Mary and Letizia: the rings

One of the sparklers that marked the marriage promises made by two kings in waiting ten years ago is still on show for all to see.  The other has been hidden away for over a year, perhaps never to appear again.  When an engagement is announced everyone (OK, mostly everyone) wants to know what the ring is like.  And the two royal brides to be who began their royal journeys a decade ago this month both had plenty to show off when it came to the question about the ring. 

The engagement rings of Mary of Denmark (left) and Letizia of Spain (right) as shown at their engagement press conferences in 2003

Mary's was a traditional affair.  Red and white for the flag of Denmark with a spectacular emerald cut diamond at the centre of the ring flanked by two deep red rubies.  It was designed by Mauricio Monteiro with help from Crown Prince Frederik himself who certainly shopped around for his wife to be's engagement ring as his jewellery designer was based in Brazil. 

An emerald cut diamond surrounded by two emerald cut rubies made up the engagement ring for the future queen consort of Denmark

Letizia's ring was as surprising as the engagement announcement it accompanied.  An eternity style ring, filled with baguette diamonds, it represented the touch of modernity that her king in waiting, Felipe, said he wanted to bring to the royal family.  As it was accompanied by an heirloom necklace the queen to be got a bit of tradition thrown in for good measure.

 

A later close up of Letizia's engagement ring which contains sixteen baguette diamonds

 

But Letizia has never been far away from controversy and while the modern style of the ring was a surprise, the biggest debate came over why the bride to be was wearing it on the third finger of her left hand rather than on her right hand as is traditional in Spain.  By the time of her next public appearance it had mysteriously jumped to her right hand but that was far from the most controversial aspect of this sparkler. 

 

 

Letizia the leftie - the princess to be with her engagement ring on the wrong hand

 

Letizia's ring disappeared from view in 2012 and has never been seen in public since.  It had long been known that as Felipe tried to keep his engagement a secret, he did whatever he could to avoid being seen with his bride to be or anything that might give the game away.  Like a ring box marked engagement in his hand.  So he asked for some help to collect the gem and off went his brother-in-law, Inaki Urdangarin, to pick up the ring.  Reports also say that the ring was paid for with Inaki Urdangarin's credit card which may have been linked to the Noos Institute.  Given the corruption investigation surrounding the husband of the Infanta Cristina over the Noos Institute, the ring isn't the best thing to be flashing around these days. 

 

 

The Princess of Asturias never wears her engagement ring in public and is rarely seen with her wedding ring

 

Mary's ring is still firmly in place, atop a diamond studded wedding band that upped the carat content of her left hand as she became a fully fledged royal.  Letizia's wedding ring, a plain gold band, is tucked away in her jewellery box as well.  Whether either will ever be seen again is a mystery.