Inside Princess Beatrice’s ‘struggles’ with 30s-inspired Art Deco £250k engagement ring, as royal celebrates anniversary
PRINCESS Beatrice is celebrating a special milestone today with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – her fourth wedding anniversary.
Before their special day in 2020, the British property developer popped the question with a dazzling £250,000 engagement ring – which comes with some “struggles.”
The bespoke platinum and diamond engagement ring by British jeweller Shaun Leane, and Edoardo wanted the ring to be “filled with personal and sentimental signifiers.”
According to Alexandra Mitchell Gemologist Prestige Pawnbrokers of 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 three to three and a half carat brilliant stone, thought to be colourless and flawless, and likely set in platinum.
“The centre stone is shouldered by two smaller round brilliants and terminated by double bullet cut diamonds either side.”
Caring for a royal ring can be tricky according to Ben Roberts, Managing Director of Clogau – the brand responsible for the Welsh gold that the royals have used to create their wedding rings since 1923 (when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who became The Queen Mother, married the Duke of York, later King George VI).
Speaking about Kate Middleton’s 12-carat sapphire engagement ring, he told Hello! magazine: “Even without any alterations, caring for an heirloom of such value comes with its own challenges.
“Kate and her team will need to employ careful maintenance, with regular inspections and in-depth evaluations, gentle cleaning to restore sheen, and, if necessary, expert repairs to ensure its longevity.
“That way, she can continue to wear it every day and maintain a constant connection to the past while grounding her in the present as a beloved senior member of the Royal Family.”
Edoardo and Beatrice got engaged in Italy in September 2019, before announcing their news to the world on September 26, 2019 and tying the knot on July 17, 2020.
Beatrice and Edoardo said “I do” surrounded by close family and friends in All Saints Chapel, Windsor Great Park.
The Queen’s granddaughter and the millionaire property developer were due to wed at the Chapel Royal, at St James’s Palace, in London, with 150 guests.
Instead, a select 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 isolating since March, three miles up 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.
Meanwhile, Kate and Prince William announced their engagement in 2010, with the royal 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 that these days its value is more like £390,000.
Who is Princess Beatrice's husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi?
He founded the company in 2007.
He specialises in discreetly finding and developing multi-million-pound homes for rich clients.
The couple announced the birth of their first child on September 20, 2021.
The couple named their daughter Sienna Elizabeth in a touching nod to the Queen.
Baby Sienna is Edoardo’s second child and Princess Beatrice’s first.
Edoardo also has a son name Christopher Woolf with his ex-fiancee Dara Huang.
However, given the historical significance it now holds, some believe it is actually priceless.
For his 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 band set with three diamonds, although Meghan later upgraded the ring to feature a diamond-studded band, valued at £150,000.