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CROWNS on the Tudors

Royal Crowns from "The Tudors" Uneasy Lies the head that wears the Crown [Shakespeare] please don't post pics already on The Ladies Tiaras* page here Click EasyEdit to add to this page! (Don't see the EasyEdit button above? Sign in or Sign up.)
Around a millennium back, English kings were invested with a helmet set on an ornamental frame, that is the crown that we associate with the royalty. Historians attribute evidence of this to the seal of Edward the Confessor, wherein he wears a helmet with an ornamental frame. Another version of crown in early days in England and in other countries reportedly consisted of a string of jewels, which was tied at the back with a ribbon or set in a stiff golden band. However, the nobility too adapted this helmet and there arose a need for a headdress that would distinctly single out the sovereign. The king’s helmet was embellished with a number of ornaments that stood up from the rim. During the 15th century, the headdress was further embellished by adding a few arches that rose from the centre. NB. Henry always wore a hat like all men & women in Tudor times. There are no pictures of him in a crown as shown on the series.

Royal Crowns

from "The Tudors"
Uneasy Lies the head that wears the Crown [Shakespeare]
*please don't post pics already on The Ladies Tiaras page here

Click EasyEdit to add to this page!

(Don't see the EasyEdit button above? Sign in or Sign up.)

Around a millennium back, English kings were invested with a helmet set on an ornamental frame,
that is the crown that we associate with the royalty. Historians attribute evidence of this to the
seal of Edward the Confessor, wherein he wears a helmet with an ornamental frame.
Another version of crown in early days in England and in other countries reportedly consisted
of a string of jewels, which was tied at the back with a ribbon or set in a stiff golden band.
However, the nobility too adapted this helmet and there arose a need for a headdress
that would distinctly single out the sovereign. The king’s helmet was embellished
with a number of ornaments that stood up from the rim. During the 15th century,
the headdress was further embellished by adding a few arches that rose from the centre.

NB. Henry always wore a hat like all men & women in Tudor times.
There are no pictures of him in a crown as shown on the series.


King/Queen	Duke/Duchess	Marquess/Marchioness

Earl/Countess	Viscount/Viscountess	Baron/Baroness

[source: Coronet images from University of Notre Dame's Heraldic Dictionary]

The King King Henry VIII

The King

King Henry VIII

This coronet has the 8 strawberry leaves and 8 pearls of an earl's crown not a king's crown	features the fleur de lis & cross similar to the picture of Henry above

The Queen Consorts Unlike reigning monarchs who may inherit one or more crowns for use, consorts sometimes had special crowns made uniquely for them and which were worn by no other later consort.

The Queen Consorts
Unlike reigning monarchs who may inherit one or more crowns for use,
consorts sometimes had special crowns made uniquely for them
and which were worn by no other later consort.

Queen Katherine of Aragon
Coronation Queen Anne Boleyn	Wedding (same crown as Jane below)
Queen Jane Seymour	wedding (same crown as Anne Boleyn above)
wedding * Note: This is a headdress not a crown which is a circlet of precious metals & gems Queen Anne of Cleves
Queen Katherine Howard
Queen Catherine Parr

The Royal Heirs (Prince, Princess, Duke)

The Royal Heirs
(Prince, Princess, Duke)

Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Richmond, Duke of Somerset, Earl of Nottingham, son of Elizabeth Blount & King Henry VIII	Young Princess Mary Tudor	Princess Mary Tudor (in a crown in her mother's dying dream)

Other Nobility

Other Nobility

Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk	Sir Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire
George Boleyn, Earl of Rochford	Anne Boleyn's investiture as Marquess of Pembroke

British Royal Crowns

British Royal Crowns

The Imperial Crown of State also contains pearls worn as earrings by Elizabeth I, these are suspended from the arches of the crown. Within the wide jewel encrusted band that forms the base of the Crown of State is mounted an enormous diamond, named the Second Star of Africa. This was cut from the famous Cullinan Diamond, the largest diamond ever mined, it was given to Edward VII, who had it set in the crown. This priceless crown contains in all 2,783 diamonds, 17 sapphires , 277 pearls, 11, emeralds and 5 rubies.	The sovereign is always crowned with St. Edward's crown. This is a golden crown encrusted with diamonds, rubies, pearls, emeralds and sapphires. It replaced the one destroyed by Cromwell. The crown has been used in the coronation of every British Monarch since Queen Victoria, by whom it was considered too heavy, she was crowned with the lighter State Crown.	One of the most impressive of the crowns on display at the Tower of London is the crown made for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. This contains the legendary Koh-i-noor, or Mountain of Light diamond. Indian in origin, its history can be traced to the thirteenth century. It was presented to Queen Victoria by the East India Company in 1850. A legend clings to it that it brings good luck to any woman that wears it, but disaster to any man and many of the men that have owned it have met a violent end. The Imperial Crown of India was made for the visit of King George V to Delhi as Emperor of India. It is set with more than 6,000 diamonds with rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
Same as above One of the finest examples of a Badakhshan spinel is the Black Prince’s “Ruby”, a 140-ct. monster which is mounted in the front of the Imperial State Crown of Great Britain. It is on public display at the Tower of London. The enormous Cullinan I Be dazzled by the 23,578 gems that make up the Crown Jewels, including the glistening Imperial State Crown, which alone has 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies. This astonishing collection of priceless Coronation Regalia has been an unmissable highlight of any visit since the 17th century, with only one attempt to steal them…	The Prince of Wales crown, made for the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles. A new crown which was made for the occasion. Made by a technique of applying gold to a resin base, it has four crosses and four fleur de lis, in keeping with the design issued by a warrant of Charles II in 1672.	Crown of an English Queen (the "Bohemian" or "Palatine" crown; gold, enamel, apphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, pearls; height 18 cm, diam. 18 cm), western Europe, around 1370-80 The crown is recorded in England in a list of jewels and plate drawn up in 1399. It probably belonged to King Edward III or Anne of Bohemia, the wife of King Richard II, who was deposed that year by Henry IV. Henry's daughter, Princess Blanche, married the Palatine Elector Ludwig III in 1402 and the crown passed to the Palatine Treasury in Heidelberg as part of her dowry. In 1782 it was transferred to the Munich Treasury along with other jewels belonging to the Palatine branch of the Wittelsbach family. This is the oldest surviving crown of England.
Queen Mary's Crown Queen Mary’s Crown is set entirely with diamonds and crystals was made for Queen Mary when she was crowned Queen Consort with George VI in 1911. Queen Mary’s crown originally contained the 3d Star of Africa in the cross pattee which surmounts the heavily jewelled monde and the 4th Star of Africa in the band. Both these diamonds were cut from the Cullinan I diamond, which is the biggest diamond in the world. Both these diamonds are the personal property of Queen Elizabeth II and are not part of the Crown Jewels. They are known as the Lesser stones of Africa and were mounted in such a way that they can be removed and worn separately as a pendant or brooch. These stones were replaced by replica crystal stones. The crown contains eight half arches. Unlike any other coronation crowns, it was specially constructed, so that its arches could be removed, allowing for the crown to be worn as a circlet.The crown was regarded as a miracle of construction because it weighed less than 22.85 oz..when mounted with around 2200 diamonds. Queen Mary used the crown in circlet form at the coronation of George VI and at State Ceremonies involving her granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II. The crown was regarded as a miracle of construction because it weighed less than 22.85 oz..when mounted with around 2200 diamonds. Since Queen Mary’s death on 24th March 1953 her consort crown has remained unworn	King George IV State Diadem This beautiful piece of jewel is made in diamonds and pearls. The circular diadem is decorated with four crosses-pattées, set with diamonds, representing St. George, the front one with a wonderful honey-coloured diamond in the centre. The diadem included 1333 diamonds weighing 327.75 carats and 169 pearls along the base. The four bouquets of flowers in diamonds include roses, thistles and shamrocks, representing England, Scotland and Ireland. Wales, being a principality, was not represented.The diadem is completely circular.The King George IV State Diadem forms part of the Crown Jewels. The Diadem was made in 1820 for the coronation of George VI. It was constructed to encircle the velvet “Cap of Estate” that he wore in the procession to Westminster Abbey. The diadem was also worn during the coronation procession of Queen Victoria and later Queen Elizabeth II. It was also worn by Queen Elizabeth II in the procession of the State Opening of Parliament The diadem appears worn by Queen Victoria (without the cap)on the penny black and all of her subsequent stamps. Queen Elizabeth II wore the diadem on her way to her coronation. The diamond scrollwork band was remounted for Queen Alexandra in 1902 and is framed between two rown of pearlsIt is part of the Crown Jewels since the death of HM Queen Victoria, who left it to the Crown in her will.	Imperial Crown Of India The Imperial Crown of India was made for King George V to wear at the Delhi Durbar in 1911, when he was acclaimed Emperor of India. The Imperial State Crown cannot be taken out of England. The Imperial Crown of India will probably never be worn again and its significance is now purely historical. The crown has eight half arches which spring from the cross pattee and fleur-de-lis, and it contains a remarkably fine emerald, a number of other emeralds, sapphires, rubies and over 6000 diamonds which were sent over from India. The Imperial Crown of India is housed but not part of the British Crown Jewels. King George and Queen Mary travelled to Delhi for the Durbar service proclaiming them Emperor and Empress of India to the princess of India. The King was not crowned at the service because the Archbishop of Canterbury did not think it suitable for a Christian religious service to take place in a predominantly Hindu country. Therefore, the King wore the crown when he entered the arena where the Durbar took place. The crown has not been worn by any sovereign since. Weight 34.05 oz. The King complained that the weight of the crown hurt his head.
Queen Victoria’s Diamond Crown Ordered by Queen Victoria for her personal use. She found the Imperial State Crown too heavy, and very much resented the complicated procedures involved when removing the crown from the Tower of London. The small crown is a beautiful crown of heraldic Tudor form, which was made from Queen Victoria’s own expense in 1870.It was the crown perhaps most associated with Queen Victoria .Such was the association that the crown was placed on her coffin before her funeral. Origins:Following the death of her husband, Prince Albert, Queen Victoria withdrew from public life and wore the widows weeds which she continued to wear until her death in 1901. By government pressure she came back to public life in 1870.Queen Victoria refused to wear the Imperial State Crown partly because it was too heavy and also because it was impossible to wear her mourning veil.The new small crown was created as a replacement.Because of its size it could be worn on top of her mourning veil, so meeting the ceremonial needs of the British monarchy and her own desired form of dress as a widow.It is made up of four half arches which are met at a monde, on which sits a cross.Each half arch runs from the monde down to a cross pattee along the band at the bottom.Between each cross patee is a fleur-de-lis.The crown does not have an internal cap. Jewels:The crown is made of silver.It contains 1187 diamonds which were permitted to be worn in mourning unlike coloured stones.The diamonds all came from a necklace owned by Queen Victoria.After Victoria:Technically the crown belonged to Queen Victoria personally rather than the British Crown, and therefore did not form part of the British Crown Jewels.In her will Queen Victoria left it to the British Crown.In 1937 King George VI ordered that it should be moved from Windsor Castle and added to the regalia kept in The Tower of London where it remains on show to this day.	Queen Mary’s Circlet Queen Mary’s circlet is taken from Queen Mary’s original crown which was constructed in such a way that the arches could be removed allowing the crown to be worn as a circlet. The crown was first worn on 22nd June 1911 Queen Mary used the crown in circlet form at the coronation of George VI and at State ceremonies involving her granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II. The crown was made for Queen Mary’s coronation in 1911. It was regarded as the miracle of construction because is weighed less than 22oz. in full. The Circlet originally contained the 3rd and 4th Stars of Africa, known as the Lesser Stars of Africa. They were the personal property of Queen Elizabeth II and were mounted into the crown in such a way so as to be removed and worn as a pendant or brooch. These stones were later replaced by replica crystal stones. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Crown of Queen Alexandra was the consort crown of Alexandra of Denmark, the queen consort of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. It was manufactured for the 1902 coronation Queen Victoria's death in January 1901 brought to an end a gap of sixty-four years when the United Kingdom had been without a crowned queen consort, since Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha had not been crowned as a consort. Traditionally queens consortCrown of Mary of Modena. However in 1831, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, consort of King William IV of the United Kingdom, was crowned with a 4 half-arched new small crown, the Crown of Queen Adelaide, because the Modena crown was judged too poor in quality, too old and too theatrical. had been crowned with the 17th century In 1902 it was decided to use neither the Modena nor Adelaide crowns for the first coronation of a queen consort in seven decades. Instead it was decided to create a brand new consort crown, to be named after Queen Alexandra.The crown itself departed from the standard style of British crowns, and was more akin to European royal crowns. It was less upright than the norm in British crowns, and more squat in design, with an unpredecented eight half-arches. Its front arch joined a jewelled cross into which was set the Koh-i-Noor diamond. As with the later Crown of Queen Mary and Crown of Queen Elizabeth, the arches were detachable, allowing the crown to be worn as a circlet. The Crown of Queen Alexandra was not worn by later queens, with new crowns being created for Mary of Teck in 1911 and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1937. The major stones have been replaced with artificial ones referred to as paste.	Queen Mother’s Crown The Queen Mother’s crown was executed in 1937 to serve in the coronation of Queen Consort Elizabeth, the wife of George VI. The Queen Mother’s crown was heavily influenced by the crown that was made for her mother in law, Queen Mary in 1911. The crown is based on a circlet worn by Queen Victoria and was worn by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at the coronation in 1937. The band is encrusted with diamonds, and set on it are four alternate cross pattee and fleur-de-lis. The famous Koh-i-Noor diamond is set in the front cross pattee like Queen Mary’s Crown. From each cross pattee rises a tapering jewelled half arch. On the intersection is the monde carrying a cross pattee in the centre of which is large diamond. The arches are detachable and heavily set with diamonds. The frame of the crown is made out of platinum and inside the “Cap of Estate” is made out of purple velvet.The Koh-i-Noor remains in the crown to this day, as does the 17 carat diamond which was given to Queen Victoria in 1856 by the Sultan of Turkey. It is set directly below the Koh-i-Noor on the front band. Both the arches of the crown and the Koh-i-Noor and its mounts are detachable. The crown contains 2800 diamonds. The curse of the Koh-i-Noor The Koh-i-Noor has a long and blood thirsty history since it was first recorded in 1304. It was then the property of Sultan Allah ed Din. Over centuries of murder, brutality and torchure, not to mention deceit – the stone had carried a curse – that misfortune would always befall the owner, although any woman wearing it would remain unharmed.

LINKS: Photo Gallery - for more pics of recent British Monarch's Crowns RoyalExhibitions.co.uk The British Crown Jewels Exhibition	LITERATURE:

LINKS:

LITERATURE:

Crowns from other Movie & TV depictions of Royalty

Crowns from other Movie & TV depictions of Royalty

	The Young Victoria (2008)
Elizabeth (1998)	The Virgin Queen (2005)	The Other Boleyn Girl
Becket (1964) Peter O'Toole playing King Henry II	The Madness of George III (The Madness of King George) (1994)	Anne of a Thousand Days (1969)

GoldenAged.ER	Latest page update: made by GoldenAged.ER , Oct 25 2009, 10:42 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by GoldenAged.ER 290 words added 1 image added 1 widget added 1 widget deleted view changes - complete history)
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