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The duke who made sure part of the Crown Jewels were removed from coronations

The Jewel House at the Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels, part of which includes a total of sixteen silver trumpets, dating back to 1780, also known as the state trumpets. However, only one of the trumpets is on display for visitors to see. Seven of these trumpets were originally used by the 1st Regiment Life Guards, and bear engraved inscriptions indicating this. The other nine…
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The gems and history of the Crown Jewels

The Crown Jewels are the most sacred and special jewellery and regalia at the disposal of the monarch, and they are stored permanently at the Tower of London unless otherwise needed for state occasions, such as a coronation. In total, there are 142 objects with over…
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The Coronation Ceremony: The Presentation Of The Bible

During the Coronation Service of King Charles III, a Bible will be presented to him as his first gift. The presentation of the Bible has been a part of every Coronation since Mary II and William III in 1689. King Charles will receive one that is specially made for his Coronation. A copy will eventually be placed in the Royal Collection. This has happened for every Monarch since George III…
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The weighty reminder of power that will be placed in the hands of King Charles III

It’s one of the oldest and storied item in the Crown Jewels, the Sovereign’s Orb. Created in 1661 by Sir Robert Vyner for Charles II’s coronation, the orb is a hollow gold sphere with a cross on top. It symbolizes the monarch’s Christian sovereignty and their position as head of the Church of England. The orb weighs 1.32 kg (3lbs.) and is bejeweled with bands of nine emeralds, 18…
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The wedding flowers of Princess Grace of Monaco

It was a ground breaking and glamourous royal wedding and the images of it remain as familiar now as they have ever done. The world watched, enthralled, when Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco on April 19th 1956. Her wedding dress has become one of the most…
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Rare Ming Dynasty artefact found in private home is to go for auction

A significant artefact of the Chinese Ming Dynasty will be put up for auction in London after spending almost eight decades in private hands.  The artefact in question is a decorative box that is believed to be part of a five-piece set of such items designed specifically for Emperor Xuande; the pieces all bear his reign’s characters etched at the bottom of the box and inside the…
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