Page 162 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

160  L ONDON AREA B Y AREA

Inside the Tower
The Orb, symbolizing the
The Tower has been a tourist attraction since the power of Christ
reign of Charles II (1660–85), when both the Crown
Jewels and the collection of armour were first shown
The Queen Mother’s
to the public. They remain powerful reminders of crown was made for
royal might and wealth. the coronation of her
husband, George VI, in
aspect of the monarch’s role as 1937. It is the only one to be
The Crown Jewels head of the state and church. The made out of platinum – all the
The Crown Jewels comprise the climax comes when St Edward’s other crowns on display at the
regalia of crowns, sceptres, Crown is placed on the Tower are made of gold.
orbs and swords used at sovereign’s head; there is a
coronations and other cry of “God Save the King” Other Regalia
state occasions. They are (or Queen), the trumpets Apart from the crowns, there
impossible to price but sound, and guns at the are other pieces of the Crown
their worth Tower are fired. The Jewels that are essential to
is irrelevant last coronation coronations. Among these
beside their was Elizabeth II’s are three Swords of Justice,
enormous in 1953. symbolizing mercy, spiritual and
significance in temporal justice. The Orb is a
the historical hollow gold sphere encrusted
and religious life The Imperial State with jewels and weighing about
of the kingdom. Crown, containing 1.3 kg (3 lb). The Sceptre with
Most of the more than 2,800 the Cross contains the biggest
Crown Jewels diamonds, 273 pearls cut diamond in the world, the
date from 1661, and other gems 530-carat First Star of Africa.
when a new set was The rough stone it comes
made for the coronation of The Crowns from weighed 3,106 carats.
Charles II; Parliament had There are ten crowns
destroyed the previous crowns on display at the The Sovereign’s Ring,
and sceptres after the execution Tower. Many of sometimes referred to as “the
of Charles I in 1649. Only a few these have not been wedding ring of England”
pieces survived, hidden by the worn for years, but the
clergy of Westminster Abbey Imperial State Crown is in Plate Collection
until the Restoration. regular use. The Queen wears The Jewel House also holds a
it at the Opening of Parliament collection of elaborate gold and
The Coronation Ceremony (see p58). The crown was made silver plates. The Maundy Dish is
Many elements in this solemn in 1937 for George VI, and is still used on Maundy Thursday
and mystical ceremony date similar to the one made for when the monarch distributes
from the days of Edward the Queen Victoria. The sapphire money to elderly
Confessor. The king or queen set in the cross is said to have recipients. The
proceeds to Westminster Abbey, been worn in a ring by Edward Exeter Salt (a very
accompanied by objects of the the Confessor (ruled 1042–66). grand salt cellar
regalia, including the State Sword, The most recent crown is from the days
which represents the monarch’s not at the Tower, however. when salt was
own sword. He or she is then It was made for Prince Charles’s a valuable
anointed with holy oil, to signify investiture as Prince of Wales commodity)
divine approval, and invested at Caernarvon Castle in north was given by
with ornaments and royal robes. Wales in 1969, and is kept at the citizens
Each of the jewels represents an the Museum of Wales in Cardiff. of the city
of Exeter to
The hilt and solid-gold scabbard of the Charles II;
jewelled State Sword, one of the most during the
valuable swords in the world Civil War Exeter
was a Royalist
stronghold.

The Sceptre with the Cross
(1660), reset in 1910
after Edward VII was
presented with the First
Star of Africa diamond

160-161_EW_London.indd 160 21/03/17 2:20 pm