Meghan Markle spotted without her engagement ring in South Africa

She came up against some fierce backlash when she changed the design of her engagement ring back in June and now Meghan Markle has been spotted without the diamond sparkler while on royal tour.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex touched down in South Africa yesterday, where they visited the Nyanga township in Cape Town and the 38-year-old former Suits actress gave a passionate speech about her mixed-race heritage.

However, eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice that Meghan wasn’t wearing her engagement ring for the event.

Later, the loved-up couple held hands as they visited the District Six Museum in Cape Town, where Meghan again was missing her diamond sparkler.

While the Duchess is still sporting her Welsh gold wedding band on tour, according to Town & Country, Meghan has decided to leave both her engagement ring and her eternity band at home because she wants to be ‘low key’ on tour.

Back in June, Meghan faced criticism after appearing to swap out her traditional, gold band, for a glittering pave diamond band on her engagement ring.

"I find it a bit odd Meghan would want to alter a ring that her husband had especially designed for her," editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, Ingrid Seward told The Sun.

"A royal engagement ring is a piece of history not a bit of jewellery to be updated when it looks old fashioned."

Custom-made ring with Princess Diana’s diamonds

Prince Harry designed the ring himself, with the help of jewellers Cleave and Company.

It features an impressive centre stone from Botswana – a place that holds special meaning for the couple after they camped there together early in their relationship.

“The ring is - is obviously yellow gold because that's her favourite - and the main stone itself I sourced from Botswana,” Harry said in his first interview with Meghan to the BBC.

Harry also made sure to include a tribute to his mum in Meghan’s ring.

“The little diamonds either side are from my mother's jewellery collection to make sure that she's with us on this - on this crazy journey together,” he said.

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