It was a day filled with royalty, pompoance, tradition and style, but the Queen’s coronation wasn’t all plain sailing because of her heavy crown.
This year marks 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne. However, this year marks 69 years since she was crowned at Westminster Abbey in June 2, 1953. This day is still used to celebrate the jubilee once a ten year.
The coronation is one of the most popular TV events in British history. It’s remembered partly because it was successful despite all the problems that could have happened.
The Queen was the Monarch for so many years and is well-known for her senses of duty and approach as a working royal even at the ripe old age of 96.
(Image: Getty Images).
However, the Queen doesn’t mind occasional grumbles about work.
Is Queen Elizabeth’s crown too heavy?
(Image by BBC/The Royal Collection Trust/Her Majesty queen Elizabeth II)
It is extremely heavy to wear the Imperial State Crown on coronation day and every year for the State Opening Of Parliament. Queen Elizabeth once said that it could “break your neck”.
The Queen stated this in a 2018 documentary: “You can’t look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up, because if you did, your neck would break – it would fall off.”
According to the Royal Collection Trust, the heavy kit, which included 2,868 diamonds, 11 sapphires and 11 emeralds, was reshaped by the Queen for her as she assumed the throne.
She also added: “Yes, fortunately my father and I have about the same sort of shaped head. But once you put it on it stays. I mean it just remains on.
“So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they’re quite important things.”
It isn’t quite as heavy as the St Edward’s Crown made for Charles II’s restoration in 1661, worn briefly at the moment of coronation and weighing a hefty 2.23kg.
The RCT explained: “Due to its weight, St Edward’s Crown wasn’t worn, but was carried in coronation procession for more than 200 years, starting with Queen Anne’s reign, and then placed on the altar during ceremony.
What is the value of Queen Elizabeth’s crown?
(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
The value of each crown varies, though estimates put a number of £31million on St Edward’s crown.
Officially, the entire collection of crown jewels is considered a priceless artifact and it is difficult to give a precise figure. However, some experts have looked at the collection and estimated the total costs could be around £3.2bil.
Cullinan Diamond, the largest ever found diamond, is also contained in these jewels. King Edwards VII, who discovered the diamond in 1905 decided to reduce it. It took four days to prepare a cutting knife for the job.
Instead of cutting the gem, the first stroke of the knife did the opposite.
RCT stated: “Finally, on 10 February 1908, Joseph Asscher split the stone into two. Over the next eight months, three men worked for 14 hours a day to cut and polish nine large stones from the original diamond.
“After the death of King Edward in 1910, King George V made Cullinans I and II available in the Imperial State Crown and Sovereign’s Sceptre.
