The famous St. Edward’s Crown will be used when Charles III is crowned as Britain’s new king on May 6 next year. Considered the most important of the British royal jewels, the crown was removed from the Tower of London where it is kept. Work will begin soon to resize it to fit Charles’ head.
The crown was first used for the coronation of Charles II in 1661. The kings and queens before that wore the medieval crown for coronation. But following the British Civil War, Oliver Cromwell’s parliamentary committee that came to power in 1649 banned the monarchy and melted down the crown. Then the monarchy came back to Britain through Charles II.
After the coronation of Charles II, the St. Edward’s crown was unused for more than two centuries, and was later used at the coronation of George V in 1911. The same crown was worn by Queen Elizabeth during her coronation in 1953.
The crown made of 22 carat gold has 444 jewels. It will include 12 corals, 7 emeralds, 6 emeralds, 37 pushyaragas and one ruby.