CROWN DOWN
The Queen says she ‘can’t look down’ while wearing her crown because her ‘neck would break’
YOU'D think that one of the biggest perks of being a member of the Royal Family is having access to some truly incredible jewellery, crowns and tiaras.
That said, it turns out crowns are incredibly difficult things to wear - as not only are they tricky to balance, but they're also heavy too.
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In 2018, The Queen appeared in a BBC documentary to discuss the 65th anniversary of her coronation.
During her 67-year reign, Her Majesty has only ever worn St Edwards gold crown once for her coronation and uses the Imperial State crown when she opens parliament.
Describing the crown as "unwieldy", The Queen said: "Fortunately, my father and I had about the same sort of shaped head.
"Once you put it on, it stays. It remains itself."
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What is the Imperial State Crown?
- The Imperial State Crown is formed from an openwork gold frame, mounted with three very large stones
- It is set with 2868 diamonds in silver mounts, largely table-, rose- and brilliant-cut, and coloured stones in gold mounts, including 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls
- This crown was made for the coronation of King George VI in 1937 but is closely based on a crown designed for Queen Victoria in 1838
- The Crown is fitted with a purple velvet cap and ermine band. Small plates on the reverse of the 'Black Prince's Ruby' and the 'Stuart Sapphire' are engraved to commemorate the history of the Crown
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However, The Queen has to take great care to keep her head straight when she's wearing the heavy crown.
When quizzed by royal expert Alastair Bruce, she continued: "You can't look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up.
"Because if you did, your neck would break - it would fall off."
And The Queen certainly isn't exaggerating when she says it would cause some serious damage - as the crown is set with precisely 2868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls.
Flashing a cheeky grin, she added: "So there are some disadvantages to crowns but otherwise they're quite important things."
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The precious and semi-precious stones in the St Edward's Crown
- 345 rose-cut aquamarines
- 37 white topazes
- 27 tourmalines
- 12 rubies
- 7 amethysts
- 6 sapphires
- 2 jargoons
- 1 garnet
- 1 spinel
- 1 carbuncle
Although The Queen only wears the Imperial State crown nowadays, it was actually the St Edward's Crown which turned her from a princess to a queen during her 1953 coronation.
The crown has been in the coronation of kings and queens since the 13th century.
The original St Edward's Crown was either sold or melted down along with other royal regalia during the English Civil War in 1649.
The crown was remade for Charles II in 1661 and, in its present version has been used in the coronations of Charles II (1661), James II (1685), William III (1689), George V (1911), George VI (1937) and Elizabeth II (1953).
Interestingly Queen Victoria decided to use a smaller crown, as she was concerned about the 2.23 kg weight of the St Edward's Crown.
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