Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom

: The "Crown Jewels" or "Honours" of Scotland are treated separately. This article refers to the Crown Jewels of England, and those added since the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

Related Topics:
"Crown Jewels" or "Honours" of Scotland - 1603

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The collective term Crown Jewels denotes the regalia and vestments worn by the sovereign of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony and at various other state functions. The term refers to the following objects: the crowns, sceptres (with either the cross or the dove), orbs, swords, rings, spurs, colobium sindonis, dalmatic, armill, and the royal robe or pall, as well as several other objects connected with the ceremony itself.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Coronation - Crown - Sceptre - Orb - Sword - Ring - Spurs - Colobium sindonis - Dalmatic - Armill

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many of these descend directly from the Reformation period and thus have a religious connotation. The vestures donned by the sovereign following the unction, for instance, closely resemble the alb and dalmatic worn by bishops, although the contention that they are meant to confer upon the sovereign an ecclesiastical character is in disrepute among Christian scholars.

Related Topics:
Reformation - Alb - Bishop - Christian

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

One set of Crown Jewels was lost by John of England near The Wash.

Related Topics:
John of England - The Wash

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Oliver Cromwell melted down most of the Crown Jewels of his time after the establishment of the Commonwealth. Upon the Restoration of Charles II of England most of the regalia were replaced. The only pieces to survive from before the Civil War are three swords and a spoon.

Related Topics:
Oliver Cromwell - Commonwealth - Restoration - Charles II of England

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Crown Jewels is considered to be the most valuable jewellery collection in existence.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~