All About Princess Beatrice's Engagement Ring and Why There's a Meghan Markle Connection

When Princess Beatrice’s fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi asked her to marry him in Italy earlier this month, he did so with a bespoke platinum and diamond ring by British jeweler Shaun Leane, a favorite of Meghan Markle.

“I am so honored Edoardo chose to work with me to design the engagement ring for Princess Beatrice and to have been involved in this special moment in their lives,” said Leane in a statement Thursday, shortly after the couple announced the happy news.

“The main diamond is 2.5 karats,” says Leane. “The baguette diamonds on the side are .75 karats. They are from Botswana and ethically sourced.”

The finished piece was a collaborative effort with Mozzi, affectionately known as “Edo” by Beatrice, very much involved.

The royal groom-to-be approached Leane about four months ago to design the stunning ring. “Edo was very prepared and he had done his research. He had a very strong feeling about what he wanted,” says Leane. “He knew that he wanted a round stone, and he knew he wanted platinum. We talked about aesthetic and he said, ‘I really love Art Deco, and Beatrice really likes a Victorian aesthetic in jewelry.’ We talked about fusing the two together and he thought it would be lovely to do that, to fuse their two personalities together within the ring. There was a real unity.”

Over a series of five to six meetings, “he came with thoughts and then I would relay those thoughts into sketches,” says Leane, whose pieces have been worn by Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Uma Thurman and Adele among many others. “He personally chose the stones. The ring was crafted upstairs with my goldsmiths. With our bespoke service, we document every single stage of the ring so throughout the whole process I would mail Edo the pictures of the ring — there was a constant communication.”

Meghan is also a fan of Leane’s work, having worn several of his gold pieces after she was gifted them by a friend last year. Earlier this month the royal mom wore his Yellow Gold Vermeil Diamond Tusk Bangle ($1,280) at the London launch of her Smart Works collection of clothing.

Leane began his training in London’s iconic Hatton Garden at age 15, and the award-winning jeweler is known for his edgy, modern designs — in particular, the avante-garde sculptural pieces he created for the late British fashion designer Alexander McQueen, with whom he collaborated for two decades. Beatrice’s ring reflects his unique aesthetic — particularly in the style of the claws.

“The claws are filed to a point so there is a little edge in what is a modern classic,” he says.

As for reports that the ring came with a $310,000 price tag, Leane says, “I can’t give a price, but I think everyone is speculating. It’s interesting to see the range! I can’t divulge that, I’m sorry!”