# Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Processional Cross

The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Processional Cross is a ceremonial cross commissioned as a gift for Her Later Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The Cross is used at religious services and State occasions, including at the Cenotaph, and replaced the previous cross in the Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace, London.

## Design and Craftmanship

The Cross was designed and handcrafted by Royal Warrant Holders and master gold and silversmiths,Thomas Lyte. The Cross is a contemporary design, incorporating traditional Christian symbolism and inspired by Her Late Majesty's wedding dress.
Seen on the cross are the Flowers of the Home Nations, a feature of Her Late Majesty's Coronation bouquet. England represented by orchids and lilies of the valley and Scotland by stephanotis. Welsh orchids and carnations referring to Northern Ireland are also included – with carnations also for the Isle of Man. Each flower was shaped and silver-soldered by hand, and the result is a reflection of Her Late Majesty's wedding dress.
The centre of the Cross displays the Christogram ‘IHS’ device, a monogram and a Latin acronym for Jesus Hominum Salvator – Jesus Saviour of Mankind. The purpose of this element is to reflect the Queen's dedication to the Church of England.
Artist, woodcarver and QEST Scholar, Joey Richardson, contributed to the detailing of the piece, making the shaft from selected and repurposed oak from Her Majesty the Queen's Estate in Sandringham. After turning, the shaft was embellished using pyrography and hand painting to depict the Home Nations with the Tudor rose, daffodils, shamrocks and thistles.
The Cross is made from 2.8kg of sterling silver, 24-carat gold plate and 70 diamond lozenges representing the Queen's 70 years of reign. It took nearly 400 crafting hours to make and involved every aspect of silversmithing; from modern methodology to processes dating back to antiquity.
A unique blend of traditional and modern artistic techniques, the cross was crafted using specialist techniques by skilled artisans, reflecting the highest standards of British craftsmanship.

## Presentation

In 2019, Reverend Canon Paul Wright, the Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, approached Thomas Lyte and the Royal Warrant Holders Association with a brief to design and create a processional cross. The intention of the design was to fit seamlessly into the interior aesthetic of the Chapel Royal at St. James' Palace.
The Royal Warrant Holders Association (RWHA) launched an appeal amongst its 700-plus member companies to fund the manufacture of the Cross, which also enabled almost a quarter of a million pounds to be raised for distribution to local charities across the UK through the RWHA’s Charity Fund in the Platinum Jubilee year and beyond.
The piece was presented in person to Her Late Majesty the Queen by the Royal Warrant Holders Association, and Thomas Lyte’s CEO and founder, Kevin Baker.
* ↑ "The Queen Elizabeth II Processional Cross | Royal Warrant Holders Association". www.royalwarrant.org. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
* ↑ "Designers and Makers of The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Processional Cross". Thomas Lyte. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
* ↑ "The Queen Elizabeth II Processional Cross | Royal Warrant Holders Association". www.royalwarrant.org. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
* ↑ "News". Joey Richardson. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
* ↑ Centre, The Goldsmiths'. "Your Impact Story: Turning a hobby into a creative career - The Goldsmiths' Centre". www.goldsmiths-centre.org. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
* ↑ "Designers and Makers of The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Processional Cross". Thomas Lyte. Retrieved 2025-03-19.
* ↑ "The Queen Elizabeth II Processional Cross | Royal Warrant Holders Association". www.royalwarrant.org. Retrieved 2025-03-19.