Royal style: tours, rings and gowns galore, how could we possibly ask for more?

[QueenOfTheAndals]

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She does seem to wear it often. It's probably just as well William got it and not Harry.

Oh I think Kate was really happy with the ring. It is after all priceless and a piece of history. And knowing how William felt about his Mum it was an honour for her I’m sure.

I noticed that William has an equerry. Given that he probably doesn't have a stable of horses that need looking after, what does an equerry do these days?

The Queen Mum started off with a sapphire ring but then had it reset with a pearl. I wonder why? And did she receive as much criticism as Meghan did??

I guess maybe for William it just symbolised his mother - for better or for worse - and so felt special to him because of that (rather than thinking of it explicitly as a symbol of his parents' disastrous marriage). I think I can see why he might have felt it was a way of remembering her. And it's certainly an iconic ring, so perhaps Kate was attracted to it for that reason.

at wurst!

I loved Diana's ring in 1981 but now.... It does look rather bulbous.

I believe Fergies ring was originally a different stone, an emerald I think? Can't be sure. Anyway, she asked Andrew to have the stone replaced for a Ruby. I can't remember the story now, perhaps she just didn't like the colour of the original stone and he hadnt realised.

She really loved it, she wore it for years and years after the divorce.

I believe the Queen Mother's was originally a sapphire (I think a cabachon?) , but for some reason it fell out of favour and there are hardly any pictures of her wearing it and none are detailed so you can't get a good look at it. Could be she hated it from the get go.

Random fact: I have an emerald engagement ring. This is because I decided when I was quite young and a bit obsessed by the Diana/Fergie royal 80s fest that I was going to be royal too and would have to have an emerald as sapphire and ruby had both been taken.

Needless to say I’m not royal but I never lost my love of emeralds so here we are .

(Excuse my ancient looking hand and the swimming pool seats )

Oh that's lovely @Hairydilemma! I love emeralds. DP and I have been together for nearly 2 decades and have 3 DC but have never married. This suits me fine, but I would like a really nice sparkly ring even if not an engagement ring!

Hairy me too!! I thought I could marry Edward and would have an emerald ring because the others had been taken! I have a simple diamond solitaire though, we were young and poor at the time.

Fergie had a ruby because of her red hair according to P Andrew at the time.

My favourite of the GB royal rings is Meghan's (original shank) although I don't think I'd actually wear a ring that big.

Ha ha, Frugal, I’m pleased it wasn’t just me who was bonkers as a teenager . A diamond solitaire sounds gorgeous and probably what I would choose now if I was picking again, though I do love my ring.

And thank you, Mother. You’ve definitely earned your sparkly ring!

I think I like Sophie’s and Meghan’s (original version) best although Euj’s is also very pretty.

Beatrice's, Camilla's and Meghan's rings are my favourites. Diana's height and size made her ring look good on her, not so much on Kate.

I like almost all of them but I still prefer my own engagement ring!

what does an equerry do these days?

I’ve just googled that and can’t really work it out except they are recruited from the military (but then I knew that from the crown!) and hold some kind of personal assistant role.

Well in at least two cases I can think of, have affairs with princesses!

The Crown Equerry is the operational head of transport for the RF, the title historically reflects the role of organising horses for transport. Other equerries are administrative roles to facilitate the day to day smooth running of the royal household.

I don’t understand why you’d want big stones on rings you wear every day, surely they just get in the way? In all honesty I struggle to see them as beautiful. Might be cultural differences though.

Kate's ring isnt my favourite, but I love the engagement photo. They look really happy, and it just focuses on them rather than the setting/ clothes etc. I'd love a portrait of me and dp like that. I think the other engagement photos (Meghans, Bea and Eug) don't come close.

I agree, the Cambridge engagement photo is just lovely. It must be incredibly daunting to wear that ring. Most women on the planet would recognise it instantly.

Me, I’d give the Duchess of Cornwall’s a good go. Was it Elizabeth Taylor that said you couldn’t have a diamond too vulgar?

goodness ,have a look at Queen Victoria's ring

^During the same lunch, Princess Margaret commented to actress Elizabeth Taylor that her infamous 33-carat engagement ring from Richard Burton was "vulgar"… until she tried on it, that is.
Taylor allegedly said, "Ain't it great? Not so vulgar now, is it?"^

better pic ?

If you remove the crown section, I really like Victoria Spencer's engagement ring.

I love rubies, but don't like the star-like halo of Duchess of York's ring.

Forgot the image

Queen Soraya of Iran

Is it too much to hope that Queen Soraya just has very, very tiny hands?