Update, June 30, 2019:
We now know a little more about the details of the gorgeous eternity band Prince Harry gave Meghan Markle, thanks to a new report in Harper's Bazaar. The ring was gifted to mark their wedding anniversary and birth of their first child—and Harry made sure it had a few deeply personal touches woven into it.
Per Harper's Bazaar, Harry helped design the ring with jeweler Lorraine Schwartz—and it's where you wouldn't be able to see it that his thoughtfulness really shines: He added birthstones for Markle (peridot), Archie (emerald), and himself (sapphire) on the underside of the band. As the site points out, each birthstone stone has traditionally been tied to a certain significance: "Sapphires [are] believed to protect those close to you from harm, peridots said to instill power in the wearer, and emeralds considered a symbol of rebirth and love."
Update, June 11, 2019: Markle's first public appearance since giving birth to baby Archie was highly anticipated—and beyond giving royals fans another Givenchy moment to obsess over, it gave them a sort of fashion mystery to solve. Where did that mysterious third ring come from?
Well, now we have answers. According to People, Markle's new eternity ring—which she wore with her engagement ring and wedding band—was an anniversary gift from Prince Harry. (The couple just celebrated their first wedding anniversary.)
Read on below for the sweet meaning behind eternity rings.
Original story, June 8, 2019:
Although Meghan Markle is still very much on maternity leave, she took a little break to honor Queen Elizabeth's 93rd birthday at the royal Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on Saturday (June 8). This was her first public appearance since introducing baby Archie to the world—and as happy as everyone was to see the new mom, it was her ring finger that caught everyone's attention. As Markle waved to the crowds from her carriage, it didn't take long for sharp-eyed fans to notice she was wearing a third band on her wedding ring finger. Of course, this prompted speculation about the meaning behind this new piece of jewelry—and whether it's a push present from Prince Harry.
There is no official word from the palace about what the ring signifies, but fans and experts believe it might be an "eternity ring" because of the diamonds set all the way around the band. Rings with similar designs are sometimes given to signify eternal love and the commitment shared by couple, with the ring's circle of diamonds visually representing the sentiment, according to U.K.-based The Diamond Store. Considering the Duke and Duchess of Sussex just celebrated two major milestones—having a baby and their one-year wedding anniversary—it seems like a pretty solid explanation.
As you can see below, Markle is wearing the new band on her ring finger, alongside her engagement and wedding rings.
Here's a closer look:
X content
Markle's first official postbaby appearance was perfectly timed—after all, Trooping the Colour is one of the royal family's biggest public appearances. They all gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the traditional Royal Air Force Red Arrow flyover, and the resulting photos captured a smiling Markle standing next to her husband.
There were two major players missing from the balcony, however: Prince Philip, who officially retired from royal duties in 2017 and skipped last year's event too—and almost-one-month-old Prince Archie. But if he continues the precedent set by the other mini royals, we can expect this new addition to the family to make his balcony debut next year.
