Meghan Markle seen wearing £140k engagement ring for first time in 9 months as reason behind its disappearance revealed
MEGHAN Markle has been spotted wearing her £140k engagement ring for the first time in nine months.
The Duchess of Sussex was seen wearing the wedding band on a trip with Prince Harry to promote the Invictus Games in Canada.
Meghan has not been seen publicly wearing the wedding ring comprising one huge Botswana diamond and two from Princess Diana’s collection since May 2023.
With mystery swirling, royals fans had begun to wonder what had happened to the expensive ring.
But according to People magazine, the reason behind the ring’s long hiatus is that a setting came loose and it needed to be serviced.
Despite the cold, Meghan proudly displayed the ring on her finger as she and Harry enjoyed time on the slopes in Whistler, Canada.
She donned a quilted cream coat from Calvin Klein and a cashmere jumper while Harry wrapped up in a woolly grey hat, black coat and jeans.
Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle in 2017 with a custom three-stone ring – a design referred to as a trilogy ring.
He designed the bespoke piece with the help of Cleave & Company, the late Queen Elizabeth’s regular jeweller.
The centre diamond, which is cushion cut, is estimated to be three carats and was sourced from Botswana – where the pair had their second date.
Meanwhile, the smaller diamonds on the side came from Princess Diana‘s personal collection.
It’s value of Meghan’s engagement ring is estimated to be upwards of £120,000.
Harry and Meghan were seen yesterday making their way across the snow hand in hand, while hugging and greeting people on the way.
During the the Valentine’s Day outing, Harry, 39, was given a demonstration of how to sit-ski while Meghan, 42, waited for him at the bottom of the slope.
The couple – who donned wool hats and snow boots – chatted and joked around as they with groups of sit-skiers, standing skiers and visually impaired athletes.
Among those they spoke with was Canadian para alpine sit-skier Alex Cairns.
Born with Spina Bifida, the 32-year-old competed at his first Paralympic Winter Games in 2018.
Meghan and Harry are today expected to attend a wheelchair curling demonstration in nearby Vancouver.
While in Canada, Harry is expected to tell crowds in a speech how much the country means to the royal duo, according to The Telegraph.
Harry & Meghan ‘change Archie and Lilibet’s names to Sussex’
PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle have changed Archie and Lilibet’s names as they move to “unify” the family, a source has claimed.
The children had been known as Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor.
But since the King’s coronation, the children are now as Archie and Lilibet Sussex.
News of the change coincides with the couple launching their new website Sussex.com, which sources say was a bid to “unify” the family.
But Harry and Meghan have been fiercely criticised for the site, with one royal expert slamming them for “cashing in” on their royal ties.
The children will both go by the last name Sussex in a “proud moment” for the family which represents their “unification”.
An insider told The Times: “The reality behind the new site is very simple — it’s a hub for the work the Sussexes do and it reflects the fact the family have, since the King’s coronation, the same surname for the first time.
“That’s a big deal for any family. It represents their unification and it’s a proud moment.”
He fell in love with the “pace of life” on Vancouver Island when he and Meghan moved into a £11million mansion there after quitting as royals.
Harry wrote in his memoir Spare that the island offered him a “taste of freedom”.
What are the Invictus Games?
Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014 for international wounded, injured, and sick service personnel and veterans.
The Vancouver Whistler games – which are due to take place between February 8 and 16 next year- are to be the first winter sporting event in Invictus history.
Events will include alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, skeleton, wheelchair curling, indoor rowing, sitting volleyball, swimming, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair rugby.
The 2025 event will be held in British Columbia, Canada, and will see up to 550 competitors from around 25 nations take part in the sporting challenges.
This week, Meghan and Harry could take part in activities at the Participating Nations Winter Training Camp.
Couple to come 'under fire' over royal crest
By Matt Wilkinson
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry are set to come under fire for using their royal coat of arms in their US-based rebrand.
The Duchess of Sussex worked closely with the College of Arms in London to create the design, Kensington Palace said at the time it was first revealed after their royal wedding in May 2018.
The crest – which harks back to their royal life despite walking away to live in the USA – has a blue shield representing the Pacific Ocean and rays symbolising sunshine of California
The lion relates to the Duke of Sussex and a songbird supporting represents Meghan.
Beneath the shield is California’s state flower the golden poppy and Wintersweet and was also depicted on the duchess’ wedding veil.
The three quills illustrate the power of words and communication.
The royal crest has barely been used by the couple before.
And a royal expert tonight slammed the Sussexes for “cashing in” on the crest.
Angela Levin told The Sun: “They are cashing in on their royal connections that they say they hate so much.
“Queen Elizabeth II would be furious because they promised they wouldn’t do that.
“They should be stopped from using a title that they spent years insulting
“They left the Royal Family because they didn’t want anything to do with it but now realise they can use Sussex rather than Archewell.
“Four years after they left they are trying to be royal and also setting up the ‘Office’ of Prince Harry and Meghan, it is so hypocritical.
“It is pathetic, they couldn’t use SussexRoyal so they have found a way round it.
They are expected to also meet with members of the Invictus community, including team managers, coaches, and competitors.
It hasn’t been confirmed whether they will bring their two kids, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, to Canada.