St. Edward's Crown
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The Coronation crown of English and British monarchs since the Restoration.
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St Edward's Crown is one of the British Crown Jewels. It is the official coronation crown used exclusively in the coronation of a new monarch. It was made in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II, and is reputed to contain gold from the Crown of St Edward the Confessor, an English monarch who reigned in the eleventh century.
Crown's design includes a base with four crosses pattee alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, above which are two arches surmounted by a cross. In the centre is a velvet cap with an ermine border. The Crown is made of solid gold and set with 444 precious stones. Formerly, it was set with jewels hired for the coronation, and then the crown was dismantled, leaving only the frame. However, in 1911, the jewels used were set permanently.
Traditionally, it is the Crown used to crown the Sovereign during a coronation. Queen Victoria and Edward VII chose not to be crowned in it because it weighs 4 lb 12 oz (2.155 kg). They chose to be crowned with the lighter Imperial State Crown.
See also
- Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
- Honours of Scotland
- Honours of the Principality of Wales
- Imperial State Crown
- Imperial Crown of India
- Sceptre with the Cross
- Sceptre with the Dove
- Sovereign's Orb
External links
http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page2333.asp
