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Crown of Queen Mary

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Queen Mary's Crown
The crown as it looked in 1919
Details
Country United Kingdom
Weight590 g (1.30 lb)
Arches8
MaterialGold, silver
CapPurple velvet trimmed with ermine band
Notable stonesKoh-i-Noor, Cullinan III, Cullinan IV, Cullinan V
Other elements2,200 diamonds

Queen Mary's Crown is a consort crown that was made in 1911 for the British queen Mary of Teck. It forms part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Origin

Mary bought the Art Deco–inspired crown from Garrard & Co. out of her own pocket hoping it would become an heirloom worn by future queens consort. It is somewhat unusual for a British crown in that it has eight half-arches instead of the more typical four half-arches (two arches).[1]

It is 25 cm (9.8 in) tall and weighs 590 g (1.30 lb).[2] The silver-gilt crown has around 2,200 rose-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds,[2] and originally contained the 105.6-carat (21.12 g) Koh-i-Noor diamond, as well as the 94.4-carat (18.88 g) Cullinan III and 63.6-carat (12.72 g) Cullinan IV diamonds.

In 1914, those diamonds were replaced with crystal replicas, and the crown's arches were made detachable so it could be worn as an open crown.[3] Mary wore it like this after her husband, George V, died in 1936.[4] In 1937, the year of her son George VI's coronation, Cullinan V was added to the crown.[5] Following her death in 1953 the crown was put on display at the Tower of London.

Queen Camilla

In February 2023, it was officially announced that Queen Camilla would be crowned using Queen Mary's Crown on 6 May 2023.[6] Planned modifications include re-setting the crown with the original Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds, and removing four of its eight half-arches.[7] The Koh-i-Noor is to remain in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.[5]

  • Queen Mary wearing the crown in a formal coronation photograph, 1911
    Queen Mary wearing the crown in a formal coronation photograph, 1911
  • Queen Mary wearing the crown without arches, 1914
    Queen Mary wearing the crown without arches, 1914
  • Queen Mary wearing the crown without arches, 1923
    Queen Mary wearing the crown without arches, 1923

See also

References

  1. ^ Keay, Anna (2011). The Crown Jewels. Thames & Hudson. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-500-51575-4.
  2. ^ a b "Queen Mary's Crown". Royal Collection Trust. Inventory no. 31704.
  3. ^ Mears, Kenneth J.; Thurley, Simon; Murphy, Claire (1994). The Crown Jewels. Historic Royal Palaces. p. 27. ASIN B000HHY1ZQ.
  4. ^ Twining, Edward Francis (1960). A History of the Crown Jewels of Europe. B. T. Batsford. p. 167. ASIN B00283LZA6.
  5. ^ a b Victoria Ward (14 February 2023). "Camilla to wear Queen Mary's crown at Coronation without Koh-i-Noor diamond". The Telegraph.
  6. ^ "Queen Mary's Crown is removed from display at the Tower of London ahead of the Coronation". The Royal Family. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. ^ Caroline Davies (14 February 2023). "Camilla to wear recycled crown without Koh-i-Noor diamond at coronation". The Guardian.
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