Princess Diana Isn’t the Only Royal Who Wore a Tradition-Breaking Sapphire Engagement Ring
We all know exactly what Princess Diana‘s iconic engagement ring looks like, whether you recall seeing it on the late princess or are familiar with it today as it’s worn by her daughter-in-law Princess Kate.
The ring was chosen from a Garrard catalog and therefore broke a long-standing royal tradition, which preferred more bespoke choices for a royal engagement ring. Moreover, the 12-carat Ceylon sapphire sparkler didn’t look like your typical royal engagement rings of the past. But what many people don’t know is that Diana wasn’t the only royal who wore a sapphire engagement ring. Princess Anne did as well.
The Princess Royal had not one but two sapphire engagement rings. Here’s why Anne’s rings raised eyebrows among royals, much like Diana’s did.
Princess Anne received her first sapphire engagement ring from her ex-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, in 1973, at a time when few royals before her had colored stones in their proposal pieces. The ring features a blue sapphire over a classic white diamond, as well as three stones instead of a solitaire.
Nilesh Rakholia, Director of Abelini, told InStyle, the ring was “quietly radical for 1973.”
Following Anne’s divorce from Phillips, the princess wed her current husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, in December 1992. Vice Admiral Laurence also proposed with a sapphire and diamond trilogy format ring similar to the one Anne donned while married to Phillips.
Today, Anne and Laurence enjoy one of the longest royal marriages as they wed more than 30 years ago. An expert previously spoke about their relationship and what is clear whenever they make appearances together.
Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He frequently offers his expert analysis on high-profile public figures such as the royals.
Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, he told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “Anne is very polite when she does royal engagements, and she has a great way of connecting with the individuals she meets. But there’s something different about the expression she’s been caught making when sharing a joke with Sir Tim. The two are very professional in public, so it’s not often we capture such a tender moment between the two.
“But there have been instances when her whole face becomes engaged in a smile or laugh. She has a loving look in her eyes and you can tell that after all these years, there’s still such a closeness and friendship between them.”
Stanton continued, “With Anne’s brother King Charles, his wife Camilla is very similar to his character and they are both confident and outspoken. But Anne is a strong character who is better suited with someone like Sir Tim – who is quiet and reserved. She needs someone who can stand back and let her shine.
“She also needs someone who understands the dynamics of being a working royal, and Tim gets that completely. He’s the perfect mixture of Anne’s parents. Like Philip, he’s able to stand to the side and let his wife take center stage. And just like the queen, he has a lot of respect for royal tradition and following a sense of duty.”
Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.
