Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon agreed to marry Prince Albert – who would later become King George VI after his brother abdicated the throne – in January 1923. But Albert, or Bertie to his family, had asked for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage twice before then.
The Queen Mother refused Albert twice because she reportedly had misgivings about royal life.
The Prince had initially proposed to Elizabeth in 1921, but she turned him down, saying she was “afraid never, never again to be free to think, speak, and act as I feel I really ought to”, according to her biographer John Ezard.
Albert is understood to have proposed a second time when Elizabeth was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Princess Mary to Henry, Viscount Lascelles at Westminster Abbey, in February 1922.
Once again Elizabeth turned down the Prince’s proposal and some reports state there was even a third rejection.
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But at its centre was a blue sapphire with diamond accents.
Sapphires are popular gems within the Royal Family – the most famous sapphire ring being Kate Middleton’s engagement ring, which was previously worn by Princess Diana.
These blue-coloured stones may be much-loved by members of the Royal Family because of their energy and healing properties.
According to British publishing company The History Press, sapphires are associated with “deep spirituality, devotion, integrity, and regality”.
Elizabeth’s sapphire was a Kashmir stone, which “are the most rare and highly prized of all sapphires”, according to experts at the Antique Jewellery Company.
However, despite this, the Queen Mother decided to completely alter her engagement ring a few years later.
She was seen wearing a different ring as early as 1946.
The new engagement ring was a large pearl, surrounded by tiny diamonds.
It is not known why Elizabeth opted to alter her engagement ring, but she is not the only female member of the Royal Family to have done so.
When Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in November 2017, the Prince gave the Duchess of Sussex a gold trilogy ring with diamonds both from Botswana and from Princess Diana’s personal collection.
But, just over 18 months later, Meghan replaced the ring’s yellow gold band with a delicate diamond-studded band.
The Duchess of Cambridge had her ring adjusted too: her sapphire and diamond ring, which used to belong to Princess Diana, was too big.
