Royal Gifts: A Ruby Ring Given to Queen Victoria at her Wedding, 1840

Ruby and Diamond Ring
French, 1840
The Royal Collection

Little is mentioned about Queen Victoria’s half-sister, Feodora, Princess Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Feodora was the second child of Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and her first husband, Emich Carl, Prince of Leiningen.


Despite the differences in their lineage, Victoria and Feodora enjoyed a very close relationship. On the eve of Victoria’s wedding to Prince Albert, Princess Feodora presented her sister with this attractive ruby and diamond ring. The gold band is inscribed with “Unis à jamais” (‘united forever.”) and features a ruby which signifies love and a diamond representing eternity.

The Queen wore the band on her right hand and was said to have cherished it until the end of her life. We can see by the wear pattern that it was a much-loved piece of jewelry.