The Crowns

For the coronation of Charles III, St Edward’s Crown is being used. This is considered to be the official coronation crown and was the one used by Elizabeth II and George VI in the two previous coronations. Queen Consort Camilla will also be crowned during the ceremony using Queen Mary’s Crown, which has been used to crown queen consorts since it was made in 1911.

St Edward’s Crown was originally made in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II after he was restored to the throne. It was a replacement for the original crown, thought to belong to Edward the Confessor (1042-66). That crown was melted down in 1649 during the English Civil Wars. The new crown is named after

Edward the Confessor, who was canonised by Pope Alexander III in 1161. It is thought to be inspired by the original with regard to its arches and fleur-de-lis around the headband. It is made of solid gold inset with amethysts, garnet, rubies, sapphires, topazes and tourmalines. The cap is made of velvet and the band of ermine. It was constructed by the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Vyner.

Queen Mary’s crown is much more modern by comparison, having been made in 1911 for the coronation of Queen Mary alongside her husband, George V. It is made of silver, lined with gold and features 2,200 diamonds. Among them, originally, were the Cullinan III and IV (cut from the Cullinan diamond, the largest ever found) and the Koh-i-noor. The later will be replaced by the Cullinan V, another of the nine stones known as the Stars of Africa, for Camilla’s coronation. The arches on this crown can also be removed so that it can be worn as a circlet.

The first dual coronation of king and queen consort was for Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1154