(London) St Edward’s crown, the centerpiece of the jewels of the British monarchy, left the Tower of London where it is usually on public display to be altered for the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, the Buckingham Palace.
Particularly heavy to wear – more than two kilos – although lightened in 1911, this crown is the “most important and most sacred of all crowns”, according to the description which is made of it on the site of the royal palaces.
Used only for coronations – and in fact, worn for the last time in 1953 by Queen Elizabeth II – it was made for that of Charles II in 1661, to replace the medieval crown which was melted down by parliamentarians in 1649 after the execution of Charles Ier.
This solid gold crown is set with semi-precious stones, including rubies, amethysts and sapphires, and topped with a purple velvet cap hemmed with an ermine band. It is displayed with the crown jewels, which see more than a million visitors each year.
The crown left the Tower of London so that “modification work” could begin, according to Buckingham Palace, with the press citing a resizing.
Without being an exact replica of the missing medieval crown – reputed to have belonged to King Edward the Confessor (XIe century) — it takes up its four crosses pattee, its four fleur-de-lys and two arches.
At the ceremony, Charles III will also wear the Imperial State Crown, which monarchs traditionally wear when leaving Westminster Abbey.
Created for the coronation of King George VI — father of Elizabeth II — in 1937, this ceremonial crown is also used at the opening of the parliamentary year.
Weighing just over a kilo and 31.5 centimeters high, this imposing crown is set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls and four rubies.
Became king with the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 on September 8, Charles, who celebrated his 74th birthday on November 14e anniversary, will be crowned in a “forward-looking” ceremony while being rooted “in the long tradition and pomp of the monarchy”, according to the palace.
According to the British press, the coronation, marked by a public holiday on May 8, will be shorter and less expensive than that of his mother. The latter had lasted more than three hours, in front of 8251 guests.