The crown that now rests atop the Queen’s grave is one of the most celebrated crowns in history. The term “the crown jewels” refers to the crown, which is united by her royal scepter and orb. It is officially called ‘The Imperial State Crown’. At official occasions like the opening of parliament and coronations, these jewels—symbols of the royal family and the current monarch—are worn.
The crown itself is a stunning example of craftsmanship and jewelry. Approximately 3,000 precious stones, including 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 5 rubies are set around a deep purple velvet base and ermine trim. The Cullinan II diamond, which measures 317 carats and was cut from the biggest diamond ever discovered, is set in its center. So how much is the worth of the Queen’s crown
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History Of The Crown
The oldest gem in the royal collection is allegedly the St Edward’s Sapphire, which is situated in the middle of the cross at the top. History claims that St. Edward the Confessor, who ruled England in the 11th century, wore the sapphire in a ring. In the meantime, the Black Prince’s Ruby, which Henry V wore at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, is perched above the Cullinan diamond.
The Imperial State Crown was built in 1937 for King George VI’s coronation, and Queen Elizabeth, then a princess, wore it during her coronation in 1953. It is unknown if the future coronation of the next King Charles III will use this same crown. The coronation will take place in about a year.
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So What’s The Crown’s Worth?
According to royal expert Alastair Bruce, it is “priceless” in terms of value. He stated of the crown, “Calling it priceless is sensible, but you can just add as many zeros as there are diamonds in the collection.”
Other analysts, however, are ready to provide a ballpark estimate. Claiming that it may be worth anything from $3.4 to $5.7 billion. “It can be quite hard to look at sometimes because of the sheer light that comes off them. It’s literally dazzling… visually overpowering,” says Anna Keay, author of ‘The Crown Jewels‘. “It signifies majesty, it signifies sovereignty,” she added.
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