Tiaras     Earrings     Necklaces     Bracelets     Brooches

The Queen's Engagement Ring

When Princess Mary (also known as "May") of Teck married Britain's Prince George, she was given many pieces of jewelry in the style of a York Rose. This was because Prince George was Duke of York at the time, and upon her marriage she became the Duchess*.

*Note: This royal couple would undergo many title changes throughout the years. Prince George was titled Duke of York as he was the second son, superseded by his elder brother Eddy, the Duke of Clarence. After Eddy's death, George was the official heir but remained Duke of York. His father, the future King Edward VII, was still Prince of Wales and would continue to be until the death of Queen Victoria. Once Edward ascended the throne, the Prince of Wales title was free and George was appointed as such. Ah, the complexity!

King George VI gave Princess Elizabeth this unusual bracelet on the occasion of her 18th birthday. It contains several baguette diamonds and square-cut sapphires.

This was given to Princess Elizabeth by her new husband, Prince Philip. This, of course, helped to highlight the Princess' lovely engagement ring, made from the diamonds of Philp's mother's old tiaras. The prince's mother was Princess Alice of Greece.

This ring was given to Princess Elizabeth as a token of Prince Philip's love. He had dismantled one of his mother's old tiaras to make this ring. The engagement between Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten was officially announced on July 9, 1947.