The Crown Jewels A Wikipedia Compilation by Michael A. Linton Contents 1 Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom 1 1.1 History ................................................. 1 1.1.1 Early history ......................................... 1 1.1.2 Middle Ages ......................................... 1 1.1.3 Early modern period ..................................... 7 1.1.4 Interregnum .......................................... 8 1.1.5 Restoration to present day ................................... 8 1.2 Crowns ................................................ 8 1.3 Mary of Modena’s crowns ....................................... 13 1.4 The orbs and sceptres ......................................... 13 1.5 Swords ................................................. 14 1.6 Other items .............................................. 14 1.7 The Tower of London ......................................... 15 1.8 Crown Jeweller ............................................ 15 1.9 See also ................................................ 15 1.10 References ............................................... 15 1.11 External links ............................................. 18 2 Black Prince’s Ruby 19 2.1 Spinel ................................................. 19 2.2 History ................................................. 19 2.2.1 Don Pedro of Seville ..................................... 19 2.2.2 Origin ............................................. 19 2.2.3 A wartime adornment ..................................... 20 2.2.4 Crown jewel .......................................... 21 2.3 References ............................................... 21 2.4 Further reading ............................................ 21 3 Coronation Crown of George IV 22 3.1 Origins ................................................. 22 3.2 Design ................................................. 22 3.3 Usage ................................................. 22 i ii CONTENTS 4 Coronet of Charles, Prince of Wales 24 4.1 Background .............................................. 24 4.2 Creation of the new coronet ...................................... 24 4.3 Design ................................................. 24 4.4 Usage ................................................. 26 4.5 Princess of Wales ........................................... 26 4.6 Possible future usage ......................................... 26 4.7 Footnote ................................................ 26 4.8 References ............................................... 26 5 Coronets of Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret 27 5.1 See also ................................................ 27 5.2 References ............................................... 27 6 Crown of Mary of Modena 28 6.1 Origins ................................................. 28 6.2 Description of Mary’s state crown ................................... 28 6.3 Usage ................................................. 28 6.4 No longer used ............................................ 29 6.5 Footnote ................................................ 29 7 Crown of Queen Adelaide 30 7.1 Reasons for creation .......................................... 30 7.2 Design ................................................. 30 7.3 Subsequent history ........................................... 30 7.4 Footnote ................................................ 30 8 Crown of Queen Alexandra 32 8.1 Background .............................................. 32 8.2 Style .................................................. 32 9 Crown of Queen Elizabeth 34 9.1 References ............................................... 35 9.2 External links ............................................. 35 10 Crown of Queen Mary 36 10.1 External links ............................................. 36 11 Crown of Scotland 38 11.1 Manufacture .............................................. 39 11.2 Usage ................................................. 39 11.3 References ............................................... 40 11.4 See also ................................................ 40 11.5 External links ............................................. 40 CONTENTS iii 12 Cullinan Diamond 41 12.1 Discovery ............................................... 41 12.2 Journey to England .......................................... 42 12.3 Arrival in England and cutting process ................................ 42 12.4 Principal diamonds cut from the Cullinan ............................... 43 12.4.1 Cullinan I ........................................... 43 12.4.2 Cullinan II ........................................... 43 12.4.3 Cullinan III .......................................... 43 12.4.4 Cullinan IV .......................................... 43 12.4.5 Cullinan V .......................................... 43 12.4.6 Cullinan VI .......................................... 44 12.4.7 Cullinan VII .......................................... 44 12.4.8 Cullinan VIII ......................................... 44 12.4.9 Cullinan IX .......................................... 44 12.5 See also ................................................ 44 12.6 References .............................................. 44 12.7 External links ............................................. 45 13 Curtana 47 13.1 History ................................................. 47 13.2 References ............................................... 48 14 Coronet of Frederick, Prince of Wales 49 15 George IV State Diadem 51 15.1 External links ............................................. 51 16 Coronet of George, Prince of Wales 53 16.1 See also ................................................ 54 17 Imperial Crown of India 55 17.1 History ................................................. 55 17.2 Design ................................................. 55 17.3 See also ................................................ 55 17.4 References ............................................... 56 17.5 External links ............................................. 57 18 Imperial State Crown 58 18.1 Historic versions ............................................ 59 18.2 Modern version ............................................ 59 18.3 Use .................................................. 60 18.4 See also ................................................ 61 18.5 Notes ................................................. 61 18.6 References ............................................... 61 iv CONTENTS 18.7 External links ............................................. 61 19 Jewel House 64 19.1 History ................................................. 64 19.2 Removal of the regalia ......................................... 66 19.3 Current structure ........................................... 67 19.4 External links ............................................. 67 20 Nizam of Hyderabad necklace 69 20.1 History ................................................. 69 20.2 The necklace ............................................. 69 20.3 References ............................................... 69 21 The Personal Jewel Collection of Elizabeth II 70 21.1 Value ................................................. 71 21.2 History ................................................ 71 21.2.1 General history ........................................ 71 21.2.2 The House of Hanover dispute ................................ 71 21.3 Diadems and tiaras .......................................... 71 21.3.1 The King George IV State Diadem .............................. 71 21.3.2 Delhi Durbar Tiara ...................................... 73 21.3.3 The George III Fringe Tiara ................................. 73 21.3.4 Queen Mary Fringe Tiara ................................... 73 21.3.5 The Vladimir Tiara ...................................... 73 21.3.6 The Burmese Ruby Tiara ................................... 75 21.3.7 The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara ......................... 75 21.3.8 The Russian Kokoshnik Tiara ................................. 75 21.3.9 Cambridge Lovers Knot Tiara ................................ 75 21.3.10 Princess Andrew of Greece’s Meander Tiara ......................... 76 21.3.11 1936 Cartier Halo Tiara .................................... 77 21.4 Earrings ................................................ 77 21.4.1 Queen Victoria’s Stud Earrings ................................ 77 21.4.2 Diamond Pear Drop Earrings ................................. 78 21.4.3 The King George VI Chandelier Earrings ........................... 78 21.5 Necklaces ............................................... 78 21.5.1 Festoon Necklace ....................................... 78 21.5.2 The Queen Mother’s Collet Necklace ............................. 78 21.5.3 King Faisal of Saudi Arabia Necklace ............................ 78 21.5.4 The King Khalid of Saudi Arabia Necklace ......................... 78 21.5.5 The Queen Anne and Queen Caroline Pearl Necklaces .................... 78 21.6 Brooches ................................................ 80 21.6.1 “Granny’s Chips” - Cullinan III & IV ............................. 81 CONTENTS v 21.6.2 Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooches ............................... 81 21.6.3 The Prince Albert Sapphire Brooch .............................. 81 21.7 Parures ................................................ 81 21.7.1 Brazil Parure ......................................... 81 21.7.2 The George VI Victorian Suite ................................ 81 21.7.3 Queen Victoria’s Collet Necklace and Earrings ........................ 83 21.7.4 The Coronation