Imperial State Crown
July 28, 2008 – 10:09 am
Interestingly, the Imperial State Crown is not worn at the actual moment of coronation of English monarchs. They wear the much more symbolic Crown of St. Edward. In a way, Edward’s crown is a counterfeit. There was a crown used for Edward the Confessor’s coronation in 1043, and it is documented and described at subsequent intervals. However, the period of Protestant revolution and the turbulent reign of Charles I dealt heavy blows to both jewels and king. Charles was beheaded on January 30, 1649. On August 9 of the same year it was ordered that the royal treasure be turned over to the “trustees for the sale of the goods of the late king diamond engagement rings, who are to cause the same to be totally broken, and that they melt down all the gold and silver, and sell the jewels to the best advantage of the Commonwealth.” St. Edward’s Crown ceased to exist in this act of vindictive destruction. When Charles II was restored to his father’s throne in 1660, it was necessary to create an entirely new set of coronation regalia. St. Edward’s Crown diamond ring was promptly reconstructed as close to its original form as possible. Thus, although its physical continuity in history is lost, the symbolic ties are maintained.