The British Crown Jewels: The State Crown of Queen Mary
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| The State Crown of Queen Mary |
In 1911, Queen Mary was to be crowned
alongside her husband, King George V. For this grand occasion, she bought the
Art Deco-inspired crown from Garrard & Co. herself, and wanted future
queens consort to wear it too. It is, however, extraordinary for a British
crown due to having eight half-arches instead of the traditional two arches.
The State crown of Queen Mary is a beautiful and
light diamond crown. In the center of the circlet is one of the lesser
portions of the Star of Africa weighing 96 carats. In a cross-pate above this
is the Koh—Noor the most renowned diamond in the world. It weights in its
present condition 106 1/16 carats (having originally weighed 800carats).
After a
tragic history of many centuries , the diamond
was captured by the British and presented by the Army of
the Punjab to Queen Victoria
after the Sikh Wars. The cross that surmounts the mound at
the top of the crown is set with yet another lesser portion of the Star of Africa
weighing 64 carats.
The crown was not worn since the death of Queen
Mary in 1953 and has been displayed with the other Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.
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| Queen Mary wearing her state crown, c1912. |
Queen Mary is not wearing her state crown in that picture. She is wearing the George IV state diadem. Also an impressive crown, however not the crown this article is written about.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely not Queen Mary's Crown in the lower picture.
ReplyDeleteAlso the picture at the top isnt the full crown, it has arches.
ReplyDelete