The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
QUEEN r1croRIA,s THREE cRoWNs.
Has Only Worn the state Crown or Great
Britnin Once IN Her Hre.

' tHf 81. SuHNSH y puGttIts
The only crown that is likely to be used dur
ing the stately functions OF the commemoration
is the tiara which is familiar to this generation
in sketches Of the Queen when holding a draw
ing room. This was manufactured by the state
jewellers In 1862 at the personal cost OF her
Majesty, and. in general terms, may be said TO
weigh eight troy ounces. 1t isa light shell of gold,
entirely incrustcd with diamonds, and com.
priscs 2,G73 brilliants, besides 523 rose dia.
monds, making an aggregate OF 3, 1906 stones.
Ii Is retained in the charge Of the sovereign, of
whom 1t is a personal possession, and to all In.
tents and purposes never requires any atten.
ton. 1t was specifically devised for use in con-
junction with q veil. and. apart from the draw
ing rooms, has scarcely been used at all.
This crown was preceded in point of time by n
diadcm or circlct OF gold, choicely beicwelled,
stones used on this occasion, which are wholly
diamonds. were in the main crown jewels. and
the diadem will therefore remain the property
OF the crown, although the cost of mounting
them for the use of her Majesty was borne out
Of the privy purse; This diadem is technically
known as n %circlet, surmountcd by the cross
patec whereof the Maltese cross is a decora-
tion warranty and the tieur-delis. The gem
eral effect Of this crown is exccllcntly shown
In the current coinage, in which IL Is half.con-
Ccalcd by a veil. which was not worn in the
earlier years OF the reign, when this form Of cir
would seem to be some doubt as to whether the
particular form Of coronet depicted on the pres.
ent coin issues mas ever Dcen adopted ny the
Queen in actual use ut all. 1t was this diadcm,
and another Of a like shape that preceded it,
which were used when her Majesty opened or
prorOgued Parliament, and also on such occa.
sions AZ the marriage Of the Princess Royal.
On every occasion on which the Queen visited
the House OF Lords the state crown was taken
out of the rcgalia room In the Tower of London
and was borne before her on a cushion. Except
for this purpose the crown has only left the
tower on two occasions during the reign-once
for repair tsomc part OF the setting having be-
come loOscnCdl and once in order to modify the
erminc. The crown has never been actually
worn by the Queen at any function whatever
since the act Of coronation sixty years ago, and
there is nothing in the episodes Of the
forthcoming commeinoration that will re-
quire its removal from tho tower. The
State crown was made for the Queen BY
Messrs. Rundell & Bridge the predecessors OF
Garrards. the present holders OF the appoint
mentI. and its construction is familiar history.
1t may, however, be interesting at this %juncture
to say that the stimatcd value at that time OF
its stones-comprising 2.7s3 diamonds, 277
pearls. 10 sapphires, II emeralds, and 4 rubies-
was Sll2, $50, apart from the priceless ruby
which belonged to Edward the Black Prince and
the large sapphire purchased by George ". In
the opinion OF competent experts the stones still
have an intrinsic worth OF n like sum. even II nc
| account be taken OF the value that would attach
to their illustrious associations.