The San Francisco call., 1897-08-15
Victoria's Three Crowns.

The only crown that is likely to be used
during the stately functions of the COM
memoratlon is the tiara which is ia
mil1ar to this generation in sketches
of the Queen when holding a draw
lng-room. This was manufactured by
the state jewellers in 1862 at the
personal cost of her Majesty, and, in gem
eral terms. may be said to weigh eight
troy ounces. 1t is a light shell of
gold, entirely incrusted with dia-
monds, and comprises 2673 prilliants,
besides 523 rose diamonds, making
an aggregate of 1886 stones. 1t is re-
tanned in the charge of the sovereign, of
whom it is personal possession, and to
all intents and purposes never requires
any attention. 1t was specifically devised
for use in conjunction with a veil, and
apart from the drawing rooms has scarcely
been used at all.
This crown was preceded in point of
time by diadem or circlet of gold,
choicely beieweled, which was made for
the Queen in 1858. The 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 a
circlet, surmounted by the cross patee
whereof the Maltese cross is decoration
warranty and the fieur-oe-lis. The general
effect of this crown is excellently shown in
the current coinage, in which tits half-con-
cealed by veil, which was not worn in the
earlier years ofthe reign, when this form of
circlet was in ordinary use and, indeed,
there would seem to be some doubt as TO
whether the particular form of coronet
depicted on the present coin issues has
ever been adopted by the Queen in actual
use at all. 1t was this dIadem and another
OF like shape that preceded it which
were used when her Majesty opened or
prorogued Parliament, and also on such
occasions as 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 -regalia-room in the
Tower OF London and was borne before
her on a cushion. Except for this pur-
pose the crown has only left the Tower
on two occasions during her reign-once
for repair (some part of the set
ting having become loosened) and once
in order to modify the ermine. 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 commemoration that
that will require its removal from the
Tower. The state crown was made
for the Queen by Messrs. Rundell &
Bridge (the predecessors of Garrard's. the
present holders of the appointment), and
its construction is familiar history. 1t
may, However, be interesting at this
juncture to say that the estimated value
at that time of its stones, comprising
27s3 diamonds. 277 pearls, 16 sap
phires, II emeralds and 4 rubies, was
f112. 100. apart from the priceless ruby
which belonged to Edward the Black
Prince and the large sapphire purchased
by George ~. In the opinion of compe-
tent experts the stones still have an in.
trinsic worth of like sum, even if no
account be taken of the value that would
attach to their ilIustrious associations
st. James Gazette.