• e-mail

Meghan Markle's return to royal duties today had eagle-eyed viewers excited, as they spotted a third ring on her ring finger - believed to be an 'eternity' band that symbolises Harry's everlasting love.     

The new mother was caught sporting the eye-catching ring - a delicate pave-set band - alongside her engagement and wedding rings for Trooping the Colour at London's Buckingham Palace. 

Sitting below the engagement ring and wedding ring, it was difficult to spot from the front - but viewers picked up on the three defined bands on the inside of Meghan's finger when she waved from her carriage. 

Speculation was rife over its meaning, with some suggesting she'd been given a 'push present' from her husband. The tradition, popular in the US, sees the father gift the mother a ring to mark the birth of their newborn.

But now others have suggested the new accessory is an eternity ring from Prince Harry, with one eagle-eyed viewer writing on Twitter: 'Looks like a diamond eternity ring for Meghan.' Traditionally an eternity ring is given following a marriage as a sign of lasting love and commitment between a couple.  

The Duchess of Sussex glowed as she paraded a navy one-tone Givenchy dress under the matching Noel Stewart headpiece which she paired with a £830.60 Givenchy purse for the Queen's official birthday celebration. 

Eagle-eyed viewers have suggested Meghan Markle is wearing an eternity ring beneath her engagement and wedding rings. Traditionally an eternity ring is given following a marriage as a sign of lasting love and commitment between a couple  

Sitting below the engagement ring and wedding ring, it was difficult to spot from the front - but viewers picked up on the three defined bands on the inside of Meghan's finger when she waved from her carriage

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are whisked away in a carriage from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade 

The new parents smile and wave as they head to the parade. Prince Harry dawned his frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry of the British Army while Meghan wore a Givenchy dress and a Noel Stewart hat

Today marks the first public engagement for Meghan since she revealed the new prince to the world 

The couple sat facing Kate and Camilla and passed rows of cheering fans who turned out in droves to watch 1,400 troops, 400 musicians and 200 horses march in the parade

Meghan wore a bespoke Givenchy dress and Noel Stewart hat as she made her first public appearance since the birth of Archie

She and Harry were full of smiles as they chatted away to Kate and Camilla on their way to watch the annual parade 

Meghan (pictured beaming at crowds of wellwishers who cheered her arrival) told aides she was keen to get back to her royal duties as soon as possible. It's been four weeks since she gave birth to her first child

Today's outfit closely resembles the Givenchy number she wore to Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding in October 2018.

The 37-year-old has again turned to her friend Clare Waight Keller, who was entrusted to design her wedding gown in May last year.

The Duchess of Sussex smiled politely as she entered Buckingham Palace in the back of a dark blue Range Rover - just four weeks after giving birth.

She and Harry were then whisked away in a carriage to the Horse Guards Parade to join the Royal Family and thousands of spectators to watch 1,400 troops, 400 musicians and 200 horses march in the parade.

The duchess has been on maternity leave caring for her baby born at a private London hospital on May 6, and Harry has already spoken about how parenthood has changed their lives, saying he cannot imagine life without his son.

Meghan joined Harry, wearing his Blues and Royals uniform, the Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of Cambridge in a coach that was greeted by cheers from crowds in the Mall as it made its way to Horse Guards Parade in London's Whitehall for the Trooping ceremony.

Meghan's here: The smiling Duchess of Sussex is making her first public appearance since revealing Prince Archie to the world four weeks ago

She entered Buckingham Palace in the back of a dark blue Range Rover ahead of the Queen's official birthday celebrations just four weeks after giving birth

They beamed and waved at crowds of wellwishers who came to watch the parade. 

In another horse-drawn carriage was Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, Princess Beatrice and the Duke of Kent.

But those hoping for a glimpse at Archie were to be disappointed, as the youngest new royal did not attend the annual event.

The Queen, who celebrated her 93rd birthday in April, arrives to watch the parade in one of her luxurious horse-drawn carriages. She will also inspect the lines of guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins

Meghan had told aides she was eager to get back to work as soon as possible. Her sister-in-law Kate, 37, came back after just five weeks following the birth of George in 2013.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were also seen arriving, with Prince William donning his ceremonial uniform for the Irish Guards and Kate sporting a yellow dress from Alexander McQueen and a petalled Philip Treacy hat.

The Queen, who celebrated her 93rd birthday in April, will watch the Trooping ceremony and also inspect the lines of guardsmen in their scarlet tunics and bearskins.

Prince William and Prince Charles - both royal colonels of the Household Division - ride on horses to the parade in their full military uniforms

Members of The King's Troop Royal Artillery lead the parade down the Mall back to Buckingham Palace

Prince William salutes while wearing his bearskin hat on the back of his horse as the Queen rides past in her carriage

The nearly 2,000-strong parade is made up of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of musicians

The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 98th birthday on Monday, has retired from official public duties and is not expected to attend.

The ceremony will see the Queen travel to and from Horse Guards Parade in a procession accompanied by a Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry, made up of the Life Guards and Blues and Royals, in their silver and gold breastplates and plumed helmets.

The massed bands of the Household Division will provide musical backing during the day and also taking part is the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery who, following the parade, will fire a 41-gun salute in Green Park to mark the Queen's official birthday.

Medics help a soldier who fell from his horse during the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade in central London

Members of the Welsh Guards, a regiment of Household Division, march to Horseguards parade with their rifles in hand

After the ceremony, the royal family will head back to Buckingham Palace and gather on the balcony to watch the RAF flypast. 

More than 20 aircraft will take part including modern jets and historic aircraft, while the Red Arrows will be the finale.

Among the soldiers expected for the pomp and pageantry are identical twins Ben and Thomas Dell, both 21, from Bath, Somerset. 

Among soldiers expected to attend are identical twins Ben and Thomas Dell, both 21, from Bath in Somerset. Thomas is in the Grenadier Guards while Ben will be with the Household Cavalry

Wellwishers line the streets as ceremonial soldiers ride horses during the parade in central London

Guardsman Thomas will be with the Grenadier Guards and Trooper Ben will be with the Household Cavalry.

It will be the first time Thomas troops his colour but Ben's third time involved in the pomp and pageantry of the event.

'Everything is a competition between both of us,' Ben said.

'At home, since we were very young all the way up to now, it's always a competition of who's the better one. It's a lot of fun.'

The 21-year-old twins will be among the soldiers taking part, along with 400 musicians from the massed bands. 

Despite the dreary weather, thousands of spectators have lined the streets to watch 1,400 troops, 400 musicians and 200 horses march in the parade 

Members of the Grenadier Guards perform in Horseguards parade for the Queen's Birthday Parade

Recognised for their scarlet tunics and bearskin hats, the Grenadier Guards carry out an operational role as well as duties at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

The mounted regiment of the Household Cavalry, with which Ben serves, provides ceremonial troops for all state occasions, including the opening of Parliament.

As a Grenadier Guard, Thomas was deployed to Iraq to work with the US coalition and returned to the UK just before Christmas.

Trooping the Colour originated from traditional preparations for battle.

Colours, or flags, were carried, or 'trooped', down the rank so they could be seen and recognised by the soldiers.

In the 18th century, guards from the royal palaces assembled daily at Horse Guards Parade to 'troop the colours' and in 1748 it was announced the parade would also mark the Sovereign's official birthday.