Like the sceptres, The Sovereign's Orb is a significant part of the traditional coronation regalia. The golden, jeweled ball, surmounted by a gem-encrusted cross, is designed as a symbol that the monarch's power is derived from God.
4. The orb. The golden jewelled ball created, like the sceptre, in 1661, is topped by a gem-encrusted cross. It is meant to remind the monarch that their power is derived from God.
This is called the investiture. Among the objects is the Sovereign's Orb, a golden globe surmounted by a cross. It reminds the monarch that their power is derived from God.
Wanamaker Cross One of Westminster Abbey's four processional crosses, the Wanamaker Cross stands at the head of the Queen's coffin. It is made from ivory and silver gilt, and adorned with a series of gold and sapphire panels.
Due to its historic and cultural value, it is said to be priceless. However, when experts have tried to slap a number on it, its worth has ranged between £3billion and £5 billion.
The orb, made from a hollow gold globe, features several precious gemstones, including rose-cut diamonds, an octagonal step-cut amethyst, a table-cut sapphire, as well as clusters of emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls. The orb rests atop Queen Elizabeth's coffin.
The Sovereign's Orb is a piece of coronation regalia. It was created for the coronation of Charles II in 1661 from the royal goldsmith Robert Viner. It is made of gold, sapphires, rubies, emeralds, amethyst, diamonds, pearls, and enamel. It has been used at all coronations and events after the one of Charles II.
Queen Elizabeth's Crown, Orb and Sceptre Were Secured to Coffin After Previous Falls Damaged Crown Jewels. The British royal family's crown jewels were secured in place for Monday's funeral for Queen Elizabeth — but that hasn't always been the case at royal events.
Following royal tradition, which dates back as far as the 1600s, the queen's coffin was lined with lead, which ensures that her remains stay intact for up to a year. This is because the lead makes the coffin airtight, stopping moisture from getting in and therefore slowing down the decomposition of the body.
Lead-lined coffins slow the body's decomposition by keeping moisture out of the casket. Lead does not decay and so remains airtight, preventing decomposition, but also any smells and gases from being released; not something you want if multiple Royals are sharing a vault or may be moved in the future.
They stay safeguarded at the Tower of London in safekeeping for the nation, and when one monarch dies, the crown jewels are immediately passed to their heir.” So the Queen's former crown, sceptre and orb now belong to her son, King Charles III.
During the service the Crown Jewels - the Imperial State Crown containing almost 3,000 diamonds, the sovereign's orb and sceptre were removed from the top of her coffin and placed on an altar.
The orb was kept steady by a small spike on its bottom that fit into a discreet mounting on top of the coffin's oak surface. The crown sat atop a purple pillow, a seemingly precarious spot that was stabilised by a firm protruding section on which the monarch's headwear was mounted.
At the service's conclusion, the Queen's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault – the resting place of many past monarchs. Below the chapel lie King George III, IV and V, William IV and others. Last year Prince Philip, the Queen's husband, was also laid to rest there.
As per royal tradition, it is lined with lead, which helps preserve the body for longer. Mr Leverton explained the coffin has been ready for decades because it is 'not something you can just make in a day'. 'There are fitments on the coffin lid which allow the instruments of state to be fitted,' he added.
Most pieces of the Crown Jewels are kept to be passed down to King Charles III, but it is likely that Her Majesty will be buried with jewellery from her own collection. The Queen had over 300 items in her private collection, but one jewellery expert believes that she will be buried with some of her more modest pieces.
However, on average, a body buried within a typical coffin usually starts to break down within a year, but takes up to a decade to fully decompose, leaving only the skeleton, Daniel Wescott, director of the Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State University, told Live Science.
For the most part, however, if a non-embalmed body was viewed one year after burial, it would already be significantly decomposed, the soft tissues gone, and only the bones and some other body parts remaining.
After 1 month, the liquefaction process commences. During this stage the body loses the most mass. The muscles, organs and skin are liquefied, with the cadaver's bones, cartilage and hair remaining at the end of this process.
What does the breaking of the wand mean? The ceremonial breaking of the white staff signifies the end of the Lord Chamberlain's service to the Queen as sovereign. The "breaking of the wand" is a traditional part of a sovereign's funeral, but this was the first time it had been seen by the public.
Special fixtures had been attached to the monarch's coffin, protruding discreetly from beneath the Royal Standard flag. Hidden fixtures were deployed on the Queen's coffin to ensure the Imperial State Crown, orb and sceptre did not roll off as the monarch was carried to her final resting place.
Following the death of Her Majesty on Sept. 8, the King is now in charge of the Crown Jewels, which have been handed down from British monarchs since the 17th century. The Queen also leaves a vast personal collection of jewelry, which members of the royal family, including Kate Middleton, have borrowed on occasion.
During the coronation service, the Orb is placed in the right hand of the monarch as they are invested with the symbols of sovereignty. It is then placed on the altar before the moment of crowning.
It is estimated the coffin weighs between 250kg and 317kg. As Royal Family members are buried inside a chamber, rather than directly in the ground, their coffins are lined with lead in order to slow decomposition. The lead seals the coffin and prevents moisture from getting in, preserving the body for up to a year.
The Sovereign's Orb
Each arm of the cross also has a pearl at the end of it. When Charles I had the orb re-commissioned in 1661, it is said that he spent £1,150 on it, equivalent to $290,000 today. However, the orb is definitely worth more than that, although royal experts have yet to put a public value on it.