Princess Anne has got married twice; first to Mark Phillips and then to Sir Timonthy Laurence with whom she is still married to. On both occasions, the Queen’s daughter was given sapphire engagements rings. Jewellery experts Steven Stone spoke about the choice of the gemstone over the traditional diamond and how this relates to the Princess Royal.
Princess Anne met Mark, a lieutenant in the 1st Queen’s Dragoon Guards, in 1968 at a party for horse lovers.
Their engagement was announced on May 29,1973 after Mark had proposed with a ring that had been created “to her specifications” according to Royal jeweller, Garrard.
The centre stone on the ring was a blue cabochon sapphire, and was flanked with just one diamond on either side, rather than a cluster.
It was traditionally set on a yellow gold band, using Welsh gold, like most royal rings, and held a value of around £10,000.
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In the November of 1973, the couple married at Westminster Abbey in a televised ceremony, with an estimated audience of 100 million.
The couple went onto have two children, Peter born in 1977 and Zara born in 1981.
In 1989, Princess Anne and Mark announced their intention to separate and while there were initially “no plans for divorce”, three years later, the Palace announced Anne had filed for divorce, which was finalised 10 days later.
Princess Anne’s second husband was Sir Timonthy Laurence, a commander in the Royal Navy, who she met while he was serving on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The pair went on to get married in late 1992, however rather than a lavish royal ceremony, the event had to take place in in Scotland since the Church of England did not allow remarriages after divorce.
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Experts at Steven Stone commented on the rings Princess Anne had received.
They said: “It’s interesting that Princess Anne received sapphire engagement rings rather than traditional diamond rings.
“Blue sapphires are often linked to people who are respectful, loyal, hardworking, and honest.
“This only makes these rings even more special, and suggests that this could have meant something to Princess Anne.”
As for how much the ring is valued at, Steven Stone puts an estimate of £25,000 on it.
For official engagements, the Queen’s daughter is often pictured with gloves on.
But occasionally, during more casual appearances at the horse racing, royal fans are given a look at her stunning ring.
She wears her engagement ring alongside a simplistic gold wedding band, which is believed to be made from Welsh gold as are most royal wedding rings.
Princess Anne isn’t the only royal to like sapphires.
The jewellery experts revealed: “Princess Diana also famously had a blue sapphire ring, which is now in the hands of Kate Middleton.
“While the Queen is frequently seen sporting the gemstone on her famous brooches.”
