King Charles III: Discover The Crown Jewels That Will Take Part On The Coronation – England’s most renowned treasures are the Crown Jewels, which consist of over 100 remarkable objects such as orbs, sceptres, and crowns. These items hold great significance as they are closely tied to the position and duties of the monarch, and among them is the 12th-century spoon used to anoint the king or queen during their coronation, which is the oldest of the collection. Discover more about the Crown Regalia in this article by The Most Expensive Homes blog.
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The Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels, which are considered the most comprehensive collection of royal regalia in the world. These regalia are used during important events such as the coronation service and the State Opening of Parliament. As a part of the Royal Collection, the Crown Jewels are held in trust by the monarch for the nation.
The Coronation Regalia forms the core of the Crown Jewels, comprising the sacred items utilized in the coronation ritual. Among these are the Imperial State Crown, St Edward’s Crown, the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, and the Sovereign’s Orb.
This stunning crown made entirely of solid gold is an essential part of the coronation ceremony and is adorned with rubies, amethysts, and sapphires. It weighs almost 2,07kg (5lb) and was created as a replacement for the medieval crown that was melted down in 1649 after the execution of Charles I. Originally commissioned for the Coronation of Charles II in 1661, it was last used to crown Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The medieval crown, which belonged to the royal saint, Edward the Confessor, and dated back to the 11th century, was lost.
Crafted for King George VI’s coronation in 1937 as a replacement for Queen Victoria’s crown, the Imperial State Crown features 2,868 diamonds, including some renowned jewels such as St Edward’s Sapphire, believed to have once adorned the ring of Edward the Confessor. Additionally, it boasts the Cullinan II diamond, which is the second-largest stone cut from the world’s largest diamond ever found, the Cullinan Diamond. The Imperial State Crown is donned by the monarch as they exit Westminster Abbey after the coronation service.
The Sovereign’s Sceptre, which has been used in every coronation since it was made for Charles II in 1661, features the magnificent Cullinan I diamond. In 1911, the Crown Jeweller Garrard mounted the diamond on the sceptre, which had to be reinforced due to its size and weight.
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The Sovereign’s Orb serves as a representation of the monarch’s authority and is a symbol of the Christian world, with a cross mounted on a globe. Weighing 1.32 kg, this golden orb is embellished with emeralds, rubies, and sapphires, encircled by diamonds and pearls. In the coronation ceremony, the Orb is positioned in the right hand of the monarch and then placed on the high altar prior to the crowning moment.
The 12th-century Coronation Spoon is the most ancient object in the Coronation Regalia and the sole surviving piece of royal goldsmiths’ work from that period. It is used during the coronation ceremony to anoint the monarch with holy oil, and the gold Ampulla or flask contains the sacred oil. The eagle’s head is detachable, and the beak features an opening for pouring the oil into the spoon.
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The magnificent Crown of Queen Mary, adorned with 2,200 diamonds, was originally crafted for her coronation in 1911. The crown was initially fitted with three significant diamonds, namely, the Koh-i-nûr, Cullinan III, and Cullinan IV. However, these were subsequently substituted with replicas made of crystal. For the forthcoming coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, the crown will be refitted with the original diamonds, including Cullinan III, IV, and V.
The Cullinan Diamond, discovered in 1905 in modern-day South Africa, is the largest diamond ever found, weighing an impressive 3,106 carats. It was named after Thomas Cullinan, the chairman of the mining company. It took three polishers eight months, working 14 hours a day, to cut and polish nine large stones from the original diamond. Additionally, 97 small brilliants were also created during the process.
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