Imperial State Crown

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Lore & Background

The origins of this crown trace back to the Tudor era, where Henry VIII commissioned an elaborate 'Imperiall crowne' first detailed in a 1521 inventory. Following the execution of Charles I in 1649, all royal crowns were broken up by parliament until the Restoration in 1660, when Sir Robert Vyner created a new state crown for Charles II. Queen Victoria's 1838 version fell into disrepair and broke during the State Opening of Parliament in 1845 when the Lord Chancellor (Lord Lyndhurst) tripped and dropped the cushion it rested on; Victoria is often said to have described it as 'crushed and squashed like a pudding that had sat down,' but this quote is apocryphal and not reliably sourced from her writings. She later declined to wear it due to its weight, opting for a smaller crown made in 1870. In 1909, the 1838 crown was altered to accommodate the massive Cullinan II diamond, and the Stuart Sapphire was moved from the front to the back at that time. The 1937 crown was a new construction by Garrard & Co., not a faithful recreation of the 1838 version.

In Their Own Story

In 1953, adjustments were made specifically for Queen Elizabeth II; the inner headband was fitted and the arches lowered by exactly 1 inch (2.5 cm). The crown currently displays the empty frame of Victoria's original crown minus its monde and cross, which now sit on the current piece. While four pearls hang below the monde, often rumored to have belonged to Queen Elizabeth I, this association is almost certainly erroneous. The Stuart Sapphire, weighing 104 carats, was originally set in the front until 1909, when it was moved to the back to make way for the 317-carat Cullinan II. St Edward's Sapphire, reputedly taken from Edward the Confessor's ring during his re-interment at Westminster Abbey in 1163, remains fixed on the top cross.

Reader's Guide

The crown is placed in the Robing Room where the monarch dons the Robe of State before entering Parliament. During the State Opening, it is usually carried by armed guard in its own carriage, though exceptions exist: Elizabeth II wore a hat during snap general elections in March 1974, June 2017, December 2019, and May 2021. In October 2019, she wore the State Diadem while the Imperial State Crown was carried beside her. If a State Opening occurs before a coronation, the crown is placed on a cushion beside the monarch rather than worn. When not in use, it remains on public display in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.

Did You Know?

• The 1838 crown broke in 1845 when the Lord Chancellor (Lord Lyndhurst) tripped and dropped the cushion it rested on; the often-repeated quote about it being 'crushed and squashed like a pudding that had sat down' is apoc
• The Black Prince's Ruby is actually a large red spinel, not a ruby.
• In 1909, the 104-carat Stuart Sapphire was moved from the front to the back of the 1838 crown to accommodate the 317-carat Cullinan II diamond.
• The association between the four hanging pearls and Queen Elizabeth I is almost certainly erroneous.
• Queen Elizabeth II wore a hat instead of this crown during State Openings in March 1974, June 2017, December 2019, and May 2021.