The romantic story of Queen Elizabeth II’s engagement ring

by · Royal Central

Queen Elizabeth II broke many records with her 70 year reign; however, she also holds another “record” in the Royal Family- the most romantic engagement ring. 

Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten received a tiara from his mother, Princess Alice of Battenberg (known as Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark after her wedding). It was a historic piece, a gift that Alice received from Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra as a wedding gift. 

The first glimpse of the ring came as the engagement of Elizabeth and Philip was made public
(News still/ fair use)

Princess Alice had committed herself to a religious life and had no further need for jewels. Philip was able to use them, though. 

The Royal Navy Lieutenant had a very limited salary and little else to his name, meaning that he did not have the money to buy an engagement ring for the future Queen of the United Kingdom. 

Princess Alice, mother of Prince Philip, gave her son some historic diamonds when he needed gems to propose to a queen in waiting
(Public Domain, Wiki Commons)

Philip was able to dismantle his mother’s tiara into individual stones. 

The future Duke of Edinburgh turned to London-based jeweller Philip Antrobus to create a suitable engagement ring. 

The engagement ring of Queen Elizabeth II can be seen sparkling on her left hand amidst the glitter of the Crown Jewels after her Coronation
(Cecil Beaton/Public domain)

The ring is in an Art Deco design and features a round, three carat diamond with several smaller, pavé-set diamonds on either side set in platinum.

Philip also had several of the other diamonds set into a geometric bracelet, also set in platinum.