Princess Beatrice’s ‘struggles’ with her £250,000 1930s-inspired Art Deco engagement ring as royals celebrate birthday

PRINCESS Beatrice is celebrating a special milestone today with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi: their fourth wedding anniversary.

Ahead of their big day in 2020, the British property developer popped the question with a dazzling £250,000 engagement ring – which came with some “difficulties”.

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The custom platinum and diamond engagement ring by British jeweler Shaun Leane, and Edoardo wanted the ring to be “filled with personal and sentimental meaning.”

According to Alexandra Mitchell, Prestige Pawnbrokers gemologist from Channel 4’s Posh Pawn, Princess Beatrice’s 1930s-inspired ring is a fusion of Victorian and Art Deco designs.

She said: “This diamond engagement ring was created with a sizeable brilliant stone of three to three and a half carats, considered colorless and flawless, and likely set in platinum.

“The central stone is surrounded by two smaller round brilliants and finished with double ball cut diamonds on each side.”

Caring for a royal ring can be tricky, according to Ben Roberts, managing director of Clogau – the brand responsible for the Welsh gold the Royal Family has used to create their wedding rings since 1923 (when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who became The Queen Mother, married to the Duke of York, future King George VI).

Of Kate Middleton’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ring, he told Hello! magazine: “Even without any alterations, caring for such a valuable heirloom comes with its own challenges.

“Kate and her team will need to carry out careful maintenance, with regular inspections and thorough assessments, gentle cleaning to restore the shine and, if necessary, expert repairs to ensure its longevity.

“This way, she can continue to wear it every day and maintain a constant connection to the past while anchoring it in the present as a beloved senior member of the Royal Family.”

Edoardo and Beatrice got engaged in Italy in September 2019, before announcing the news to the world on September 26, 2019, and marrying on July 17, 2020.

Beatrice and Edoardo said ‘I do’ surrounded by close family and friends at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park.

The Queen’s granddaughter and the millionaire property developer were due to marry at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, London, in the presence of 150 guests.

Instead, a smaller group gathered for a more intimate ceremony with strict social distancing measures in place.

The Queen was driven with Prince Philip from Windsor Castle, where they had been in isolation since March, three miles down the Long Walk and through Windsor Great Park to the private church.

Beatrice and Edoardo’s daughter, Sienna, was welcomed into the world on September 18, 2022.

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Meanwhile, Kate and Prince William announced their engagement in 2010, with the prince proposing with his mother’s ring in Kenya.

At the time of its creation, the ring was worth £28,000, according to Marie Claire.

Vintage ring expert Sam Mee estimates their current value to be closer to £390,000.

However, given its historical significance today, some believe it is actually priceless.

For his marriage proposal, Prince Harry used stones from Princess Diana’s collection to create a ring for Meghan Markle.

Prince Harry popped the question in 2017 with a classic gold wedding band set with three diamonds, although Meghan later upgraded the ring to feature a diamond-set wedding band, valued at £150,000.

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