With the coronation of King Charles III edging ever closer, the St Edward’s Crown is soon to be seen again.
During the official ceremony, which will be held at Westminster Abbey, on Saturday, 6th May, His Majesty will wear the St Edward’s Crown, which was last used for the crowning of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
So, what is St Edward’s Crown? How old is it? And, how much is King Charles’ crown worth? Read on for everything you need to know about St Edward’s Crown.
What is St Edward’s Crown?
St Edward’s Crown is used at the moment of coronation when crowning the UK’s new King or Queen.
It was commissioned in 1661 by the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Vyner, for the coronation of Charles II. It replaced an original crown, that was first discovered in 1163 in the tomb of the 11th-century royal saint, King Edward the Confessor, that was among the Crown Jewels that were melted down and sold off by parliamentarians in 1649 following the execution of King Charles I.
What is St Edward’s Crown made of?
The crown is made of a solid gold frame that weighs nearly five pounds along with a purple velvet cap and an ermine band. It is also adorned with 444 gemstones, including rubies, sapphires, garnets, topazes, and tourmalines.
How much is King Charles’ crown worth?
The nearly two kilograms of gold used to construct the crown is today worth more than £116,000. However, such an abundance of precious stones set within the metal places the final estimated value of the crown at around £45 million.
Officially, the crown jewels do not have a price and, because they are not insured, it’s unlikely that they will be given an official valuation.
What is the historical significance behind the Crown?
The original crown is believed to date back to the 11th-century, when it was first discovered in 1163 in the tomb of the royal saint, Edward the Confessor, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
King Charles’ crown was made for Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for a medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649. The crown was commissioned from the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Vyner, in 1661.
His Majesty will follow his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in wearing both the St Edward’s Crown and Imperial State Crown at his coronation ceremony.
The Imperial State Crown, which was placed on the Queen’s coffin during her state funeral, is far lighter than King Charles’ crown, but no less decadent, cast in gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and four rubies.
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