Imperial State Crown
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The Imperial State Crown is one of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.
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[edit] Design
The Crown is of a design similar to St Edward's Crown: it includes a base of four crosses pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, above which are four half-arches surmounted by a cross. Inside is a velvet cap with an ermine border. The Imperial State Crown includes many precious gems, including: 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies.
The crown includes several famous jewels: the cross at the top is set with a stone known as St. Edward's Sapphire, a sapphire taken from the ring (or possibly coronet) of Edward the Confessor; the Black Prince's Ruby (actually a spinel) is set on the front cross pattée; the famous Cullinan II, or Lesser Star of Africa, is set on the front; and the back band contains the 104-carat (21 g) Stuart Sapphire. The crown also contains Queen Elizabeth’s Pearls.
The Crown is 31.5 cm high and weighs 0.91 kg.[1]
[edit] Use
The Imperial State Crown is generally worn at the end of a coronation when the new monarch departs from Westminster Abbey[2] and is not normally the crown used to crown the monarch. However, its predecessor (of the same name) was used to crown Queen Victoria and King Edward VII during their coronation ceremonies as both complained about the weight of the normally used, St Edward's Crown.
It is also worn annually by the Queen at the State Opening of Parliament.[2] Traditionally, the Crown and other jewels leave in their own carriage and arrive at the Palace of Westminster prior to the Queen's departure from Buckingham Palace. They are then transported to the Robing Room, where the Queen dons her robes and wears the Crown.
[edit] Manufacture
The current Imperial State Crown was manufactured for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 by the Crown Jewellers Garrard & Co.[3] It is an exact replica of the earlier Imperial State Crown manufactured for Queen Victoria, but is of a more lightweight design and more comfortable to wear. The same Crown was remodelled for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation[3] to give it slightly more feminine appearance and its total height lowered by about 1 inch (25 mm).
Because of its weight, monarchs often choose to wear the Imperial State Crown in their private apartments on and off for a couple of hours on the morning of the State Opening of Parliament so they can get used to the weight and feel comfortable with it on. One courtier reported on the morning of a State Opening witnessing Queen Elizabeth eating her breakfast and reading newspapers while wearing it[citation needed]. For a full fortnight before the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony, her father, King George VI, used to wear his heavy Guards bearskin headgear for an hour each morning so that he would not feel topheavy on the day of the event.[4]
[edit] Storage and repair
The Imperial State Crown, except when in use at State Openings, together with the other Crown Jewels, may be found on display at Jewel House in the Tower of London.[1] The frames of the old Imperial State Crowns of Kings George I, George IV and Queen Victoria, among others, are also kept in the Tower.
As the most frequently worn royal crown, the Imperial State Crown has constantly been replaced, due to age, weight, the personal taste of the monarch, or the unavoidable damage that comes with use. Due to its constant usage, it is also the crown that requires most outside repairs and recasting.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b "Gallery – The Crown Jewels – The Official Website of the British Monarchy"
- ^ a b "The Crown Jewels, The Official Website of the British Monarchy"
- ^ a b "History, Garrard & Co
- ^ A. Michie, God Save The Queen p. 193
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