On display for King Charles’s Coronation, the Crown Jewels are the most recognisable symbol of the monarchy.
Many pieces of the Crown Jewels, normally kept locked away at the Tower of London, are reserved especially for coronations and some will be in full use this spring.
Here’s what you need to know about the Crown Jewels, including how much they’re worth and if they change between monarchs.
How much are the Crown Jewels worth?
The Crown Jewels refer to a collection of more than 100 objects and 23,000 gemstones. They have been stored safely at the Tower of London since the 1600s.
At the heart of the Crown Jewels collection is the Coronation Regalia, which are the ceremonial objects used during the coronation and which have also been used at the Queen’s funeral. These pieces are symbols of the powers and responsibilities of the monarch, including:
- St Edward’s Crown, which is only ever used at the moment of coronation. Weighing 2.23kg, it is adorned with semi-precious stones.
- Imperial State Crown, which is the crown worn by the monarch when leaving Westminster Abbey after the coronation. It was also the crown that was sitting on the Queen’s coffin during the lying-in-state and the state funeral. The crown is made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 269 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and four rubies. These jewels include some of the most famous in the Crown Jewels, such as the Black Prince’s ruby, the Stuart sapphire, and the Cullinan II diamond.
- Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, which has been used at every coronation since Charles II’s in 1661. In 1910, the Cullinan I diamond was added to the sceptre and is the largest colourless cut diamond in the world at 530.2 carats.
- Sovereign’s Orb, which is also presented to the monarch at their coronation and appeared at the Queen’s funeral.
While the Crown Jewels are considered priceless due to their historic and cultural value, various experts have attempted to unofficially value them, coming up with estimates of between £3 billion and £5 billion.
However, no official valuations have been made as the Crown has never considered selling them.
Are King Charles’s Crown Jewels the same as Queen Elizabeth’s?
The Crown Jewels are handed down through the monarchy, with many of the pieces dating back hundreds of years.
That means that King Charles III was be adorned with the same Crown Jewels as his mother, Queen Elizabeth. They are used in very specific ways according to traditional ceremonies, such as the coronation.
How were the jewels used in the coronation?
Various elements of the Crown Jewels were used during the different stages of the coronation: the procession, anointing, investiture, and crowning.
At the moment of coronation, the King wore St Edward’s Crown, a solid gold crown featuring precious stones.
Queen Camilla wore Queen Mary’s Crown, which dates back to the coronation of King George V in 1911.
A 1,000-year-old ceremonial mace was carried by peers ahead of the monarch during the Coronation Procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Five swords — the Swords of State, Spiritual Justice, Temporal Justice, Mercy, and Offering — were also be used, carried before the monarch during the Coronation procession.
The Coronation spoon and the ampulla, a gold vessel in the shape of an eagle, were used during the anointing, the most sacred part of the ceremony.
The King wore the Imperial State Crown to process from Westminster Abbey. It is used on state occasions, notably the annual State Opening of Parliament.
