The St Edward’s Crown is being modified ahead of coronation

Arushi Sakhuja 

UK’s King Charles III is set to have his coronation in the summer of 2023, where he will be crowned with the historic St Edward’s crown. However, ahead of the ceremony, the St Edward’s crown which is the historic centrepiece of the Crown Jewels has been removed for modification work, according to a report released by Buckingham Palace. The priceless heirloom hasn’t been outside the Tower for 60 years and transportation of the crown was kept under wraps until its safe delivery. However, the current location has not been disclosed.

It is said that the King will wear the crown during the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey. The King will also wear the Imperial State Crown during the Service.

Bejewelled and encrusted with precious stones, the St Edward’s Crown is the crown historically used at the moment of coronation of kings and queens. It was worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at her Coronation in 1953 but was made for Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649. It has since been used in the coronation of English monarchs for more than 350 years. The original was thought to date back to the eleventh-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor, who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

The crown was commissioned by the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Vyner, in 1661. Although it is not an exact replica of the medieval design, it follows the original in having four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis, and two arches. It is made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines. The crown has a velvet cap with an ermine band. Weighing close to five pounds, it measures 12 inches tall and 26 inches in circumference.

The frame is made of gold and it features a total of 345 aquamarines, 37 white topaz, 27 tourmalines, 12 rubies, seven amethysts, six sapphires, two jargoons, one garnet, one spinel and one carbuncle.

The coronation of King Charles will take place eight months after the monarch’s accession and the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 6, May 2023.

You may also like: 

Queen Elizabeth’s royal jewellery exhibited at Windsor Castle

From Queen Victoria to Kate Middleton, the most splendid royal wedding gowns