On Monday, 19 September, Queen Elizabeth II was buried in a private ceremony following her state funeral. In the wake of her passing, many are wondering what will become of the six crowns that were worn by her throughout her long reign. Will they be buried with her or handed off to an heir? Are there rules in place to protect her crowns and other precious jewelry?
Here, we take a closer look at the history and future of these cherished artifacts.
History of the Crown Jewels
Before jumping into what is currently happening with the crown jewels, it’s important to understand their history and significance of them. The crown jewels have a long and storied history dating back centuries. The first crown jewels were created for King Charles II in 1661 and included a coronation ring and scepter with a dove. Over time, more pieces have been added as new monarchs ascend to the throne or as special occasions arise.
Today, there are six separate crowns that make up the collection of Crown Jewels for Queen Elizabeth II. These include five ceremonial crowns—the St Edward’s Crown, Imperial State Crown, Coronation Crown of George IV, Crown of Queen Mary, and State Diadem—as well as one diamond diadem, which is known as “Queen Victoria’s Small Diamond Crown.” All six pieces remain on display in the Tower of London under strict security measures for visitors to admire.
What Will Become Of The 6 Crowns?
Now that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away, it is important to remember that these crown jewels do not technically belong to her. They are handed from monarch to monarch in trust for the nation and must remain safeguarded at all times. As such, when one monarch dies, they are immediately passed on to their heir, who will wear them during their own coronation ceremonies. For instance, when Prince Charles becomes king, he will don these same crown jewels during his own coronation service before passing them along once again upon his death.
This tradition serves an important purpose in helping preserve the legacy of each individual monarchy while also unifying them all under one shared sense of heritage and pride in Britain’s monarchy system. As such, it is unlikely that any changes will be made to this system now or in the years ahead as it stands firmly rooted in tradition and respect for our nation’s past rulers.
Conclusion
It is clear that much thought has gone into preserving these cherished artifacts over time so that future generations can appreciate their beauty and continue admiring them for centuries to come. However, only time will tell if the fate of these six crowns will remain intact as they have been for centuries or if a new course needs to be taken.
Now that Queen Elizabeth II has passed away peacefully at age 95 after reigning over Britain for 65 years, we can look forward with anticipation to seeing how Prince Charles will honor this legacy during his own coronation ceremony when he takes up his mother’s mantle as our next king.