Meghan Markle lets her biggest sparkler do the talking: Duchess opts for minimalist approach to jewellery at Invictus Games – but does sport her £120K engagement ring

Meghan Markle let her engagement ring take centre stage as she appeared at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games on Saturday – seemingly taking a minimalist approach to the jewellery she’s wearing at the event currently taking place in Vancouver. 

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, has gone for low-key luxe, with exception of her £120,000 engagement ring, which took centre stage when she planted a kiss on Prince Harry‘s lips as he took to the stage at the Opening Ceremony on Saturday night. 

That one sparkler aside, there’s been no necklaces on show, and just a collection of subtle bangles – albeit Cartier – and tiny hoop earrings.

Tucked under the sleeve of her $2,590 creme wool trench coat – from one of her favourite brands, Sentaler, which she wore over a simple olive green knit dress, was her ‘Tank Française’ Cartier watch. 

A behind-the-scenes shot with singer Nelly Furtado showed the Duchess without her wedding band on, with just a signet pinky ring on her left hand. 

The Duchess’s choice of minimal jewellery has allowed her three carat engagement ring to shine and royal fans were able to see the latest iteration of the band which has gone through several transformations over the years.

Prince Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017 with a cushion-cut diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, that he had sourced from Botswana – where the couple took their first holiday together.

Surrounding the main stone are two smaller, round diamonds from Princess Diana‘s personal jewellery collection.

The Duchess of Sussex has gone for simple luxe when it comes to the jewellery she’s worn so far at the Invictus Games, which her husband Prince Harry founded over a decade ago.  Meghan has allowed her stellar sparkler – her £120,000 engagement ring – take centre stage

Later in the day Meghan posed with singer Nelly Furtardo (left) backstage for a sweet Instagram video where she showed off her pinky signet ring

The original ring, which is estimated to be worth around £120,000, had a plain gold band crafted by Cleave & Company, the late Queen Elizabeth’s regular jeweller. 

However, within less than two years, the engagement ring underwent a significant transformation.

Its new design, which Meghan showcased for the first time at Trooping the Colour in 2019, featured a band that was considerably thinner than the original.

In 2022’s Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie claimed it was the Duke of Sussex who had made the first alterations to Meghan’s ring. Harry commissioned jeweller Lorraine Schwartz to resize and reset the ring with a new diamond band.

The refreshed design featured a thin, micro-pavé band instead and was paired with a conflict-free diamond eternity band which symbolised their expanding family.

Incorporating their birthstones on the underside, peridot for Meghan, emerald for Archie, and sapphire for Harry, the eternity band was also created by designer to the stars Lorraine Schwartz.

In 2022 there was further speculation that Meghan altered the ring for a second time when she attended the Invictus Games in The Hague, and it appeared that she had added additional diamonds to the setting surrounding the central diamond.

The Duchess wore a $2,590 creme wool trench coat from one of her favourite brands, Sentaler, over a simple olive green knit dress as she packed on the PDA from the stands

She wore a yellow gold ‘Tank Française’ Cartier watch, a yellow gold ‘Love’ Bangle as well as several other stacked bracelets and a pinky signet ring

Meghan added to her paired-down look with her engagement ring and wedding ring, a diamond eternity band alongside a pair of simple stud earrings

The Duchess’s choice of minimal jewellery also allowed her three carat engagement ring to shine and royal fans were able to see the latest iteration of the band which has gone through several transformations over the years 

Prince Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017 with a cushion-cut diamond, estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 carats, that he had sourced from Botswana – where the couple took their first holiday together (pictured in November, 2017) 

Fast forward to 2023, and the ring was notably absent for a number of appearances at the Invictus Games, reportedly due to repairs for a loose stone. 

But for this year’s games, Meghan’s rings are once again taking centre stage. 

The Duchess showed them off as she kissed Harry in between cheering with the crowds at the opening ceremony of the games which saw Katy Perry and Nelly Furtardo perform. 

She also enthusiastically shook her pom-poms while placing a hand on Harry before whipping out her phone to film the crowd, laughing and smiling as she soaked up the atmosphere. 

The nine-day sporting event – created by Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women – will see more than 500 competitors from 23 countries come together.

This years games will include winter sports for the first time ever.

The games have previously been held in London in 2014, in Orlando in 2016, Toronto in 2017, Sydney in 2018, The Hague in 2022 and Dusseldorf in 2023.

Prince Harry took to the stage to speak of his ‘sacred obligation’ to do everything he can to help military veterans like himself as he was given a hero’s welcome at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games.

The nine-day sporting event – created by Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women – saw Katy Perry and a host of other celebrities perform

Prince Harry took to the stage to speak of his ‘sacred obligation’ to do everything he can to help military veterans like himself as he was given a hero’s welcome at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games

As his wife Meghan looked on adoringly from the stands, he said those who had gathered in Vancouver were there in a ‘spirit of unity’ while in parts of the world there was division and difficulty.

Harry told the crowd: ‘In this moment of difficulty and division in many parts of the world, we gather here in Vancouver in a spirit of unity. We represent 23 nations.

‘Speak many different languages and reflect the full breadth of the world’s religions and faiths.

‘Beyond any differences, here at the Invictus Games we are grounded in mutual respect, competing fiercely, but believing in one another. Supporting one another. And rooting for one another.

‘The Games were born more than a decade ago, from a promise I made to myself.

‘A promise to uphold my obligation—a sacred obligation after my own decade and privilege of military service —to do whatever I could to help my fellow brothers and sisters heal, and to champion everything we stand for.

‘Over the past decade I’ve lost count of the times we’ve heard you tell us that the Invictus Games saved you. Respectfully, I disagree. Invictus didn’t save you. You saved yourself.’