Crown of Queen Mary

The Crown of Queen Mary is a consort crown that was made in 1911 for the coronation of British queen Mary of Teck. Mary thereafter wore it on occasion in circlet form. It is part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. It was used again, in a slightly altered form, at the coronation of Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023.

Crown of Queen Mary
The crown prior to the 2023 alterations
Details
CountryUnited Kingdom
Made1911
OwnerCharles III in right of the Crown[1]
Weight590 g (1.30 lb)
ArchesUp to eight half-arches
MaterialGold, silver
CapPurple velvet trimmed with ermine band
Notable stonesKoh-i-Noor (removed), Cullinan III, Cullinan IV, Cullinan V
Other elements2,200 diamonds

Origin

Mary bought the Art Deco-inspired crown from Garrard & Co. out of her own pocket hoping it would become an heirloom worn by future queens consort. It is somewhat unusual for a British crown in that it has eight half-arches instead of the more typical four half-arches or two arches.[2]

It is 25 cm (9.8 in) tall and weighs 590 g (1.30 lb).[3] The silver-gilt crown has around 2,200 rose-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds,[3] and originally contained the 105.6-carat (21.12 g) Koh-i-Noor diamond, as well as the 94.4-carat (18.88 g) Cullinan III and 63.6-carat (12.72 g) Cullinan IV diamonds.

In 1914, those diamonds were replaced with crystal replicas, and the crown's arches were made detachable so it could be worn as an open crown.[4] Mary wore it like this after her husband, George V, died in 1936.[5] In 1937, the year of George VI's coronation, Cullinan V was added to the crown.[6] Following Queen Mary's death in 1953 the crown was put on display at the Tower of London. The crystal replicas of the Cullinan stones were replaced by the diamonds for the coronation of Queen Camilla in 2023.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla was crowned using Queen Mary's Crown at her coronation in May 2023.[7] Prior to the coronation the crown was partially altered. Alterations included re-setting the crown with the original Cullinan III and IV diamonds as well as adding Cullinan V diamond as a tribute to Camilla's mother-in-law, Elizabeth II, who wore the diamonds as brooches. Four of the crown's eight half-arches were removed.[8]

  • Queen Mary wearing the crown in a formal coronation photograph, 1911
    Queen Mary wearing the crown in a formal coronation photograph, 1911
  • Queen Mary wearing the crown without arches, 1914
    Queen Mary wearing the crown without arches, 1914
  • Queen Camilla wearing the altered crown at her coronation in 2023
    Queen Camilla wearing the altered crown at her coronation in 2023

See also

References
  1. "Crown Jewels". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 211. United Kingdom: House of Commons. 16 July 1992. col. 944W.
  2. Keay, Anna (2011). The Crown Jewels. Thames & Hudson. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-500-51575-4.
  3. "Queen Mary's Crown". Royal Collection Trust. Inventory no. 31704.
  4. Mears, Kenneth J.; Thurley, Simon; Murphy, Claire (1994). The Crown Jewels. Historic Royal Palaces. p. 27. ASIN B000HHY1ZQ.
  5. Twining, Edward Francis (1960). A History of the Crown Jewels of Europe. B. T. Batsford. p. 167. ASIN B00283LZA6.
  6. Victoria Ward (14 February 2023). "Camilla to wear Queen Mary's crown at Coronation without Koh-i-Noor diamond". The Telegraph.
  7. "Queen Mary's Crown is removed from display at the Tower of London ahead of the Coronation". The Royal Family. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  8. Caroline Davies (14 February 2023). "Camilla to wear recycled crown without Koh-i-Noor diamond at coronation". The Guardian.
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