In this months blog we are talking about The Crown Jewels, the nation’s most precious treasures. They are used when crowning a new sovereign, the opening of parliament and other historic events. During the coronation the new sovereign is first anointed with holy oil, then dressed in coronation robes, and finally invested with a number of ornaments symbolising the chivalric nature of kingship.
There are over 100 pieces and 23,000 gemstones making up The Crown Jewels some being more iconic than others. These include the spurs, swords and armills, followed by the orb, a ring and then the sceptres. The Crown Jewels have been protected at the Tower of London since 1660’s to this day.
In this blog we are going to look at a few key pieces as otherwise this would be a very long blog!
The Imperial State Crown
The Imperial State Crown is the most recognisable item of The Crown Jewels as it is what a new monarch will wear once they have been crowned and it is the crown they have their photographs taken in.
The masterpiece has a staggering 2,868 diamonds in silver settings, largely table cut, rose cut and brilliant cut, and coloured stones in gold settings including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls. In addition to these gemstones the crown also has three of the worlds most impressive stones.
The first is the Cullinan II which sits at the front of the crown. The Cullinan II, (also known as the Second Star of Africa) is the second largest diamond cut from the Cullianan Diamond. It is cushion shaped and weighs a whopping 317.4ct which is 4.54×4.08cm! It has a few small imperfection including a small chip to the girdle.
At the back of the crown is the Stuart Sapphire, an oval sapphire weighing 104ct. It was previously at the front of the crown but was moved to the back in 1909 to make way for the Cullinan II diamond.
Above the Cullinan II is the Black Prince’s Ruby. You would be forgiven thinking the stone is a ruby due to its name however it was later determined it is a spinel. It was given to Edward, Prince of Wales (1330-76), son of Edward III. The stone is 170ct and has been drilled and worn as a pendant in the past. The Black Pince’s Ruby has a long history including being worn by Henry V in his helmet, at the Battle of Agincourt.
This crown was made for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 but it is closely based on a crown designed for Queen Victoria in 1838 by the crown jewellers of the time, Rundell, Bridge & Rundell.
The Imperial State Crown is the crown the monarch exchanges for St Edward’s Crown, at the end of the coronation ceremony. It is also used on formal occasions, such as the annual State Opening of Parliament.
The Sceptre
The sceptre is another one of the most recognisable items and represents the sovereign’s power and is associated with good governance. The sceptre was originally made for Charles II, and has had a number of alterations, mainly in 1820 for the coronation of George IV, when an enamelled rose, thistle and shamrock were all added. The biggest alteration was made in 1910, when the sceptre was altered to receive the Cullinan I diamond. The setting which holds the diamond is hinged so that the it can be removed and worn. The sceptre also had to be reinforced as the weight of the diamond is so large. The sceptre is also decorated with emeralds, amethyst, table and rose-cut diamonds, rubies, spinels and sapphires.
Cullinan I, (also known as the Great Star of Africa) which is set in the sceptre, is the largest diamond cut from the Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond ever found. The Cullinan I is the largest colourless diamond in the world weighing 530.2ct which is 5.89×4.54cm!
The sovereign is presented with two sceptres during their coronation – this one surmounted by a cross and another surmounted by a dove (which represents the Holy Ghost). After the investiture, the sovereign is then crowned.
Crown of Queen Mary
Made by Garrard & Co in 1911 and purchased by Mary of Teck who became Queen Mary. She purchased the crown with her own money in the hopes it would become an heirloom worn by future queens consort which most recently happened in 2023 with Queen Camilla.
The Crown of Queen Mary is set with 2,200 rose and brilliant cut diamonds and originally contained the 105.6ct Koh-i-Noor diamond, the 94.4ct Cullinan III diamond and the 63.6ct Cullinan IV diamond.
In 1914, the Koh-i-Noor, Cullinan III and Cullinan IV diamonds were replaced with quartz crystal replicas, and the crown’s arches were made detachable so it could be worn as an open crown/circlet. The Koh-i-Noor was moved to the crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Cullinan III and IV were set as a brooch.
As per Queen Marys original wish, the crown was worn in 2023 by Queen Camilla at hers and King Charles III coronation. The quartz crystal replicas of the Cullinan III and IV stones were replaced with the original diamonds for the coronation.
St. Edwards Crown
St Edward’s Crown isnt as well known as other crowns but is the most important and sacred of all the crowns. It is only used at the moment of crowning itself. It was made for Charles II in 1661 and is made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines
The Crown Jewels are not only a symbol of the monarchy wealth but also items of huge historic significance. They continue to draw tourists from all over the world to the Tower of London where they are displayed.