Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf, Germany this week, marking the couple's first public engagement since May - but eagle-eyed internet sleuths are more concerned with how long it's been since Meghan was last seen sporting her engagement ring.
The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event for wounded, ill, or injured military personnel and veterans, which was first held in 2014. The Games were founded by Harry himself.
While attending the Wheelchair Basketball preliminary match between Ukraine and Australia on Wednesday (local time), Meghan appeared alongside her husband in a chic ensemble comprising tailored city shorts, a cardigan, and Chanel sling-backs, although her engagement ring was noticeably absent - as it has been for several weeks.
The Sussexes later attended the Swimming event, followed by the Wheelchair Basketball final between the US and France - during which Meghan swapped her shorts for a slim pair of dark jeans and black heels. While clapping in the audience and embracing the victorious Team USA, the Duchess' hands were on full display: and again, the left was clearly sans her US$300,000 three-stone sparkler.
A report by People said it's believed the ring is currently being serviced due to a setting coming loose, according to an unnamed souce.
Rumours began circulating about the couple's relationship in August after Meghan was spotted without her engagement ring during a lunch date with two friends. A few days later, an insider poured cold water on speculation that the couple could be facing marital problems, telling Page Six the ring was simply "being fixed."
Harry designed the ring with the help of the late Queen Elizabeth's regular jeweller, Cleave & Company. The custom piece features a large cushion-cut centre diamond sourced from Botswana - where Meghan and Harry celebrated her 36th birthday early in their relationship - as well as two side stones from the jewellery collection of his late mother, Princess Diana.
However, the Duchess has still been sporting her wedding band, a piece made of highly prized Welsh gold. The use of the gold is a tradition in the royal family, who have been using the metal for their wedding bands since the Queen Mother's nuptials in 1923.
Wednesday's activities marked Meghan's first appearance at this year's Games, which kicked off four days ago. According to reports, Meghan made a speech shortly after her arrival that cited her parenting duties as the reason for her delayed attendance.
"Just like so many of you this is about family and friends and the community that Invictus has created, that Fisher House has created, so I just had to spend a little bit more time at home getting our little ones settled, getting milkshakes, doing school drop off, and then I landed a couple of hours ago," Meghan said at the Family & Friends event on Tuesday, according to reports. "I'm thrilled that the first event I've been to for Invictus is here with all of you."
Harry and Meghan, who tied the knot in May 2018, share two children: Prince Archie of Sussex, four, and Princess Lilibet of Sussex, two.
