The Crown Jewels and Coronation Ceremony [antikvár]

The History of the Crown Jewels T THE history of the regalia properly begins in the reign of Edward the Confessor, who became king in 1042 and was crowned the following year. His Great Seal shows him seated on a throne wearing a crown: in one hand he holds a staff surmounted with a cross, and in the other an orb. On the reverse he is holding a staff surmounted with a dove in one hand and a sword in the other. It is believed that he also wore a ring. These are essentially the same ornaments as those used at a coronation today with the exception of the spurs, an emblem of knighthood, which were introduced into the ceremony after the concept of chivalry was advanced in the 12th century. From about 1250, in the reign of Henry III, there appear to have been two distinct sets of regalia: first St Edward's regalia which was used only at the coronation ceremony and kept at Westminster Abbey: and secondly the royal regalia which was also used in part at coronations and on other State occasions as required. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1 642 St Edward's regalia was still at Westminster Abbey and the royal regalia at the Jewel House in the Tower. London was in the hands of Parliament and the then Keeper of the Jewel House, Sir Henry Mildmay, was among Cromwell's supporters. He made no bones about parting with the regalia and thus earned for himself the contemptuous title 'Knave of Diamonds'. The Dean and Chapter of Westminster were of different mettle. They put their treasure under lock and key and refused to part with it. but after the execution of Charles I in 1649 pressure was brought to bear upon them and St Edward's regalia was removed to the Tower of London. Parliament, in their hatred for the dead king's memory and all things royal, sold or destroyed the crowns, regal emblems and ecclesiastical and royal plate except the ampulla, the anointing spoon and the Elizabethan salt cellar. These were apparently saved by the faithful clergy at Westminster. Historic gems from the crowns were acquired by obscure buyers, perhaps on behalf of fervent Royalists since the jewels reappeared in the new regalia made by Sir Robert Vyner, the royal goldsmith, for Charles II's coronation in 1661. Although the gold is stated to have been sent to the Royal Mint for coining, there is a possibility that further fragments of the old regalia also survived and were used by Vyner. Since the reign of King Charles II the regalia has been kept at one place only, the Tower of London, except during the Second World War. It is generally believed that in September 1940, when the Germans were poised to invade England, the Crown Jewels were taken to Windsor Castle and remained there until the war ended. Except for the crowns and coronation rings, the regalia has remained virtually unchanged since 1661. above: The Great Seal of Edward the Confessor shows the King adorned with the early regalia. right: HM Queen Elizabeth II. accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, wears the Imperial State Crown at the State Opening of Parliament. left: Richard II holding court after his coronation in 1377, at the age of ten. below: The Queen Elizabeth Salt was made in 1572, but no evidence connects it with the Queen.