James Middleton confirms engagement to girlfriend Alizee Thevenet

Fair play to all involved.

James Middleton has confirmed his engagement to girlfriend Alizee Thevenet following a string of rumours that he had gotten engaged to girlfriend Alizee Thevenet.  Kate and Pippa's younger brother popped the question recently enough, offering the French financial analyst a massive blue sapphire ring in exchange for her hand in marriage. She, unsurprisingly, said yes - and James took to Instagram over the weekend to confirm the news that everybody pretty much already knew. Sharing an underwater video of himself and Alizee, he wrote: "I asked Alizeee a question the other day. And she said..." He then shared an actual photo of himself to the grid, writing: "She said OUI. Our secret is out but we couldn’t be happier to share the news." The pair also conveniently featured Aliezee's engagement ring in the photo; a giant, massive, impressive looking blue sapphire that he presented to her while they were holidaying in the Lake District. The ring is similar enough to the oval blue 18-carat sapphire and diamond that Prince William gave Kate Middleton when he proposed to her back in 2010. https://www.instagram.com/p/B3R1d7EAzsM/ Jason D’Heureux, creative director of bespoke jewellers Taylor & Hart says that although it's hard to determine how big the ring actually is, he thinks it's a trilogy engagement ring. "Assuming the white space above the blue sapphire is light reflection, it looks like a trilogy engagement ring, featuring an emerald-cut blue sapphire centre (around 2.50 carats), flanked by icy baguette diamond side stones," he says. "The design appears to be Art Deco inspired with its bold geometric stone shapes and is likely set in platinum–the preferred metal choice of the era. “James, being the youngest of his siblings, could have been inspired by his older sisters’ engagement rings. Likely, the blue sapphire centre was inspired by Kate’s engagement ring, originally worn by Princess Diana, while the baguette diamonds and vintage platinum design was inspired by Pippa’s engagement ring." Alizee and James went public with their relationship during Wimbledon this year. They first met during a chance encounter in 2018 - thanks to James' cocker spaniel, Ella. Seemingly, Alizee didn't know who James was when she spoke to him after saying hi to the dog. "After Alizee went back to her table, James asked the waiter to give her a note saying: 'I never normally do this, but would you like to go for a drink with me?'" said a friend. "He also picked up their tab. A few weeks later, they went out for a drink together. "It wasn’t until after they’d met for a drink that Alizee realised who he was — one of her friends had to tell her. They met thanks to Ella."