Liam Houghton

Did you know: The Crown Jewels

Thursday 30 April 2009 | Posted by Liam Houghton

The United Kingdom has some of the most historical and awe-inspiring Crown Jewels in the world. Treasures that would never, ever, come together in today’s politically fair and correct culture, but fortunately they have done over centuries past, and thus remain for us to cast the greatest dignity and majesty upon our heads of state. Despite the fact the post is hereditary, I believe they do a fantastic job and the fact that they are not elected is perhaps a huge benefit. Taking the messy politics away from the Head of State role allows the country’s representative to keep decorum through political embarrassments that rest with the Prime Minister, and it also grants a careful and considered role to ceremony, charity and cultural work.
Did you know that the Monarchy is one of the UK’s biggest promoters of British business abroad? Many of the junior princes in particular travel often to business conferences around the world, and the price ‘mark’ actually gives tremendous weight to their arguments.

Anyway back to the topic of this blog post… The earliest surviving Crown Jewels date back to the 11th Century, with various elements having been added throughout the centuries, in particular the coronation crown (St. Edward's Crown) and many of the sceptres were added in the 17th Century after the restoration of the Monarchy following melt down of the previous jewels by Oliver Cromwell. (Don’t get me started on him!). In the 19th Century the jewels were added to with elements more suited to the modern age, for example Queen Victoria ordered a lighter crown be made for her coronation due to St. Edward's Crown weighing at over 2kg! This is the crown that has been worn in coronation processions since, however St. Edward's Crown is still used for the seated coronation itself.
Did you know that on the day of a coronation the new Monarch is allowed to wear the crown for several hours during the morning to get used to the weight. It has been said that one palace waiter walked in to see the new Queen Elizabeth II in her dressing gown, having breakfast with the crown on, on her coronation day in 1953.

Also did you know that the Crown Jewels were stolen from Westminster Abbey in 1303 (most items were recovered but not everything!), and there was another attempt in 1671 when the Irishman Thomas Blood carried out a successful raid of the Jewel House at the Tower of London. Having knocked the jewel keeper on the head with a mallet, he squashed the arches of Charles II’s state crown so as to hide it under his cloak whilst his son started to saw the Sceptre in half! Their friend Robert Perot stuck the Orb down his breeches. Just as they were about to escape, the keeper’s son returned unexpectedly and raised the alarm. Blood was arrested, but no-one’s sure quite why, but ‘the merry monarch’, Charles II, pardoned Blood and in fact gave him a pension! After Blood’s escapade, security was tightened, iron bars replaced the wooden ones around the Regalia, and, from then on, visitors were not allowed to touch the Crown Jewels.

An amazing history, but even that can’t describe their inherent beauty. I am yet to see them for myself; the Tower is next on my list of places to visit in London, having already done many others. I’ve included some images to give a taste.

There are many other interesting facts surrounding the Monarchy which I’ll bring up over time. The diamonds in the crowns themselves are a whole topic. The coronation church and chair in particular.