“My Crown is in my heart, not on my head:
Not deck’d with Diamonds, and Indian stones:
Nor to be seen: my Crown is call’d Content,
A Crown it is, that seldom Kings enjoy.”
― W. Shakespeare, King Henry VI, Part 3,
What a perfect quotation for the ensuing coronation: Buckingham Palace has announced that Camilla, Queen Consort, has chosen to wear Queen Mary’s crown for the ceremony held at Westminster Abbey.
“In the interests of sustainability and efficiency,” this choice marks the first time in recent history that an existing crown will be used. Queen Mary’s crown was originally commissioned by her from Garrard’s, her favored jeweler, for her husband King George V’s 1911 coronation.
The last time a Queen Consort’s crown was re-used for a coronation was in the 18th century when Queen Caroline, consort of George II, wore Mary of Modena’s * crown. Queen Mary’s crown is currently undergoing a few alterations, in keeping with the longstanding tradition that any addition of jewels be unique to the occasion and a reflection of the royal consort’s individual style.
One of these modifications will pay tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, as the crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV, and V diamonds. These diamonds were part of the monarch’s personal jewelry collection for many years and were often worn by her as brooches. She lovingly referred to them as “Granny’s Chips.”
Queen Mary’s crown originally contained the Koh-i-Nûr diamond, one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, weighing 105.6 carats, but according to the Royal Collection, it was removed and placed in the crown used by Queen Elizabeth’s mother.*
The crown has an openwork band, once set at the front with the Koh-i-Nur diamond, and a frieze of quatrefoils and rosettes, each with a large brilliant in the center, surrounded by smaller stones, between borders composed of single rows of brilliants.
Over the years, the diamond has also been at the center of controversy. The governments of India, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, even the Taliban insurgency have all claimed ownership of the Koh-i-Noor. Many believe it should be returned to India. Camilla, Queen Consort is set to be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown at the coronation of King Charles III, May 6, 2023 without the Koh-i-Noor diamond.
Early legends of the diamond report that it was mined in the Middle Ages in present-day Andhra Pradesh, India. Normally, the diamond is on public display in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.
* Mary of Modena is the subject of my book Rain Dodging!
https://www.tatler.com/article/queen-consort-queen-marys-crown-coronation
