Royal Jewelry: Imperial State Crown

The crown of the crowns ... 

During the covid pandemic, I really missed the bling moments of the
royal families. 

I started reading books about royal jewelry and I began to interest me in the 
history of this famous pieces. So, I hope you'll enjoy next blog post about the
Imperial State Crown.

Escpecially during this year of the Platinum Jubilee of The Queen, I hope to 
catch up with some special jewelry posts. 

St Edward's Crown, used to crown English monarchs, was considered to be a holy relic,
kept in the saint's shrine at Westminster Abbey and therefore not worn by monarchs
at any other time. Instead, a "great crown" with crosses and fleurs-de-lis, but
without arches (an open crown), was a king's usual headgear at state occasions
until the time of Henry V, who is depicted wearing an imperial crown of state with
gold arches (a closed crown).

Arches were a symbol of sovereignty, and by this point in history, the king of
England was being celebrated as rex in regno suo est imperator – an emperor of
his own domain – owing obedience to no one but God, unlike some continental
rulers, who owed fealty to more powerful kings or the Holy Roman Emperor.

Henry VII or his son and successor Henry VIII may have commissioned a
more elaborate version of the state crown which is first described in detail
in an inventory of royal jewels in 1521, and again in 1532, 1550, 1574 and
1597, and was included in a painting by Daniel Mytens of Charles I in 1631.

The Tudor Crown had more pearls and jewels than its medieval predecessor,
and the centre petals of each of the fleurs-de-lis had images of Christ, the
Virgin Mary and St George.

The crown weighed 3.3 kg (7 lb 6 oz) and was set with 168 pearls, 58 rubies,
28 diamonds, 19 sapphires and 2 emeralds.Following the abolition of the
monarchy and the execution of Charles I in 1649, the Tudor Crown was
broken up by Oliver Cromwell during the Interregnum, and its valuable
components were sold for £1,100.

Charles II of England with his coronation crown

Upon the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, a new state crown was made for
Charles II by Sir Robert Vyner. About 10 versions of the crown have existed
since the restoration. 

Imperial State Crown for Queen Victoria

The one made for Queen Victoria in 1838 is the basis for today's crown.
Made by Rundell and Bridge in 1838 using old and new jewels, it had a crimson
velvet cap with ermine border and a lining of white silk. It weighed 39.25 troy
ounces (43.06 oz; 1,221 g) and was decorated with 1,363 brilliant-cut, 1,273
rose-cut and 147 table-cut diamonds, 277 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds,
4 rubies, and the Black Prince's Ruby (a spinel).

Queen Victoria with her coronation jewelry

 At the State Opening of Parliament in 1845, the Duke of Argyll was
carrying the crown before Queen Victoria when it fell off the cushion and
broke. Victoria wrote in her diary, "it was all crushed and squashed like a
pudding that had sat down".

The gems in the crown were remounted for the coronation of George VI in 1937
by Garrard & Co.The crown was adjusted for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in
1953, with the head size reduced and the arches lowered by 25 mm (1 inch)
to give it a more feminine appearance.

Facts

The Imperial State Crown is 31.5 cm (12.4 in) tall and weighs 1.06 kg (2.3 lb),
and has four fleurs-de-lis and four crosses pattée, supporting two arches topped
by a monde and cross pattée. Its purple velvet cap is trimmed with ermine. The
frame is made of gold, silver and platinum, and decorated with 2,868 diamonds,
273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies.

Notable stones are St Edward's Sapphire on the top cross, reputedly taken from
the ring of Edward the Confessor when he was re-interred at Westminster Abbey in
1163, and the Black Prince's Ruby (a large spinel) on the front cross. 

In 1909, the 104-carat (21 g) Stuart Sapphire, set in the front of the crown, was
moved to the back and replaced by the 317-carat (63 g) Cullinan II.

Below the monde hang four pearls, three of which are often said to have
belonged to Queen Elizabeth I, but the association is almost certainly erroneous.

Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary

The use of the crown

The crown is worn by the monarch on leaving Westminster Abbey at the end of
his or her coronation.

It is usually also worn at State Openings of Parliament, although Elizabeth II
wore a hat in March 1974, June 2017 and December 2019 after snap general
elections, and in May 2021; and, in October 2019 she wore the State Diadem,
while the Imperial State Crown was carried beside her.

Usually, it is taken to the Palace of Westminster under armed guard in its own
carriage and placed in the Robing Room, where the Queen dons her robes and
puts on the crown before giving her speech to Parliament. If a State Opening
occurs before a coronation, the crown is placed on a cushion beside the monarch.
In 1689, one week after being proclaimed king, William III wore his crown in
Parliament to pass the Crown and Parliament Recognition Act 1689.

The Tower of London

Only three people are allowed to touch the crown: the monarch,
the Archbishop of Canterbury during the coronation ceremony, and the
Crown Jeweller, who is responsible for the crown's maintenance, as well as
keeping it secure whenever it leaves the Tower of London.

When not in use, the Imperial State Crown is on public display in the Jewel House
at the Tower of London.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip 

Source pictures: Wikipedia