King Charles is set to wear not one, but two crowns on his coronation day on 6 May. Buckingham Palace has shared fascinating details about the ceremonial regalia being used at the service at Westminster, including the 17th century St Edward’s Crown, which Charles will be crowned with.
He will switch it for the Imperial State Crown at the end of the ceremony, and while it is lighter in weight, the late Queen Elizabeth II once shared some frank advice about wearing the “unwieldy” jewels.
The Imperial State Crown weighs more than 1kg and is adorned with 2,901 precious stones, including the Cullinan II diamond – making it very heavy! As well her 1953 coronation, Queen Elizabeth II traditionally wore the headpiece for the State Opening of Parliament.
However, in the latter years of her life, Her Majesty opted to wear the smaller George IV State Diadem for the ceremony instead.
Rehearsals for the King’s coronation are underway, with a mock Westminster Abbey reportedly being set up at Buckingham Palace.
Meanwhile, the guest list is filling up fast, with more foreign royals confirming their attendance for the coronation, including Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain.
