3,000 diamonds... and the ruby worn by Henry V at Agincourt
THE Imperial State Crown, which is placed on the coffin, has existed in various forms since the 15th Century. It weighs a kilogram and sparkles with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, four rubies and 269 pearls.
1 St Edward’s Sapphire: Set in the centre of the topmost cross, it is said to have been worn in a ring by King Edward the Confessor and discovered in his tomb in 1163. Queen Victoria then added the jewel to the new Imperial State Crown in the 19th Century.
2 The Black Prince’s ruby: This is a 170-carat spinel that was worn on battlefields by King Henry V at Agincourt and Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, and was part of Henry VIII’s treasure trove.
3 Elizabeth I’s earrings: Dangling from the centre of the arches are four large pear-shaped pearls that date back to Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th Century. Queen Elizabeth I may have worn them as earrings or on her costume.
4 Cullinan II: This 317.4-carat cushionshaped diamond – the Second Star of Africa – was cut from the Cullinan, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found, which is in the Sovereign’s Sceptre. Found in a mine in South Africa in 1905, the Cullinan diamond has a weight of 3,106.75 carats. According to legend, the mine manager dug it out of the rock with his walking stick. The Transvaal government presented it to Edward
VII in 1907.