The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was
adorned with the Crown of Scotland as it laid at rest in St. Giles’
Cathedral in Edinburgh. The crown was placed atop the monarch’s
coffin on September 12, during a sombre moment watched by King
Charles III and Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal, the Earl and
Countess of Wessex and Prince Andrew. It is one of four crowns that
will play a role in her funeral arrangements.
Made with gold and freshwater pearls
selected from rivers within Scotland, the crown also features 22
gemstones and 20 precious stones including garnets and amethysts.
It features four gold arches that rise to an orb leading to a gold
and enamel cross on top. The crown weighs 3.6 lbs (1.6kg) and was
fashioned by Edinburgh goldsmith John Mosman.
The stunning piece has a 500-year-old
history and is the centerpiece of the Honours of Scotland- the
oldest Crown jewels in the United Kingdom. It was first worn by
James V in 1540, at the coronation of his Queen Consort, Mary of
Guise after being refashioned from an older, damaged crown of James
IV which dated back to at least 1503.
The Honours also include a sceptre
and sword. They were first used together in 1543 at the coronation
of James V’s daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots, when she was just
nine-months-old. It was also used for the coronations of James VI
and Charles I, with both taking place at the Palace of
Holyroodhouse.
In 1651, Charles II also donned the
crown for his coronation held in Scone. Following the English Civil
War, the crown was moved several times to hide it from Oliver
Cromwell’s army.
Cromwell had been determined to
destroy the Scottish Crown Jewels and pursued them to Dunnottar
Castle near Aberdeen. They were smuggled out and buried until
Charles II’s restoration in 1660. The honours were then never used
again to crown a sovereign.
The honours were also split up and
buried for safekeeping during WWII.
The Crown of Scotland is usually on
display in the Throne Room at Edinburgh Castle. It is currently on
loan and will be returned in time for the sites reopening on
Wednesday.
The Crown, along with the other Honours, were presented to The Queen in 1953, after her coronation, at a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Giles’ Cathedral.
The crown and coffin will remain
there on display for 24 hours as mourners are invited to come to
pay their respects.
The coffin has also been adorned with
the Scottish Standard and a wreath made from flowers picked from
the Queen’s Balmoral estate. The arrangement includes spray roses,
freesias, chrysanthemums and dried white heather.
Queen Elizabeth’s coffin will leave Scotland on Tuesday and continue the journey to London. Her state funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19.
