices and highlight real solutions to some of the most pressing issues of our time.’
TIME100 Talks has convened more than 100 notable guests – including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, advocate Rev. Bernice A. King, immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci, UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie, musicians John Legend and Elton John, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the Dalai Lama.
It has generated more than 50 million video views across TIME’s platforms since launching in April.