The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-13
VICTORIA'S THREE CROWNS.
Has Only Worn the State Crown of
Great Britain Once i'm Her Life.
st. James's Gazette.

st. JameS'S Gazette.
The only crown that is likely to be used
during the stately functions of the COM
memOration is the tiara which is familiar
to this generation in sketches of the Queen
when holding a drawing room. This was
manufactured by the state jewelers. in 1862
at the personal cost of her Majesty, and. in
general terms, may be said to weigh eight
troy ounces. 1t is a light shell of gold, en-
tirey incruSted with diamonds, and COM
prises 1878 briliants, besides 523 rose dia-
monds making an aggregate of 3 l96 stones.
1t is retained in the charge of the SOVer-
eign of whom it is personal possession,
and, to all intents and purposes, never re-
quires any attention. 1t was specifically de-
vised 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 a diadem or circlet of gold, choice
ly bejeweled, which was made for the
Queen in 1858. The stones used on this oc-
casion, which are wholly diamonds ,1 :, were,
will, therefore, remain the property of the
crown, although the cost of mounting
them for the of her Majesty was borne
out of the privy purse. This diadem is
technically known as a circlet surm9unted
/ by the cross, patee (whereot the maltese
cross is a decoration warranty and the feur-
de-lis. The general effect of this crown Is
eXcellently shown in the current coinage,
in which is half concealed by veil, which
was not worn in the earlier years of the
reign, when this form of circlet was in ordi-
nary use; and, indeed, there would seem
to be some doubt as to whether the par
ticular 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 Parlia-
ment 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 purpose the
crown has only left the tower on two oc-
casions during her reign-once for repair
(some part of the setting having become
loosened) and once in order to modify the
ernline. The crown has never been actually
worn by the Queen at any function what
ever since the act of coronation Sixty years
ago, and there is nothing in the EPISODES OF
the forthcoming commemoraton that VIII
REQUIRE it's removal from the tower. Ihe
state crown was made for the Queen by
Messrs Rundel & Bridge (the predecessors
of Garrards the present holders or the APP
pointment), and it's construction is 1aHllldr
history. 1t may however be interesting
at this iuncture to say that the estimated
Ialue at that time of it's stones-compris-
ing 2 1888 diamonds, 277 pearls, 16 sapphires,
II erneralds and 4 rubies-was El12, zoe,
anart from the priceless ruby which be-
ionged 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 or a
like sum. even if no account be taken or
the value that would attach to their Illus
trious associations.