09/19/2022
Fascinating Facts: The Crown atop Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin - It is the U.K.’s Imperial Crown designed for the late queen’s father George VI. It has 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and four rubies. It is said to be priceless. The 317-carat Cullinan II centerpiece diamond on its own is worth hundreds of millions of pounds. It was cut from the largest diamond ever found, a 3,601 carat stone found in Africa in 1905.
The crown also includes the oldest gem in the royal collection, the Stuart Sapphire which sits at the center of a diamond cross.
The Scepter of the Cross was created in 1661, incorporates the Cullinan I diamond, known as the Great Star of Africa, which is the second largest diamond in the world after the Golden Jubilee diamond. It exceeds 530 carats.
The Orb of the Sovereign is a hollow gold sphere dating from 1661. It is embellished with precious stones features as a jeweled cross which symbolizes the monarch’s role as Defender of Faith. The regalia piece is golden and has a cross perched on top to symbolize heavenly power over the world, as well as being set with emeralds, sapphires, rubies, pearls, and an amethyst. The exact weight and value is unknown still today.
