The Hidden Meaning Behind All Of Meghan Markle's Special Jewelry
Meghan Markle is known for her impeccable style, looking put-together from head to toe. The Duchess of Sussex had her own lifestyle blog called The Tig, which covered everything from fashion to food and seemed like a fun pet project for Meghan, but she shut the site down in 2017. Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told InStyle, "With regards to the social media, it was causing, I think, a bit of apprehension back at Palace HQ. When you write a blog such as The Tig, you do end up giving quite a lot of yourself away. ... I don't believe she was ever instructed to close down The Tig. I think it was, from what I was told, it was a personal decision."
And as Meghan's life has transitioned into philanthropy, activism, and, perhaps her most important role, motherhood, she has become one of most influential women in the world — just ask Time magazine; the outlet included Meghan and Harry in their "100 Most Influential People of 2021" issue.
Being in the public eye, and having a passion for fashion, Meghan is quite aware of her style choices. Each time she steps out for an appearance or agrees to do an interview, the duchess carefully chooses her outfits and her accessories. In many public appearances and virtual events, she has worn special jewelry that holds deep meaning to her. Let's marvel at Meghan's jewels and uncover the significance of some of her most talked-about pieces.
Meghan Markle let everyone know she was Harry's girl by wearing this piece of jewelry
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were introduced to one another by a mutual friend and were essentially set up on a blind date. In fact, the two admit that they didn't really know much about each other at all before they met. "I'd never, never even heard about her until this friend said 'Meghan Markle.' I was like 'Right, okay, give me, give me a bit of background. Like what's going on here?' So no, I'd never, I'd never watched 'Suits,' I'd never heard of Meghan before," he said during his engagement interview with the BBC (via YouTube).
And while the two did their best to keep their relationship on the down low, Meghan stepped out wearing a special necklace — with a tribute to Harry — fairly early on in her new romance.
Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, the authors of "Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family," reported that Meghan was spotted wearing a dainty gold chain necklace featuring two initials, an "M" for "Meghan" and an "H" for "Harry" (via People). Interestingly, the fashion choice was one that angered palace aides, who allegedly felt that the necklace "only served to encourage the photographers to keep pursuing such images — and new headlines," Scobie and Durand wrote. Nevertheless, the necklace was apparently very popular, and several retailers carry similar designs today.
Meghan Markle's engagement ring includes a nod to Princess Diana
In 2017, Prince Harry got down on one knee and proposed to Meghan Markle during a quiet evening at home. He presented her with a stunning diamond bauble. The ring — that Harry designed — consists of three diamonds: a center diamond flanked by two smaller gemstones. "The ring is obviously [set in] yellow gold, because that's [Meghan's] favorite, and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana, and the little diamonds either side are from my mother's jewelry collection to make sure that she's with us on this crazy journey," Harry shared during the couple's engagement interview with the BBC (via YouTube).
The ring's center stone is symbolic and very special because it represents a memory that Harry and Meghan share. They traveled to Botswana together mere weeks after they first met. Their special date on this trip? A safari at the Meno A Kwena camp.
But wait, there's more. In 2019, Harry sent Meghan's engagement ring out to get an upgrade. He added some bling to the plain, yellow gold band, according to Hello! magazine. The sparkler now includes, well, more sparkle. Harry had a jeweler bring things to the next level by changing up the style and opting for a thin band, encrusted in pavé diamonds.
The royal Welsh gold tradition that Meghan Markle continued
On first glance, Meghan Markle's yellow gold wedding band may look fairly plain and simple, but it, too, has a story to tell. According to the Royal Family website, the ring was crafted from Welsh gold and was gifted to the couple from Prince Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.
The ring is actually very traditional, and the use of Welsh gold dates back decades. The tradition started when the Queen Mother used gold from Wales in her wedding ring back in 1923. Then, the queen had a Welsh gold ring when she married Prince Philip, as did Princess Diana when she married Prince Charles, and Kate Middleton, when she married Prince William, BBC News confirmed.
"From its discovery by the Romans, up until when the colonial gold rushes of the 19th Century opened up new sources, the gold produced in Wales played a reasonable part in the British economy; though it was never regarded as anything distinct from gold in general," mineral expert Dr. Mike Bassett told BBC News. Interestingly, it's unknown which mine all the gold in these wedding rings came from. To find those answers, Dr. Bassett said that the wedding rings would have to be "[melted] down" in order for an "isotopic analysis" to take place. Something tells us that's never going to happen.
Meghan Markle sported Princess Diana's aquamarine ring for her wedding reception
After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry exchanged vows at St. George's Cathedral on the grounds of Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, the Duchess of Sussex changed into something a little more comfortable — and she changed up her jewelry, too. As she and Harry drove away from the castle, they waved to onlookers, and photographs show a large, light blue ring on Meghan's right hand.
The ring once belonged to Princess Diana, which her jeweler, Asprey, confirmed on Instagram: "The Emerald cut aquamarine surrounded by small solitaire diamonds and set in yellow gold, created by Asprey." The company wrote in another post, "The new Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle wears Princess Diana's Asprey Aquamarine ring in a touching tribute."
The cocktail ring seemed to be one of Diana's favorites. On the day that her divorce from Prince Charles was finalized in 1996, Diana's close friend, Lucia Flecha de Lima, gave her the aquamarine bauble as a gift. It was meant to take the place of Diana's engagement ring that she "no longer wanted to wear once her marriage ended," Richard Kay wrote for the Daily Mail. ET received official confirmation from a Kensington Palace official that Harry presented Diana's ring to Meghan on their wedding day.
The necklace the duchess wore when she and Prince Harry introduced Archie to the world
All eyes were on the new royal baby when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle introduced him to the world on May 8, 2019. The proud parents appeared in awe of their beautiful bundle of joy, and cameras took dozens of photos to share with news outlets around the globe. One thing that you may have not noticed was a very special piece of jewelry that Meghan chose for the occasion.
According to People, the Duchess of Sussex's subtle necklace featured "three round bezel-set drops." "It is a wonderful gemstone to connect with when you want to bring focus to your health. Turquoise is the perfect crystal for a new mom as it is said to bring blessings to those who wear it," Energy Muse co-founder Heather Askinoise told People at the time.
Meghan's necklace was designed by Jennifer Meyer and retails for $750. According to PopSugar, the necklace was actually one that Meghan had in her jewelry collection for quite some time; she previously wore the same piece in 2018 on Christmas Day.
Meghan Markle's eternity band has special stones in it
Aside from giving Meghan Markle's engagement ring a little bling update on their one-year wedding anniversary, Prince Harry also had a custom eternity band made for his wife, according to Harper's Bazaar. In honor of their special day — and the birth of their first child — Harry wanted to do something extra special for Meghan. He worked with jeweler Lorraine Schwartz to have a stunning, diamond encrusted ring made for his wife. As Harper's source says, "Meghan was touched. A lot of thought went into it." Aside from being a thoughtful gift, Harry wanted to include something very personal.
The ring holds a hidden meaning that not many people know about.The underside of the ring includes three gem stones, a peridot, an emerald, and a sapphire, according to Harper's Bazaar. Each one represented the birth stone of each member of their family; baby Archie was born in May, Meghan in August, and Harry in September. There is some speculation that Meghan and Harry's daughter, Lilibet Diana, will cause another upgrade to the ring: The child was born in June 2021. Her birthstone is a pearl.
The evil eye pendant she showed off during a virtual meeting with Smart Works
In April 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Meghan Markle made a virtual appearance in a video for U.K.-based Smart Works, a charity that is dedicated to helping women build confidence so that they may gain employment and live their lives to the fullest. Meghan became a patron of the organization in January 2019. "The reason I was drawn to Smart Works is that it reframes the idea of charity as community. It's a network of women supporting and empowering other women in their professional pursuits," the Duchess of Sussex said about the organization (via their website).
In Meghan's virtual appearance, which was posted on YouTube, she wore an evil eye pendant on a long chain (via Insider). The Visionary Charm Necklace from Edge of Ember is priced at $180 at the time of this writing, and it features a blue topaz center (the evil eye's pupil, it would seem).
In many cultures, the evil eye is known as a symbol of protection. Town & Country spoke with a Greek-born jewelry designer to get some insight into the piece. "The evil eye is a 'look' or 'stare' that is believed to bring bad luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike. ... The evil eye is a talisman that is meant to protect you from these evil spirits," designer Ileana Makri told the outlet.
Meghan Markle wore a lapis necklace during an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden
Back in February, Meghan Markle made somewhat of a guest appearance on "The Late Late Show With James Corden." It was actually Prince Harry that was filming an interview with the comedian, but Corden ended up phoning Meghan on FaceTime for a few minutes. The Duchess of Sussex appeared fairly casual, wearing a blue shirt, and keeping her long, brunette locks wavy for the call — which didn't seem planned, at all. Meghan wore a lapis lazuli necklace, with the blue pendant spotted in short glimpses of Corden's cell phone.
Page Six Style reported that the necklace is actually sold by a company called The Class. The outlet indicated that Meghan is friends with the CEO and founder, Taryn Toomey. The two are so close, in fact, that Toomey was reportedly at Meghan's 2019 New York City baby shower (via Page Six Style).
As for the necklace's hidden meaning: "This stone is widely regarded as a token of sincerity and wisdom — and is especially helpful to anyone in need of a boost in self-confidence and a stronger connection to their inner voice," reads the description on the company's website. The $1295 necklace is available for purchase.
Meghan Markle kept Princess Diana's memory close during her Oprah interview
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey aired in March 2021, most viewers watched with their jaws on the floor, shocked by the things that Meghan and Harry shared. According to Forbes, the Duchess of Sussex wore a $4700 black silk Armani gown that featured a white lotus flower on one shoulder. The lotus is a sign of rebirth, and the symbolism of the dress was talked about for weeks. This, of course, was the first interview that Meghan and Harry had done since they stepped down as senior members of the royal family and left the U.K. — for their very own "rebirth," of sorts.
What some people didn't pay much attention to was Meghan's jewelry, and, in particular, the bracelets that she wore on her left wrist. Per Vogue, Meghan wore a Cartier Love bracelet alongside a Cartier tennis bracelet that once belonged to Princess Diana. "The messaging is clear. By wearing Diana's Cartier diamond bracelet alongside the Love bracelet she has owned for years, she demonstrates that she's charting a new life with her husband, one that encompasses their shared pasts," British Vogue's watch and jewelry director, Rachel Garrahan, explained.
Vogue also pointed out that Meghan chose to wear a "Pippa Small aquamarine Colette necklace." The stone symbolizes clarity and tranquility, which is really what Meghan had worked so hard for since leaving the United Kingdom.
The mom honored her daughter during the Vax Live special
Meghan Markle made a virtual appearance for Global Citizen's VAX LIVE event in May 2021. The purpose of the concert was to celebrate the release of the COVID-19 vaccines, and encourage leaders around the globe to make the vaccine "accessible to everyone, everywhere," according to the official Global Citizen website. Meghan and Prince Harry served as campaign chairs for the event. In Meghan's clip, she chose to wear a red and pink dress that was covered in poppies, making fans think that she and Harry were going to name their daughter Poppy (via Hollywood Life). (Spoiler alert: They named her Lilibet Diana).
Once again, it was Meghan's jewelry that carried a hidden meaning. According to Glamour, the duchess adorned her neck with an elegant Woman Power Charm Necklace designed by Awe Inspired. "The Woman Power Goddess Charm combines the female Venus symbol with a protesting fist. It is embellished with a genuine purple amethyst, a protective stone associated with abundance and enlightenment," the brand's website states. Meghan could have chosen this particular necklace in honor of her daughter, whom she was pregnant with at the time. Lilibet made her earth-side appearance the following month, on June 4, according to the Archewell website.
Meghan Markle represented her two kids in a video that she shared on her 40th birthday
Meghan Markle celebrated her 40th birthday on August 4, 2021, and, in typical Meghan fashion, she took the opportunity to turn her special day into something that would help others. Meghan teamed up with actor Melissa McCarthy to launch the 40x40 initiative by way of the Archewell website. The idea is that Meghan wanted to ask 40 of her friends to donate 40 minutes of their time to mentoring a woman who was trying to get back into the workforce after losing her job due to the coronavirus pandemic. The fun video, which featured a hilarious cameo of a juggling Prince Harry, made a splash on the internet — and so did Meghan's jewelry.
As viewers got a peek inside Meghan and Harry's Montecito mansion, Meghan appeared casually dressed in a cozy cream cardigan. She had two dainty necklaces on, but they were more than accessories. According to Page Six, Meghan's necklaces showcased constellations that represented each of her kids, Archie and Lilibet. The necklaces were designed by Logan Hollowell, and one featured the Taurus constellation, honoring Archie, while the other featured the Gemini constellation, which honored Lilibet. The pair of necklaces retail at more than $3300.
Meghan Markle wore an empowering pinky ring on her Time magazine cover
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were named as part of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People of 2021," and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex posed for a cover shot for the outlet. Meghan wore a white jumpsuit for the shot and had on quite a few pieces of jewelry. Aside from her wedding rings, Meghan wore a gold watch, a gold bracelet, and a couple of rings on her pinky fingers. One ring in particular, however, carried with it a secret message of empowerment.
According to People magazine, Meghan chose the Duet Pinky Ring by Shiffon for the photoshoot. The ring, which retails at $525, "features a tiny diamond beside a larger one to represent one woman supporting another through a 'pinky promise,'" People reported.
The company focuses on sustainability by ethically sourcing diamonds, and the work supports a good cause. Half of Shiffon's profits "go directly to funding female founders," per their website. They also have a non-profit organization called The Startup Girl Foundation. Meghan isn't the only celeb who is a big fan of the Duet Pinky Ring. Nicole Kidman, Michelle Obama, and Meghan's BFF Serena Williams all own the same one.