Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh is mysteriously missing her most romantic accessory.
The Duchess of Edinburgh, 60, was photographed without her engagement ring and wedding band during appearances this week, sparking wonder as to why. Sophie is married to King Charles’ younger brother, Prince Edward, and has been skipping her gold wedding ring lately.
On June 30, the Duchess of Edinburgh stepped out to attend the RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival at Hampton Court Palace, where she toured the flower show, met school children and had some ice cream.
Sophie was photographed there without her three-diamond engagement ring and Welsh gold wedding band, skipping both sentimental rings.
A few days later, on July 3, the Duchess of Edinburgh was pictured wearing her engagement ring at the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival at Lannock Farm, Hertfordshire, where Prince William made an under-the-radar appearance the day prior.
Sophie and her nephew seem to share a passion for the agricultural sector and attended another farm show together in June.
While her engagement ring is back in action, there are a few practical possibilities as to why the Duchess of Edinburgh hasn’t been wearing her wedding ring. The royal might have left the band at home as a heatwave swept the U.K., or the ring could be getting serviced.
Though Sophie is known to stick to tradition (which may have contributed to her close relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth), she’s not one to wear her engagement ring and wedding band constantly.
As Hello! magazine noted, Sophie has gone without wearing the sentimental accessories for overseas trips, portraits and more.
Cameras caught a close look at the Duchess of Edinburgh’s hand when she attended the annual Order of the Garter service at Windsor Castle on June 16, where her engagement ring looked like the only band on her left ring finger.
Sophie isn’t the only woman in the British royal family to sometimes skip the most romantic rings in her jewelry box. Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have previously skipped their engagement rings, a trend Princess Kate seemed to lean into while undergoing treatment for cancer.
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The Princess of Wales, 43, went without the sapphire and diamond engagement ring that previously belonged to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, a few times last year in favor of a ring stack and sported the ring stack again a few times this year.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex wore her wedding band without her engagement ring for a short time in 2023. PEOPLE understands the jewelry was being serviced because a setting came loose.
After five years of dating, Prince Edward and Sophie got engaged on vacation in December 1998 and announced the happy news the following January. He popped the question with a tri-diamond ring featuring an oval-cut diamond hugged by two smaller heart-shaped stones, designed by Garrard, which has worked with the British royal family for generations.
The couple went on to tie the knot at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in June 1999, where Edward gave his bride a Welsh gold wedding band.
It’s been a tradition for brides within the British royal family to sport wedding bands made of Welsh gold for over 100 years, and Sophie was the first royal bride to bring it into the new millennium.
The couple went on to welcome two children, Lady Louise Windsor, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17, and they celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on June 19.
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