Reason Meghan 'ditched' her £270k engagement ring again during New York visit

11 October 2023 , 16:53

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Meghan wasn't wearing her expensive engagement ring (Image: Getty Images for Project Healthy)

Meghan Markle was back in New York this week for the first time since the 'near catastrophic car chase' in the city in May.

The latest visit seemingly went without such drama as the former Suits star and her husband Prince Harry addressed the audience during the Archewell Foundation Parents' Summit on Tuesday as part of Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival.

However, the Duchess was spotted once again without her engagement ring as she spoke on stage at the event. The engagement ring she was given by Harry back in 2017 was not on her left ring finger; Harry had designed the piece himself, which boasts a large centre-cut diamond and two smaller diamonds from his late mother Princess Diana's jewellery collection.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle pays tribute to Princess Diana at New York City event with Prince Harry

Meghan Markle gave a speech in New York (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

With speculation rife as to why Meghan chooses not to wear the ring, Joanna Wyganowska Design expert and Gemologist at Queensmith states there will be "to very good reasons". She said the first is Meghan will feel the piece is "too valuable" and chooses to save it for "special occasions only".

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"Meghan Markle’s engagement ring was one of the most hotly-anticipated, widely celebrated pieces of jewellery to emerge in recent years when Harry proposed in 2017," Joanna said. "The three-stone diamond ring is a triumph in classic yet contemporary design, featuring a large, elongated cushion cut diamond, estimated to be between 3 and 4 carats, flanked by two round brilliant cuts. Meghan Markle’s engagement ring is estimated to have cost somewhere between £200,000 and £270,000.

She labelled the piece "invaluable and extremely sentimental", meaning Meghan might opt to avoid wearing it for "fear of damage or loss".

Meghan was spotted again without the ring (AFP via Getty Images)

Joanna also said it could simply be because she is getting the item serviced to protect the diamonds. She continued: "It's very common that as we change throughout our lives we may need to get our engagement rings serviced. It’s not uncommon for engagement rings to need resizing over the years.

"An engagement ring is something that may be worn every single day and therefore can become damaged for example a setting may come loose. As Harry proposed to Megan 6 years ago, it may very well be that she is simply getting the ring serviced."

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Jamie Roberts