Princess Anne met Timothy Laurence, a commander in the Royal Navy when he was stationed on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
The couple wed in late 1992, marking the Princess Royal’s second marriage after her first to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973.
Since the Church of England forbade remarriages following divorce, Anne and Timothy’s wedding had to be held in Scotland rather than a lavish royal ceremony in Westminster Abbey like her first nuptials.
A three-carat oval-cut cabochon sapphire engagement ring was presented to Princess Anne by Timothy for her second engagement.
The gorgeous jewel is flanked on either side by a cluster of three tiny diamonds.
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However, due to the fact that Princess Anne almost always wears gloves on royal engagements, fans rarely get to see her sapphire ring.
The Princess Royal wears gloves just like her late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, did throughout her life.
Genevieve James, the Creative Director of Cornelia James, who designed many of the late Queen’s gloves, said: “They’re necessary because if you’re the Queen, you’re shaking a lot of hands, so they protect her hands as well.”
A ring like Princess Anne’s would be worth about £25,000 on today’s market, according to Steven Stone jewellery specialists.
Maxwell Stone, the creative director at Steven Stone said: “It’s interesting that Princess Anne received a sapphire engagement ring rather than a traditional diamond ring.
“Blue sapphires are often linked to people who are respectful, loyal, hardworking, and honest, which only makes this ring even more special and suggests that this could have meant something to Princess Anne.”
The most famous royal engagement ring is undoubtedly the Princess of Wales’s sparkler, which used to belong to Princess Diana.
This ring is also a sapphire, showing that the blue jewel is loved by lots of members of the Royal Family.
Maxwell added: “Princess Diana also famously had a blue sapphire ring, which is now in the hands of Kate Middleton.
“Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II was frequently seen sporting the gemstone on her famous brooches.
“It’s clear to see that the Royal Family are huge fans of sapphires – a stone which is traditionally believed to attract abundance and blessings.
“Historically it has been used to protect against negative energies, as well as calm the mind, strengthen intuition, and invite spiritual clarity, so it’s no wonder the royal ladies love them.”
