The weight of "the Queen's Crown" depends on which one: St Edward's Crown is very heavy at about 2.23kg (4.9 lbs), worn only at the moment of crowning, while the Imperial State Crown is lighter and more commonly worn (around 1.06kg or 2.3 lbs) for events like the State Opening of Parliament, though Queen Elizabeth II noted its weight still required her to hold her speech up to read.
Weighing approximately 2¾ pounds, the crown is an extraordinary example of craftsmanship. It features an openwork gold frame adorned with 2,868 diamonds set in silver mounts and colored gemstones set in gold — including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 269 pearls.
The gold crown of Tonga is reputedly the largest and heaviest crown in the world.
They have been kept in the Tower of London under lock and key since the 1600s2 and only three people are allowed to touch them – the monarch, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the crown jeweller.
Edward's Crown during his coronation in May 2023—fitting, since his namesake had a hand in its creation. Charles II commissioned the crown in 1661. It is made of nearly 5 pounds of solid gold set with more than 444 precious and semiprecious stones.
For religious or security reasons, photography is not allowed in the following areas: The Jewel House. The Chapel of St. John (in the White Tower)
Of course others would have got some of the Queen's privately owned pieces but the pieces the Queen wore for official occasions Catherine got. The Queen admired Catherine. Jane Cox apparently not them all as was originally reported . Princess Anne , Camilla , Sophie and even Charlotte have inherited certain pieces .
'Who owns the Crown Jewels?'
The Crown Jewels are held in trust by the king or queen for the nation. They are passed to the next monarch on their accession (when they become king or queen).
It was transferred to the Crown of Queen Mary in 1911, and to the Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1937 for her coronation. Today, the diamond is on public display in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.
RA EB/EB/50. This document is the oldest item held in the Royal Archives. Written in Norman French on vellum, it lists items of jewellery and precious metalwork belonging to Edward I (r. 1272–1307), such as gilded cups, golden crowns and a golden garland decorated with pearls and precious stones.
The centrepiece of the British monarchy's crown jewels is St Edward's crown. Owing to its historical significance it is considered priceless, and therefore cannot be insured.
Oldest Crowns
Current estimates place the value of the British Crown Jewels between $4 to $6 billion. Today, the British Crown Jewels are kept in the Tower of London and represent over 800 years of the history of the British monarchy.
The crown was designed to be worn by Queen Victoria on top of her widow's cap. The priorities in creating the design were lightness and comfort and the crown may have been based on Queen Charlotte's nuptial crown which had been returned to Hanover earlier in the reign.
It is known, however, that the casket probably took several weeks to build and that it weighs about 225 kg (500 lbs) because it is lined with lead, just like that of her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021. In other words, it is as if the wooden casing contained a second casket made of lead.
' In 1813, the deposed Afghan ruler, Shah Shuja, gifted the Kohinoor to Ranjit Singh in Lahore. In March 1849, when the British annexed Punjab, the last ruler, Duleep Singh, presented the diamond to Lord Dalhousie who subsequently presented the same to Queen of England.
Photography is prohibited in the Jewel House to prevent potential criminals from using images to identify security weaknesses surrounding the royal gems.
The Koh-i-Noor Diamond is a 186 carat diamond with a curse affecting only men. According to folklore, a Hindu description of the diamond warns that “he who owns this diamond will own the world, but will also know all its misfortunes. Only God or woman can wear it with impunity.”
Charles II allowed the Crown Jewels to be shown to members of the public for a viewing fee paid to a custodian who looked after the jewels at the Tower of London. In 1671 Thomas Blood was the first and only man who attempted to steal them.
Occupied Royal Palaces, such as Buckingham Palace, are not the private property of The Queen. They are occupied by the Sovereign and held in trust by Crown Estates for future generations. The Queen privately owns two properties, Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, which are not publicly funded.
Princess Diana's 70ct sapphire choker, thought to be worth £100Million, is owned by Princes William and Harry. It has not been worn by a Royal since her death.
It is funny but is still very sweet." Prince George had a charming name for his great-grandmother, the late Queen, addressing her as "Gan-Gan". The Princess of Wales opened up about her family life and the arrival of Princess Charlotte in 2016, sharing: "It's very special having a new little girl...