Queen Camilla is to use jewels that held a special place in the heart of Queen Elizabeth II at the Coronation later this year.
Her Majesty’s crown will be reset to include the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds which were a special part of Her Late Majesty’s gem collection for many years.
Queen Elizabeth II often wore the jewels as brooches. Now they will be included in the Crown of Queen Mary which has been removed from the Tower of London for preparation for the Coronation.
It is this crown that will be placed on the head of Queen Camilla when her coronation is carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury on May 6th 2023.
It is the first time in almost 300 hundred years that an existing crown will be used for the coronation of a consort, reflecting the desire of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to make their new reign a reflection of their support for sustainability.
The decision to include the three Cullinan diamonds goes back to a tradition of using some new jewels at a coronation. The insertion of jewels is unique to the occasion, and reflects the Consort’s individual style.
The Cullinan diamonds have been set into Queen Mary’s Crown on previous occasions. Cullinan III and IV were set temporarily in the Crown for the 1911 Coronation, and the Cullinan V was inserted when the Crown was worn as a regal circlet at King George VI’s Coronation in 1937.
