King Charles proposed to Queen Camilla in 2005 with a family heirloom
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty; JOHN STILLWELL/AFP via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- King Charles proposed to Queen Camilla in February 2005 with a 5-carat engagement ring
- The sparkler was believed to have belonged to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
- The two wed two months later in April 2005
Queen Camilla’s engagement ring has stood the test of time.
When then-Prince Charles proposed to Camilla in February 2005, he used a 5-carat platinum ring that was believed to have once belonged to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
King Charles is one of several royals who have selected family heirlooms as engagement rings. Prince William opted for Princess Diana’s iconic 12-carat sapphire ring when asking Kate Middleton to marry him. Prince Harry also chose two diamonds from his late mom’s collection to flank the center diamond from Botswana for Meghan Markle’s ring. Prince Philip, meanwhile, created Queen Elizabeth’s engagement ring using diamonds from one of his mother’s tiaras.
Two months after getting engaged, King Charles and Queen Camilla tied the knot. Prince William, Prince Harry and Camilla’s children from her first marriage — son Tom Parker Bowles and daughter Laura Lopes — were in attendance.
Here's everything to know about Queen Camilla’s engagement ring.
Charles proposed to Camilla in 2005
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
More than three decades since their first encounter, King Charles proposed to Queen Camilla, the palace shared in a Feb. 10, 2005, press release.
While most of the details of the proposal remain private, Camilla confirmed to The Telegraph a few days later that King Charles got down on one knee, saying, "Of course. What else?"
At the time, the late Queen Elizabeth released a statement congratulating the newly engaged couple.
“The Duke of Edinburgh and I are very happy that The Prince of Wales and Mrs. Parker Bowles are to marry. We have given them our warmest good wishes for their future together," it read.
King Charles popped the question with a 5-carat ring
Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
King Charles proposed to Queen Camilla with a 5-carat emerald-cut diamond ring adorned with three baguette diamonds on each side in an Art Deco design.
Prestige Pawnbrokers gemologist Deborah Papas previously told Brides that the ring is estimated to be worth $288,000.
The ring was believed to have been passed down from King Charles’ grandmother
Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty
At the time of King Charles and Queen Camilla's engagement, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Camilla’s ring was a family heirloom, but did not release additional details about the jewel, according to Brides.
However, the emerald-cut diamond is widely believed to have once belonged to his grandmother, the Queen Mother, who died in March 2002. She was seen wearing the jewel at various events, including at a production of the play Rookery Nook in London in 1986.
She debuted her ring at Windsor Castle
Credit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
On Feb. 10, 2005, King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated their engagement at Windsor Castle with a party beneath an illuminated Round Tower, per The Guardian.
The event marked the first public appearance since they became engaged. Camilla donned a long red V-neck dress and accessorized with pearls for the special occasion.
They married in an April 2005 civil ceremony
Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty
King Charles and Queen Camilla tied the knot in a civil ceremony on Apr. 9, 2005, at Windsor Guildhall. Following their nuptials, they received a blessing of their marriage at St. George’s Chapel, which Queen Elizabeth attended.
The bride wore an ivory silk knee-length dress and matching tailored coat by Anna Valentine, plus a wide-brimmed, white hat. For the blessing, she changed into a blue floor-length dress and blue and gold overcoat, both by Anna Valentine, and a gold feathered headpiece, which was designed by Philip Treacy.
The nuptials marked the second marriage for both parties. Charles was previously married to Princess Diana and Camilla to Andrew Parker Bowles.
Camilla received the title Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall upon marrying King Charles.
She wears a Welsh gold wedding band
Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Like other members of the royal family, Queen Camilla and King Charles exchanged wedding bands made of Welsh gold on their wedding day. This tradition of using Welsh gold from the Clogau-St. David’s Gold Mine in Bontddu, Wales, for wedding bands dates back more than a century, starting with Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Other members of the royal family have followed suit, including Queen Elizabeth , Princess Diana, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.
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