St. Edward’s Crown was created in preparation for the coronation of King Charles III. relocated to an undisclosed location next year, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.
The 17th-century crown is the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels on display in the Tower of London and is visited by over a million visitors each year.
The crown has a purple velvet cap with an ermine band and is set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topazes and tourmalines. It is just over 30 cm (12 inches) long with a 2.23 kilogram (4.9 pound) solid gold frame.
The Story of the Crown
Versions of St Edward’s Crown are believed to have been used by monarchs since the 11th century. The current version was made in 1661 for Charles II to replace the original, which was melted down in 1649 after the House of Commons abolished the monarchy and declared a Commonwealth during the English Civil War.
It is believed that the original goes back to Edward the Confessor, who reigned from 1042 to 1066.
The crown was last worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953. She is now ruled by King Charles III. worn at his coronation on May 6th. He will only wear them at the moment of his coronation.
After the coronation, Charles will wear the Imperial State Crown, created in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI.
The imperial crown is worn after the ceremony. Image: Arthur Edwards/WPA Pool/Getty Images
The coronation takes place a few months after the ascension of a new ruler, after a period of mourning and preparation.
Charles became the reigning monarch after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on September 8th. She ruled for 70 years.
Charles also became the head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. He has reportedly requested a less lavish ceremony due to public perception concerns.
Who is King Charles III?
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tg/sms (AFP, AP)