Tower of London
ABOVE: Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown
measures 3.7 inches (9.9 cm) high and 3.4 inches (9 cm) in diameter. It was worn
atop a widow's cap. The crown was made in 1870, using some 1,300 diamonds from a
large necklace and other jewelry in the Queen's personal collection.
INSET BELOW: The Jewel House has been located
in Waterloo Block since 1994.
Crown Jewels
Keith Hanson is Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels, having been
appointed to that post in 2000 after serving as a Yeoman Warder. Hanson, who
lives at the Tower with his wife Angela, is the latest in a long line of
Englishman who have watched over the royal Regalia since the Crown Jewels were
first displayed to the public at the Tower of London in 1661 (and possibly
earlier).
 The
Jewel House is located in Waterloo Block. (See inset photo.) When you enter,
you'll walk past displays of Royal maces, swords, and other ceremonial items
until you reach the chamber where the Coronation Regalia are on display. There,
you'll step onto a moving walkway that slowly takes you past well-lit display
cases that hold the Imperial State Crown, Queen Victoria's Small Diamond Crown
(see photo above), the Imperial Crown of India, and other precious items. The
jewels are dazzling (literally as well as figuratively) in the otherwise
darkened room.
Once you've stepped off the moving walkway, you can return to
the head of the display cases and repeat the process on the other side, or you
can climb a few steps to a viewing platform that offers a different perspective
on the collection. Next, continue to the next room where you can see Queen
Elizabeth II's Coronation Robe and other gear. (Film footage of the Queen's
coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953 is shown continuously on high-definition TV
screens.)
Some of the items to look for during your visit include:
-
The Cullinan I diamond, also known as the First Star
of Africa, is the largest top-quality cut diamond in the world. It
weighs slightly more than 530 carats and is mounted on the Sceptre. (The
Cullinan I was one of nine large diamonds and 96 small brilliants cut over a
period of eight months from the Cullinan diamond, which weighed 3,106 carats
uncut.)
-
The Koh-I-Noor ("Mountain of Light")
diamond,
weighs 105.6 carats and is mounted on the Queen Mother's Crown. Many legends are
associated with the diamond, which was surrendered by the Maharajah of
Lahore to the Queen of England when the British Empire annexed the Punjab in
1849.
Here are more facts about the Crown Jewels, compliments of the Tower's press
office and the Chief Exhibitor:
-
So far, there has been only one attempt to steal the Crown
Jewels, by Colonel Blood in 1671. He failed, and--if you're lucky--you'll
see a re-enactment of his attempt, or a story by costumed interpreters,
during your visit to the Tower.
-
The Imperial State Crown, which was created in 1937 for the
coronation of George VI, is set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11
emeralds, 5 rubies, and 273 pearls.
Next page:
The Tower Ravens
Top photo
© Crown
copyright.
Inset photo copyright
© HRP.
Used by permission. | |
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