Meghan Markle stuns in white with Prince Harry

Meghan Markle stuns in white with Prince Harry

It was the moment the world had been waiting for and Meghan Markle didn't disappoint in the sartorial stakes as she made her first public appearance with new fiance, Prince Harry. 

Meghan, who today announced her engagement to Prince Harry, looked resplendent in a chic belted white coat dress from Line the Label, which she wore over a £437 dress by Parosh and offset with vertiginous Aquazzura heels as she cosied up to her prince charming. 

The Suits actress, 36, showcased the stunning ring designed by Prince Harry himself with one stone from Botswana, where he and Meghan recently holidayed, and two diamonds from Diana’s personal collection. 

The ring was made by Cleave and Company, Court Jewellers and Medallists to Her Majesty The Queen. At its centre is a diamond from Botswana, a country that holds special significance for Prince Harry who has visited many times since he was a child. It is also a place the couple has spent time together over the last year and a half. 

The ring features two outside stones, which are diamonds from the personal collection of Prince Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. 

David Allen of 77 Diamonds said a ring of this size and quality would start at around £50,000 but with the use of the late Princess Diana’s diamonds as side stones, this ring, like Kate’s before it is of inestimable worth. 

TheDiamondStore.co.uk estimate that the ring cost £199,475 and the stone is likely to be a D in colour (the clearest).  

David said of the ring: 'Prince Harry has proposed with a beautiful diamond trilogy ring that has been said to have been designed by the Prince and use some of his mother’s diamonds. With two round diamonds supporting what appears to be a 2.5ct cushion cut diamond, the stones are set in white gold with the main band of the ring in yellow gold. 

'A ring of this size and quality would start at around £50,000 but with the use of the late Princess Diana’s diamonds as side stones, this ring, like Kate’s before it is of inestimable worth. The last Royal engagement that came with a Trilogy engagement ring was Sophie Wessex in 1999 to Prince Edward which features a round centre stone and heart shape side stones.'

Poignantly the royal chose their first photocall in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, much loved by his late mother Diana. 

Harry and his brother William had white roses planted there in her memory when the 20th anniversary of her death fell in August.

The couple will appear together on national TV in the UK for the first time this evening to discuss their engagement and whirlwind relationship of 16 months.

Harry, 33, who revealed a year ago he had fallen for the actress after a four to six month secret relationship, proposed to Meghan, 36, in London earlier this month. 

In a nod to her previous home of Toronto, Meghan chose to wear a coat from Canadian brand Line The Label. Founded in 2000 by friends John Muscat And Jennifer Wells, the brand is known for its stylish knitwear and use of sumptuous materials and counts actresses Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Bosworth among its A-list fans. 

Wrapping up against the cold, Meghan offered only a glimpse of her dress beneath her white coat. The forest green frock was designed by P.A.R.O.S.H, the brainchild of Italian designer Paolo Rossello. The brand channels a classically mod aesthetic that is revamped with playful patterning and bold, vibrant colours. 

Meghan chose to support Canadian fine jewellery brand Birks for her official engagement photocall. She donned a pair of £850 18K yellow gold and opal earrings from Birks in the official announcement, taken outdoors, in the grounds at Kensington Palace. 

Meghan's outfit was a far cry from what Kate wore when she and William got engaged in 2011. 

Kate donned a royal blue wrap dress by London-based label Issa, which flew off the shelves after the then 33-year-old wore it, while delivering the news of her future nuptials to media at St James's Palace. 

The royal looked nervous but happy and his fiancee stroked his arm lovingly as they spoke to reporters, who asked him: 'When did you know she was the one?' and he replied: 'From the very first time we met'.

He refused to say how he proposed saying: 'That will come later' but when asked it it was romantic he said: 'Of course it was'.