Update 5/19: Meghan Markle wore a pair of Cartier diamond earrings (opens in new tab) and The Queen Mary Tiara on her wedding day. According to a statement released by Kensington Palace (opens in new tab), the diamond and platinum accessory (opens in new tab) was made in 1932. It was formed as a flexible band of 11 sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds.
Of course, she's also now wearing her wedding band (opens in new tab). The ring is made of Welsh gold (opens in new tab), crafted from a piece of gold gifted by the Queen, herself. According to royal correspondent Rebecca English (opens in new tab), Cleave and Company have made both her ring and Harry's.
Original post 4/13: When Meghan Markle marries Prince Harry on May 19, her wedding gown (opens in new tab) will likely be accessorized with a Welsh gold wedding band—a tradition passed down through several generations of British royalty (opens in new tab). The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret (the Queen's sister), Princess Anne (the Queen's daughter), Princess Diana, and Kate Middleton all had Welsh gold wedding rings. But when it comes to the rest of Markle's wedding-day accessories, her other pieces of jewelry are a lot more unpredictable than the ring (opens in new tab). A diamond necklace, a bracelet, a hair clip? The possibilities are endless!
During public events with Harry throughout the past year, Meghan has often chosen dainty gold earrings, necklaces, and bracelets to match her belted coats and turtlenecks (opens in new tab). She rarely wears silver jewelry, which makes it even more likely she'll follow suit with royal tradition and choose a Welsh gold band—along with the accessories to match it, of course.
In 2011, Kate Middleton's gorgeous lace detailing on her wedding gown (opens in new tab) made statement accessories like a bracelet and necklace unnecessary. Instead, Middleton chose to wear the Cartier Halo tiara (opens in new tab) passed down from Queen Elizabeth II and $20,000 custom-made Robinson Pelham diamond earrings (opens in new tab). In 1981, Princess Diana wore the Cambridge Lovers’ Knot Tiara (opens in new tab)—also passed down from Queen Elizabeth II—and chose not to wear a necklace or bracelet either. Her dress was dramatic enough with its puff sleeves that embodied an antique Victorian-style era. She did, however, wear pear-shaped earrings owned by her mother (opens in new tab).
If Markle chooses to follow in the footsteps of her soon-to-be sister-in-law and late mother-in-law, we'll only be seeing a tiara and earrings as the main accessories on her wedding day. While Markle's typically understated jewelry is definitely not in the royal wedding vocabulary, we have seen Markle's taste in accessories evolve since she and Harry went public with their relationship (opens in new tab).
Meghan Markle wearing Birks stackable rings alongside a few dainty gold ones
Back in her Instagram days (opens in new tab), Markle was seen wearing this Baublebar crystal leaf ring (opens in new tab). Recently, she's been playing around with different yet still subtle styles—from $498 Adina Reyter yellow-gold diamond curve earrings (opens in new tab) to $90 Isabel Marant gold hoops (opens in new tab) (shop similar here (opens in new tab)) to $1,495 Birks stackable yellow-gold rings (opens in new tab). She consistently chooses gold accents.
The one that she would most likely replicate on her wedding day, however, are the Birks white gold snowflake round jacket earrings (opens in new tab) that retail for $5,995. (Not exactly Markle's style.) The main reason? Unlike the other pieces, these were worn during an official royal event with the Queen at Christmas Day church service in Sandringham (opens in new tab). Plus, they're considerably more expensive and traditional-looking, which seems to be a major theme with royal wedding jewelry. Only 38 days until we know (opens in new tab) for sure what Markle will choose.