Cue us, the puzzled Americans: What gives? As it turns out, it's because he simply has chosen not to wear one. But it's not just the spouses of minor royals (Princess Eugenie is ninth in line to the throne) that don't have to: Apparently all royal men get to choose whether they wear one or not.
The King, who has worn his signet ring since the mid-70s, also made the unique choice to stack his wedding band beneath his signet ring, perhaps as a mark of individuality, or even simply for comfort…
King Charles stacks his signet ring with his wedding band, which is otherwise supposed to be worn on the ring finger. He has famously worn this ring after the official announcement of his engagement with Princess Diana in 1981 and also during his wedding to Queen Consort Camilla in 2005.
According to engagement ring experts, the Princess of Wales removes her ring for "health and safety reasons." Lilly is the assistant editor at Brides. She joined the staff in 2021 and covers real weddings, wedding decor, wedding news, and more.
Royal men have traditionally chosen not to wear a wedding ring. While this is more preference than protocol, Prince Philip, Andrew and William all chose to opt out of having a ring. Prince Charles stacks his wedding ring to Camilla on top of his signet ring on his pinkie finger, rather than the ring finger.
While it is now common practice for both the bride and groom to give each other a ring as a sign of their eternal devotion, a royal aide explained that Prince William's decision not to wear a ring was 'simply down to personal preference'.
The sapphire ring is one of a trio that Kate typically wears day to day, along with her wedding band, wrought from a special nugget of Welsh gold.
Harry allegedly requested the engagement ring because "'that's the ring I remember from my childhood. '" On what happened next, Burrell said the brothers must have struck a deal. "Harry obviously gave up his treasure to his brother so that it could be on the ring finger of his wife who would one day be Queen."
Perhaps Meghan chose to leave the special rock at home to prevent overwhelming her glamorous look with too much sparkle – after all, the Duchess' style is synonymous with minimalist accessories and modern lines.
Princess Diana's wedding ring followed royal tradition in that it was made from a nugget of Welsh gold that has been in the family for centuries. (Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, and Queen Elizabeth, among others, all received wedding bands from that same piece of gold.)
The engagement ring Camilla received from Prince Charles is an emerald-cut diamond ring surrounded by smaller diamonds, set in 18-karat gold. The design of the ring is said to be inspired by the engagement ring ofQueen Elizabeth. The Queen Mother owned Camilla's wedding band and frequently wore it in the 1980s.
The twice-married heir-to-the-throne has worn a band signifying his marriage to Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles. However, he reportedly wears it on his pinky finger instead of the ring finger.
Aquamarine Cocktail Ring
On Meghan's wedding day, she debuted two rings: a simple wedding band made of Welsh gold, and Princess Diana's Aquamarine ring. After the ceremony, Meghan changed to head to her reception at Frogmore House (top) and was first photographed wearing the colorful piece of jewelry.
Similarly, when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, attended her Scottish Coronation 70 years ago, she was not crowned either, and on top of it all being to do with Scotland's history, there's an unusual reason why Charles can't wear the crown - it's too small for his head.
While the style is often considered a gentleman's ring, it's favored by royal women, too: Princess Diana wore a signet ring given to her by Charles before their wedding, and Meghan Markle and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, both have their own symbolic signet rings.
Otherwise known as a gentleman's ring, the history of the signet ring is thought to stretch back to the days of the Old Testament. Traditionally worn on the smallest finger (the pinky) the style is often adorned with a coat of arms, family crest or a monogram to symbolise heritage, or social status.
The late princess continued to wear her engagement ring even after she and Prince Charles divorced in 1996. After her death, Prince William inherited the sapphire sparkler, eventually using it to propose to Kate Middleton in 2010.
Following Diana's death in August 1997, the sapphire ring was inherited by her son Prince Harry, who eventually offered it to his older brother Prince William before he proposed to Kate Middleton with it in 2010.
Royal historian Robert Lacey clarified in his book, Battle of Brothers: William and Harry – The Inside Story of a Family in Tumult, that the reason Queen Elizabeth had rejected Meghan's first choice was a reasonable one: because the emerald tiara was said to have been possibly Russian, meaning that it could have been ...
However, the ring actually first belonged to Harry after he inherited it from his mother's estate, but he decided to give it to his older brother when Will decided he was going to propose to Kate. William spoke about the importance of the ring during the couple's engagement interview.
The sapphire engagement ring, which was previously owned by William's mother, was adjusted for Kate by the royal jewellers, G Collins and Sons. The Duchess found that the ring was too big and would often turn on her finger. Jewellers added a series of small platinum beads to the inside of the ring.
The Queen Consort's engagement ring features a dazzling emerald-cut diamond at its center that's reportedly five carats. The royal ring once belonged to the Queen Mother who is rumored to have received it after giving birth to Queen Elizabeth.
But did you know the change was actually initiated by her husband? Prince Harry chose to upgrade the band at the same time that he ordered a bespoke eternity ring for his wife as a gift for their first wedding anniversary.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl explained that, again, in typical royal fashion, “there is a hierarchy in all of this,” she says. “The Queen Consort, really, gets first choice of the Queen's jewelry. And after that is Princess of Wales, of course, Kate.
The Queen's rings may now be passed to one of her children or grandchildren, meaning the message – which we imagine is very heartfelt – will become more widely known among the royals. The Duke designed the Queen's engagement ring himself using diamonds that were handed down from his mother.