Meghan’s mysteriously missing engagement ring: Duchess forgoes Harry’s glittering diamond trio in recent appearances – and she hasn’t been spotted wearing it in MONTHS

Meghan Markle is known for her love of jewelry, whether it’s an expensive Cartier bangle or a personalized necklace.

But since May at the latest, a notable piece has been missing from the Duchess of Sussex’s enviable collection.

The 42-year-old mother-of-two has gone several times without her sparkling £140,000 diamond engagement ring, which the former actress previously upgraded by adding a diamond band to the jewel.

Most recently, Meghan was spotted removing the ring while enjoying lunch with her friends, where she posed for a selfie with pals Kadi Lee, a hairstylist to the stars who shared the snap online, and author Cleo Wade im Garden of a home posed restaurant.

Although the reason for the ring’s absence was not disclosed, she was also without a band when she arrived for an appointment in her hometown of Montecito with a bodyguard at her side. She wore a $4 anti-stress patch and a $1,625 wool coat despite the balmy California weather.

Most recently, Meghan was spotted removing the ring while enjoying lunch with her friends, where she posed for a selfie with pals Kadi Lee, a hairstylist to the stars who shared the snap online, and author Cleo Wade im Garden of a home posed restaurant

Prince Harry proposed to Meghan in November 2017 with a glittering ring consisting of a solid yellow gold band set with three diamonds.

At the time of their engagement, the Duke spoke about the creation of Meghan’s engagement ring with the help of jeweler Cleave and Company.

The custom design included a diamond originally from Botswana and two smaller stones from Princess Diana’s collection.

At the time, he said, “The ring is obviously yellow gold, because that’s the way it is.” [Meghan’s] “My favorite stone and the main stone itself are sourced from Botswana and the small diamonds on either side are from my mother’s jewelery collection to ensure she will accompany us on this crazy journey together.”

Calling it “incredible,” Meghan explained, “All about Harry’s consideration and involvement.” [Princess Diana’s stones] And since I obviously don’t get to meet his mother, it’s so important to me to know that she’s a part of it with us.”

“It’s incredibly special to be able to have that.” [ring], what kind of links, where you are from and Botswana what is important to us. It’s perfect.’

However, the Duchess refrained from wearing her engagement ring to several public appearances in 2019 while she was pregnant with her son Archie.

When she appeared on Trooping the Color earlier this year, it emerged that the Duchess had altered the bespoke engagement ring Prince Harry had designed for her.

Prince Harry made Meghan a sparkling ring consisting of a solid yellow gold ring with three diamonds in November 2017 (left). In 2019, this was then expanded to include a micro-paving band (right)

At the time of their engagement (pictured), the Duke spoke about the making of Meghan’s engagement ring with the help of jeweler Cleave and Company

The Duchess wore her three engagement diamonds on a thin micropavé band for Trooping the Color and her photocall at Windsor Castle with Prince Harry and his newborn son Archie.

Jewelery expert Arabel Lebrusan confirmed that the ring had changed and suggested that it had been tweaked to make the original diamonds appear larger.

Arabel, owner of ethical jewelry brand Arabel Lebrusan, called the thinner band a popular trend, revealing, “A lot of celebrities do this as the central stone looks larger in comparison and creates the wow factor.”

Pointing out the difference in the ring, the jewelry expert said: “She now has small diamonds on the sides of her engagement ring and the ring also appears thinner than before.”

She also revealed that the sparkling band only accentuated Meghan’s diamonds, adding: “The diamond setting on the band has the appearance of a micro setting, which means there is very little metal between the stones, enhancing the sparkle of the tiny ones Diamonds maxed out.”

Arabel went on to say that she felt the new style “fitted perfectly” with the Duchess’s style, saying: “It suits her style perfectly and also her petite fingers.”

Leora Moreno, owner of jewelery brand Leo With Love, said at the time the changes could have been altered to match Meghan’s eternity ring.

She explained, “It looks like the eternity ring has a channel pavé setting.” The engagement ring appears to have an even smaller pavé setting, but it matches the eternity ring perfectly.”

Although the reason for the ring’s absence was not disclosed, she was also without a band when she arrived for an appointment in her hometown of Montecito with a bodyguard at her side. She wore a $4 anti-stress patch and a $1,625 wool coat despite the balmy California weather

The 42-year-old mother-of-two has walked out several times without her £140,000 sparkling diamond engagement ring – which the former actress previously upgraded with a band of diamonds

The jeweler went on to explain that the alteration may have been complex, saying that it takes “great skill and craftsmanship to transform the band into something more delicate like a pavé setting”.

She added that the modern style would still stand for Meghan “for years to come” and is “the perfect combination of bold and petite.”

In 2022’s Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie claimed it was the Duke who changed Meghan’s ring.

In the bio, Lorraine Schwartz, jeweler to stars, said: “‘He’s the most beautiful person ever. So romantic, so thoughtful.’”

The writers continued, “(So much so that Harry also considered having Lorraine resize Meghan’s engagement ring and replace it with a new diamond ring.)”

But in recent months, Meghan’s engagement ring has disappeared again.

In May, the Duchess was spotted hiking near their $14 million mansion in Montecito without her husband Prince Harry – hours after she missed King Charles’ coronation.

Meghan was joined by friends Markus Anderson and Heather Dorak in California on Sunday’s outdoor getaway after celebrating her son Archie’s birthday on Saturday.

The Duchess of Sussex, 41, didn’t wear her £140,000 engagement ring in May (pictured)

Instead of wearing the bespoke ring Prince Harry gave her in 2017, she simply wore her wedding band and an eternity ring

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Ms Foundation Women of Vision Awards at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York

However, she wasn’t wearing her sparkling diamond ring for the occasion.

Later that month, the jewels were missing for a second time when she arrived at the Ms Foundation for Women’s 50th Anniversary event at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan.

During the event, Meghan wore only her yellow gold wedding ring, which matches Prince Harry’s, and an eternity ring, which she began wearing after the birth of her son Archie. It is not known why the ring was missing.

More recently, Meghan shed the ring while enjoying lunch with friends this summer.

She enjoyed a girls’ dinner with friends in California while her birthday celebrations continued.

The Duchess posed for a selfie with friends Kadi Lee, a celebrity hairstylist, and author Cleo Wade in the garden of a restaurant.

In a snap posted to Kadi Lee’s Instagram account, Highbrow Hippie, the Duchess beamed as she wrapped her arms around the two friends at the table.

Going for an understated yet chic look, she looked effortlessly elegant in a black cami top and wore the Ariel Gordon Imperial Disc Pendant Necklace, which costs around $1,840 and can be engraved with names.

Kadi, who is believed to have been Meghan’s hair dye since she returned to California and settled in Montecito with Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also counts other top stars on her list of clients – including Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts and Sex and Kristin Davis from the city.

Kadi shared the snap of the three friends on Instagram and said: “Belated [birthday] celebrations [with] these beautiful muses. Serge Normant is missing.’

Another sought-after hairstylist from New York City, Serge Normant styled the Duchess’s hair on her wedding anniversary to Prince Harry in 2018.