Diamonds and other precious gems have always been a visible depiction of prosperity. The Crown Jewels have long been a symbol of the prestigious position which the royalty of Britain hold. These jewels have been accumulating largely since 1660 and are housed in the Tower of London. Britain is the only European country which still uses regalia in coronation ceremonies. The Crown Jewels are comprised of not only regalia, but other precious jewels, crowns and robes which have been collected over time.The first British monarch to assemble a regalia was Edward the Confessor who reigned from 1042 to 1066. He hid away his ornamental treasures in Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately, his contributions have been lost, replaced or altered throughout the centuries.
When Charles I was executed, Cromwell ordered the Royal Regalia to be completely broken. He proclaimed the jewels to be symbolic of the “detestable rule of kings.” The diamonds and other precious stones were sold out of crowns, and metal was melted down to become coins. Some of the pieces survived and were sold intact, such as the Coronation Spoon which has been used since the 12th century.
Despite constant struggles through the years with thieves, monarchs pawning the jewels, and other problems, the Crown Jewels today are rich in value and in history. Visitors can even tour the Tower of London and look at the collection.
The Crown Jewels collection contains four main crowns and many crowns made for wives of kings. St. Edward’s Crown was made in 1661 and contains 444 precious stones. The gold used is said to have been melted from King Alfred’s Crown. The Imperial State Crown was made in 1937 for King George VI and contains many jewels including over 2,800 diamonds and 273 pearls. The Imperial Crown of India was made for George V for his visit to India as the Emperor of India. It contains 6,000 diamonds and is one of the heaviest in the collection. Subsequently, it was only worn for that single occasion. The George IV State Diadem was made for his coronation in 1820 and was also used for the coronation processions of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II.
Other items within the Crown Jewels include a collection of scepters. The Scepter with the Cross was made in 1661 and is surmounted by a cross. In 1905, the scepter was redesigned in order to include the Cullinan I Diamond, also known as the Great Star of Africa. The Scepter with the Dove was also made in 1661 with a dove on the top symbolizing the Holy Ghost. The Sovereign’s Orb is a hollow sphere also made in 1661. It has a band of jewels running along the center and a half band along the top. On top of the orb is a jeweled cross representing the ruler’s position as the Defender of the Faith.
Five swords are contained in the Crown Jewels. The first is the Jeweled Sword of Offering. This was made for the coronation of George IV. It is the only sword to be actually presented to the sovereign during coronation. The other swords of the regalia are held in front of the ruler. The Sword of State is the largest sword of the collection and is borne by the Lord Great Chamberlain at the coronation. The other swords of the collection are the Sword of Mercy, Sword of Temporal Justice and Sword of Spiritual Justice.
Other jewels included in the collection include a ring symbolizing marriage, as well as some gold bracelets which symbolize wisdom. Every piece of the British regalia has a historical purpose and a meaning. Pieces not included in the regalia, but part of the Crown Jewels also have interesting stories as to how they came to be included in this prestigious collection.
The value of this collection is unfathomable. Even if a monetary value could be calculated, the true worth of these pieces is in their unity and part in the history of England. For an example, however, the crown of Queen Victoria contains the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, 497 other diamonds and a large number of pearls. Her crown is valued based upon the metal and gems themselves to be worth about $372,000. The real value lies in the fact that it was indeed Queen Victoria’s crown, and one would be crazy to sell it for its parts. Often times the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is particularly true in regards to the Crown Jewels and even to the individual pieces.
The Crown Jewels are an amazing part of England’s history. The using of regalia in coronation ceremonies is a beautiful tradition. Besides the historical significance, the jewels are all truly exquisite and the collection is absolutely irreplaceable.