Queen Elizabeth leaves behind mysterious £150,000 gift from Prince Philip: Here's who may inherit it

The late Queen reportedly owned over 300 pieces of jewellery, but there is one piece that Her Majesty was never without.

A hidden message

In 1947, Prince Philip proposed to the then-Princess Elizabeth. For the occasion, he had a unique yet discreet, by Royal standards, engagement ring designed.

The bespoke ring boasts a three-carat circular diamond flanked by cluster diamonds on either side. The whole is set in a platinum band. The diamonds are reportedly sourced from a tiara that once belonged to Prince Philip's mother. The remaining diamonds were transformed into a bracelet that Prince Philip gifted his wife as a wedding present.

The Diamond Store estimates the value of the ring at approximately £150,000. Jewellery experts have deemed the ring one of the Queen's most understated pieces. It would seem that Prince Philip preferred a more practical ring that could always be worn.

According to Maxwell Stone, a diamond expert and director of Steven Stone said:

The centre stone is also quite modest in comparison to other royal engagement rings, which suggests it was designed with the intention to be worn every day.

Jewellery experts at RH Jewellers reveal that Prince Philip succeeded if that was his intention:

It is small, elegant, and never left the Queen's finger.

Perhaps the most unique feature of the ring is the hidden message that Prince Philip had engraved on the band. According to the RH Jewellers experts, the only people to know what the message says are Prince Philip, the Queen and the person who engraved the ring.

Where's the ring now?

Queen Elizabeth's engagement ring was said to be among the Queen's favourite jewellery pieces for obvious reasons. Despite the ring never leaving the Queen's finger since the day Prince Philip gave it to her, Elizabeth II has reportedly not been buried with it.

Therefore, it would have been inherited by a member of the Royal Family along with the Queen's other 300 pieces of jewellery. Princess Anne has already been seen sporting the Queen's favourite pearl necklace.

The ring hasn't appeared since the Queen's death, and the list of contenders is long. Of the Royal women, the first that comes to mind is Princess Anne. Perhaps, the Queen left her engagement ring to her only daughter. But then, Sophie, the Countess of Sussex, could have inherited the ring as she has repeatedly proved her devotion to the Queen.

Zara Tindall, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, might now have the ring. Maybe, she left it for granddaughter-in-law Catherine, as she will be the future Queen Consort. Princesses Beatrice or Eugenie may have added the bespoke ring to their jewellery collection. Or maybe Lady Louise, who has yet to marry, is now the owner.

The ring could also have been put away for safekeeping for Princess Charlotte, for whom the Queen changed the Crown Succession Act.

If the Queen's engagement ring has been passed down to the next generations, perhaps one day, the public will know what secret message Elizabeth II kept so close to her heart for 75 years.

Sources used:

- Express: Queen Elizabeth's engagement ring had 'sweet message' that 'no one has ever seen'

- The Adventurine: The Story of Queen Elizabeth's Engagement Ring

- Hello!: The Queen's sentimental wedding secret from Prince Philip to finally be revealed

- Brides: Queen Elizabeth II's Royal Engagement Ring: Get the Look