The crown atop Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is the U.K.'s Imperial State Crown. It is the crown monarchs use for state occasions and after they leave their coronation at Westminster Abbey. During the moment of coronation, however, they use the bigger and heavier St. Edwards Crown.
The crown on the coffin, as Town & Country pointed out, is the Imperial State Crown, which is “made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and 4 rubies,” Historic Royal Palaces wrote on its site. The crown was made for Elizabeth's father King George VI during his 1937 coronation.
The crown on the coffin is the Imperial State Crown, which is usuall kept in the Tower of London with the rest of the Crown Jewels. It was made for the coronation of the Queen's father, King George VI in 1937, and was worn by the Queen for her own Coronation, as well as for the annual State Opening of Parliament.
With a provenance dating back to the 15th century, the Imperial State Crown, which sits on top of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin as she lies in state in Westminster Hall, is steeped in history.
The first is the Crown of Scotland, which is placed atop her coffin as she lies in state in Edinburgh, Scotland on Monday. The Imperial State Crown, one of the crowns Queen Elizabeth II wore during her coronation in 1953, will be placed on her coffin as she lies in state in London, the Telegraph reports.
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.
Each item was expertly fastened to Her Majesty's coffin to prevent the crown jewels from moving as they proceeded between locations during the event. The practice prevented the crown jewels from being damaged, as they have been in the past.
The Imperial State Crown, the orb and the sceptre were lifted from the queen's coffin by the Crown Jeweller, officially separating the Queen from her crown one last time. The moment, which was witnessed by 800 people in attendance, is a rare historical occurrence, which many had never witnessed before.
There are strict rules surrounding the crown jewels, and only three people in the world are allowed to touch them: the current monarch (that's now King Charles III), the Archbishop of Canterbury and the crown jeweler.
King Charles Will Also Wear the Imperial State Crown
Edward's Crown, he'll change into the Imperial State Crown. Why, you ask? So he has something to wear when leaving the coronation (it seems St. Edward's Crown goes straight back into the vault).
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.
This changed dramatically in 1603 on the death of Elizabeth I of England. Because the Queen had died unmarried and childless, the English crown passed to the next available heir, her cousin James VI, King of Scotland. England and Scotland now shared the same monarch under what was known as a union of the crowns.
Royal Navy sailors have the honour of pulling the State Ceremonial Gun Carriage bearing the Queen's coffin for two miles through the streets of London – a duty they have performed since the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901.
The rarest and most sacred of all the royal crowns will take centre stage during King Charles's Coronation. Following royal tradition dating back to the 17th Century, Charles will wear the St Edward's Crown at the moment of crowning - the only time it is ever used.
FOOTAGE has been captured of a man who appears to run forward and touch the Queen's coffin inside Westminster Hall.
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.
The pallbearers hail from the Queen's Company, the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. 'It's their role to protect her body, both in life and in death, remaining in the Queen's Company until King Charles decides otherwise,' explained Major Adrian Weale to the PA.
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.
The actual value of the Imperial State Crown isn't known as its historic value is said to be 'priceless'. Some experts have estimated its monetary value could be between £3billion and £5 billion. Besides the Imperial State Crown lies the orb and sceptre with the gold orb being made for Charles II's coronation in 1661.
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. As with the sceptres, it was created in 1661.
The Imperial State Crown, the orb and the sceptre will be lifted from the Queen's coffin by the Crown Jeweller during the 4pm committal service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Crown Jewels will then be passed to the Dean of Windsor who will place them on the High Altar.
There was still no permanent set of coronation regalia; each monarch generally had a new set made, with which they were buried upon death.
The Crown of Princess Blanche, also called the Palatine Crown or Bohemian Crown, is the oldest surviving royal crown known to have been in England, and probably dates to 1370–80.
During Queen Elizabeth II's committal service in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, the Crown Jeweller removed the Imperial State Crown and the Orb and Sceptre from the Queen's coffin before it was lowered into the royal vault.