The British Crown Jewels: The State Crown of Queen Mary

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.


Queen Mary wearing her state crown, c1912. 

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3 Comments

  1. 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.

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  2. Definitely not Queen Mary's Crown in the lower picture.

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  3. Also the picture at the top isnt the full crown, it has arches.

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