RING TRUE
Inside Queen Camilla’s ‘struggles’ with £212k five-carat emerald-cut engagement ring that once belonged to major royal
We shared how Camilla's ring compares to Kate Middleton's and Meghan Markle's
MANY royal fans can instantly recognise Princess Diana’s jaw-dropping 12-carat sapphire engagement ring which now belongs to Princess Kate.
But Queen Camilla’s £212,000 emerald-cut diamond ring is also breathtaking - but does come with its challenges.
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Thirty five years after they met, Charles proposed to long-time love Camilla Parker-Bowles, and he used the ring that was once part of the late Queen Mother's jewellery collection.
Little is known about the impressive sparkler and its history before the 1920s, but the five-carat ring with baguette cut-diamonds on each side will certainly keep Camilla busy.
Caring for a royal ring can be tricky according to Ben Roberts, Managing Director of Clogau – the brand responsible for the Welsh gold that the royals have used to create their wedding rings since 1923 (when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who became The Queen Mother, married the Duke of York, later King George VI).
Speaking about Kate Middleton’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ring, he told magazine: "Even without any alterations, caring for an heirloom of such value comes with its own challenges.
"Kate and her team will need to employ careful maintenance, with regular inspections and in-depth evaluations, gentle cleaning to restore sheen, and, if necessary, expert repairs to ensure its longevity.
"That way, she can continue to wear it every day and maintain a constant connection to the past while grounding her in the present as a beloved senior member of the Royal Family."
King Charles and Camilla’s highly-publicised romance began at a party.
They were introduced in 1971 by Charles’ college girlfriend Lucia Santa Cruz and quickly bonded over their love of polo.
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They started dating almost straight away and attended a number of polo matches together.
However, when King Charles left for the Royal Navy they split up, and Camilla got engaged to Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles.
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Camilla and Andrew tied the knot in 1973, and they had two children together, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
Their love didn’t last and they divorced in 1995, with Camilla going on to marry King Charles in a civil ceremony in 2005.
King Charles married Lady Diana Spencer on Wednesday, July 29, 1981.
However, the couple split in 1992 and finalised their divorce in 1996.
Kate and Prince William announced their engagement in 2010, with the royal proposing with his mother’s ring in Kenya.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry used stones from Princess Diana’s collection to create a ring for Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry proposed in 2017 with a classic gold band set with three diamonds, although Meghan later upgraded the ring to feature a diamond-studded band, valued at £150,000.
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