Amid the buzz of Meghan Markle‘s return to the UK, it was only a matter of time before something about Kate Middleton came up.
Eagle-eyed fans have noticed that the Duchess of Sussex appears to be wearing a huge piece of jewelry on her finger that bears a striking resemblance to her sister-in-law’s ring as she prepares to arrive in the UK alongside Prince Harry and their kids.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expected to arrive in Birmingham next month for a pre-2027 Invictus Games event alongside Archie and Lilibet, about five years after they last showed up in the country.
Meghan Markle’s Latest ‘As Ever’ Ad That Raised Eyebrows
Meghan’s recent social media appearance reignited interest in the possibility of a royal connection, as she wore a stunning new ring that some fans think is reminiscent of a previous royal appearance.
The eye-catching piece first appeared in the Duchess’s Instagram post on May 11, days before her wedding anniversary on May 19.
The sighting inspired some social media users to speculate that the jewelry may have been a gift from Prince Harry on his wedding anniversary.
Since then, the ring has continued to draw attention, particularly after Meghan wore it again in a recent “As Ever” social media post while gathering fresh produce in her Montecito garden.
Internet users quickly took to social media to discuss the accessory, with some claiming its design bears a noticeable resemblance to the iconic engagement ring worn by Kate. For clarity, the famous 12-carat oval sapphire in question once belonged to Princess Diana.
The Longstanding Lore About The Oval Sapphire Ring
As noted by The Daily Mail, speculation surrounding Meghan’s new ring has also revived longstanding stories about Diana’s iconic jewelry collection.
For years, royal watchers believed that after Diana died in 1997, Harry chose her famous Garrard sapphire engagement ring while Prince William selected her Cartier Tank Française watch.
The story goes that, in 2010, the brothers traded the jewels for William to propose to Kate, the Princess of Wales, with the mother’s ring, and in turn, Harry presented the Cartier watch to Meghan. In his 2023 memoir, “Spare,” however, Harry refuted such claims, stating the story was absolutely rubbish.
The Duke of Sussex insisted William had always been in possession of Diana’s engagement ring before proposing to Catherine, adding that he was never asked to hand it over, contrary to years of speculation.
The ring, designed by Garrard, originally cost £28,500 in 1981, and the cluster design was directly inspired by a sapphire-and-diamond cluster brooch Prince Albert gave to Queen Victoria in 1840. The late princess continued to wear the ring regularly even after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996.
Meghan Markle Was Hopeful For Some Peacemaking After Kate Middleton’s Cancer Diagnosis
The renewed attention on Meghan’s jewelry also comes against the backdrop of her much-talked-about strained relationship with the royal family, especially Kate. Last year, The Blast reported that Kate’s cancer diagnosis had left Meghan with high hopes about working on their relationship.
The relationship between the two was rumored to have been strained before Meghan married Harry, with clashes over the dresses for the flower girls mentioned as a first point of conflict between the pair.
Things significantly got worse between the duo and their husbands since Harry and Meghan criticized the monarchy in their interviews and documentaries, and in Harry’s memoir.
A source said that Meghan was still upset over the family squabble and would want to talk about their feud, but the royal family has no desire to reopen the conversation.
According to royal commentator Tom Quinn, Meghan has felt even more isolated from people’s attention, judging by declining ratings of their popularity over the past few years.
The Princess Of Wales Reportedly Rejected The Duchess Of Sussex’s Friendship
As stated by The Blast, the reported feud between Meghan and Kate has been a topic of royal interest for a long time. According to royal reporter Omid Scobie in his book “Endgame,” Meghan would have hoped to establish a close friendship with Kate as they were both commoners who married into the royal family.
According to Scobie, that friendship never materialized as palace sources alleged that Kate remained distant from Meghan from the outset and was reluctant to develop a close bond. One source even commented that the Princess of Wales frequently talked about Meghan with others rather than with her.
The reported consequences were not limited to the two women, with one source alleging that Kate’s close friendship with Harry was also affected after the Sussexes’ open criticism of the royal family, ruining the trust between the couple.
According to an insider: “She was closest to Harry, and she will always look back fondly on those moments…and the relationship he had with their children. But to her, there is no way she could ever trust them after all their interviews.”
Meghan Markle Predicted To Face Resistance Among The UK Citizens During Her Visit
Meghan could receive a divided reception when she returns to the UK next month, with royal experts suggesting some Britons still hold her responsible for the fallout surrounding Harry’s departure from royal life.
The Duchess of Sussex is expected to join Harry in Birmingham for the “One Year to Go” celebrations ahead of the 2027 Invictus Games.
They are also expected to be accompanied by their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, which is a rare trip of the whole family to Britain. The tour has reignited speculation about whether King Charles will be suited to see his youngest grandchildren for the first time.
Harry has previously stated that security concerns prevented him from bringing Archie and Lilibet to the UK. Royal commentator Phil Dampier, however, says the Sussexes’ return might not be the welcome one for everyone, while some will be sympathetic towards Meghan, others may blame her for all the drama.
Even so, Dampier noted the couple would not be greeted with hostility at the Invictus event itself, since the military, veterans, and their families are generally great supporters of the Invictus Games. He added that the visit could act as a barometer of public opinion on the upcoming 2027 Invictus Games.
A warm response and a meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla could open the door to future visits, but a lukewarm one might bring new challenges for the Sussexes and the royal family.
Will the Meghan Markle ring mystery be unraveled soon enough?