King Charles III will wear St. Edward’s Crown, the same crown worn by Queen Elizabeth II, during his coronation, which is expected to take place this fall on the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s. The crown, which has an estimated worth of more than £3 million, has a remarkable history that dates back to 1661, when it was made for King Charles II. Adorned with 444 precious and semi-precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, the crown is a true work of art for all to admire. As news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II spread around the world, people of every nation joined to mourn her passing and many have found solace in their ties to the Queen and the royal family. As Mexicans remember her majesty, they also take pride in the fact that one of the pearls on the Queen’s crown has its roots in Mexico.
Inspired by the original crown of Saint Edward the Confessor, King of England from 1042 to 1066, the current version of St. Edward’s Crown has been used to enthrone a long line of monarchs since 1661. Only a few monarchs since the Restoration have used something other than St. Edward’s Crown, which is now considered the official coronation crown.
History has it that the largest of the pearls that hangs from the crown of Queen Elizabeth II came from the Sea of Cortez off the coast of Baja California in 1883 near a place called the Island of the Holy Spirit. Found by two divers, the pearl was gifted to King Edward VII by Antonio Ruffo Santa Cruz, owner of the company that found it during one of their dives. Awe-struck by its size and beauty, the King decided to add it to St. Edward’s Crown. The pearl gets its name, The Great Lemon, from its size and shape. As one of the her favorite gems, Queen Elizabeth II visited Baja California Sur in August of 1983, 100 years after the pearl in her crown was discovered. The region of Baja is well known throughout the world to have some of the most unique and sizable pearls and with a visit from Queen Elizabeth II, it grew in international acclaim.
A nod to tradition, King Charles III will wear St. Edward’s Crown at his coronation, which many believe will be held this summer on the 70th anniversary of the date in which Queen Elizabeth II officially took over the throne. While the crown will need to be resized to fit the King, it has yet to be confirmed if any changes will be made to its design. The next in a long line of monarchs to wear St. Edward’s Crown, King Charles III will surely do so with grace.
Photos: Credit to their respective owner, BBC | ichef.bbci.co.uk, Vanity Fair, Wikipedia.
