They’re a bride’s four good luck charms: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, although many would believe Meghan Markle was already the luckiest woman on earth to marry popular Prince Harry.
The world’s attention, however, shifted squarely to Markle when she made her debut as a royal bride in an elegantly understated Givency silk gown with bateau neckline, a diamond bandeau tiara and matching art deco-inspired Cartier diamond earrings and bracelet.
Markle’s observation of “something old, something new…” carried through to her evening attire, a bespoke Stella McCartney halter-neck silk crepe gown, Aquazzura shoes with baby blue soles and a drool-worthy aquamarine cocktail ring from Princess Diana’s jewellery collection.
Harry whisked his bride off to their wedding reception at Frogmore House in an electric power silver blue Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero convertible, a ‘chariot’ befitting Markle’s gown given McCartney’s reputation for using eco-friendly fabrics, vegan leather and ethical production of her collections.
Could it be that the progressive royal couple has taken an old English tradition and nuanced it with a meaning all their own?
The newly titled Duke and Duchess of Sussex are a veritable pin-up couple for Millennials because of their shared commitment to environmental sustainability and humanitarianism. The newlyweds requested in lieu of gifts that well-wishers donate to seven charities, including two environmental groups: Surfers against Sewage and The Wilderness Foundation UK.
Something old, something new…
Markle’s traditional gold wedding band is quite literally a chip off the old royal block. It was fashioned by heritage British jeweller Cleave & Company from the same nugget of Welsh gold used to make the wedding rings of The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne and Diana, Princess of Wales.
It perfectly complements the three-stone engagement ring Harry designed for Meghan, which is laden with symbolic meaning for the couple. Sentimental Harry sourced the centre stone, a large cushion cut ‘conflict-free’ diamond from Botswana, while the two smaller round diamond side stones are from Princess Diana’s personal collection.
Harry first visited Botswana when he was 13, two months after his famous mother died, and it’s a place that keeps pulling him back time and again. Harry took Meghan to the southern African country soon after they started dating in July 2016 and last year the prince (and patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana) sprung a surprise holiday at an exclusive Botswana holiday camp for Markle’s 36th birthday.
A three-stone ring is traditionally an anniversary gift as it represents a couple’s yesterday, today and tomorrow, but given Harry and Meghan’s love story, it’s the perfect engagement ring choice. In the couple’s first interview after becoming engaged, Harry said the inclusion of diamonds from his mother’s collection was: “to make sure she is with us on this crazy journey together”.
Although of inestimable sentimental value, the market fixed a price-tag of AUD $40,000 on Markle’s sparkler. For a mind-boggling fraction of that price, just AUD $540, you too can sparkle like Markle.
Something borrowed, something blue…
An art-deco looking bandeau tiara, which the Queen loaned to Markle, certainly qualified as “something borrowed”. It was made for Queen Mary in 1932 from diamonds and platinum and features a detachable centre brooch dating back to 1893.
Markle’s “something blue” also had fashion commentators speculating whether it was also her “something borrowed”. Whether you wish to think of it as recycled fashion, or a royal family heirloom, Diana’s aquamarine cocktail ring looked stunning on Markle. Princess Diana left her jewellery to her son’s wives in her will, and given Meghan wasn’t seen wearing it until she was a ‘missus’, it’s thought to be a wedding present from Harry.
With Secrets you can look royally posh, feel socially responsible and be rest assured your purchases won’t cost you the Crown Jewels.
