Riddle of Strictly star Karen Hauer’s ‘stolen’ £60 engagement ring as she hands it back after shock split from husband

Strictly dancer Karen Hauer has returned her engagement ring to her ex-husband following claims that it was never his to give away. The ring, which was valued at £60 from H. Samuel, was given to her by Jordan Wyn-Jones. The couple recently announced their split after just 16 months of marriage.

The mystery behind the ring

The ring originally belonged to Jordan's late mother, Anne. However, his father, Lee Williams, has alleged that the heirloom was taken without permission. Lee only discovered that the ring was missing when he saw Karen and Jordan's wedding photos on the cover of Hello! magazine. He expressed his gratitude for Karen returning the ring to Jordan, but emphasized that it actually belongs to him and was taken without his consent. For Lee, the ring holds significant sentimental value that cannot be replaced.

A symbol of the past

Lee bought the gold band with a single diamond for Anne 35 years ago. He proposed to her with the ring while they were on vacation in Spain, and they got married in 1989. Unfortunately, their relationship ended in 2002, and Anne passed away the following year at the age of 45. After her death, her second husband returned the ring to Lee.

The shocking discovery

Lee believed that the ring was still in his possession, safely tucked away in a box in his bedroom. However, he was taken aback when he saw Karen wearing it in Hello! magazine. In the same magazine interview, Karen revealed that Jordan had proposed with his late mother's ring. They had even remodeled it together to add their own personal touch while keeping the core of his mother's ring intact.

A fractured relationship

Jordan and Lee's relationship deteriorated after he met Karen. Lee, who is a tennis coach and runs a children's charity in Nepal, did not attend their wedding in June of last year. He expressed his disappointment and emphasized the sentimental value that the ring holds for him, adding that things might have been different if he and Jordan had a better relationship.

Previous marriages

Jordan was Karen's third husband. She was previously married to fellow former Strictly pro Kevin Clifton from 2015 to 2018. Before that, she was married to her former dance partner Matthew Hauer.

Representatives for Karen declined to comment, and Jordan did not respond to requests for comment.