Before the Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9, 2021, Queen and her late husband Prince Philip had been married for 73 years.
The monarch’s engagement and wedding rings – the latter of which contains a top-secret message – are still worn today as a lasting tribute to her spouse. Her Majesty, like the rest of the royal women, wears a Welsh gold wedding ring, but Philip reputedly had the inside of the band engraved, and only three people know what it reads.
Ingrid Seward is the author of Prince Philip: A Biography. The following information has been revealed and explained: “She never takes it off, and there is an inscription on the inside of the ring. Except for the engraver, the Queen, and her husband, no one knows what it says.” What a lovely gesture!
Meanwhile, using diamonds passed down from his mother, the Duke created the Queen’s engagement ring.
Princess Alice received a tiara as a wedding gift from her aunt Tsarina Alexandra of Russia and Tsar Nicholas II, according to legend. The gorgeous Romanov gems in the headdress eventually became part of the Queen’s lovely engagement ring, which the Duke created especially for her in London.
Her Majesty’s engagement ring is set with a brilliant-cut stone estimated to be 3 carats, bordered by smaller pavé diamonds. The ring is priceless to the Queen, and her royal owner will only add to its value, but according to The Diamond Store, the piece of jewelry is worth around £150,000.
The Duke had the remaining diamonds from the tiara turned into a lovely bracelet for his wife as a wedding gift, which was a fairly sentimental touch.
In July 1947, the couple became engaged, and in November 1947, they married at Westminster Abbey. The Queen looked lovely in a white satin gown designed by Sir Norman Hartnell that included a 15-foot train, a fitted bodice, and a floor-length panelled skirt. It was embellished with crystals and 10,000 seed pearls, all of which were imported from the United States.
