Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-12
GEMS OF KING AND QUEEN
Priceless Jewels of British Royalty
Are TO he Seen at the
Coronation.

The grandeur of the whole thing is un-
imaginable, reminding one OF the stories Of
ones childhood and the jewels massed in
heaps waiting the first-comer on the floor
OF Aladdins cave" It is thus that one
who has been privileged to make close
inspection Of the late King Edwards crown
describes that important item in the crown
jewels; and some idea of the magnificence
OF the crown which will be worn by King
George at the forthcoming coronation may
be gathered from the fact that to the ISIS
diamonds, 2g pearls, besides many other
Jewels, which formed King Edwards crown,
will be added two sapphires, fifty-six brill
liants and fifty-two rose diamonds.
The design of King Georges crown win
be practically the same as that Of King
Edward, which in turn was a replica Of the
crown worn by Queen Victoria at her coro-
nation in 1888. The royal crowns. however,
are remade for each coronation. This is
necessary, of course, on account of the
difference in the sizes Of the heads Of the
respective monRrchs. King Edwards meas
ured from temple to temple Just seven and
one-half inches, and from the forehead to
the back of the head six and one-half
inches, the height being nine and one-fourth
inches. King Georges head is slightly
smaller, and in addition he has desired that
q place may be found for a portion of the
Cullinan diamond, called, by command OF
his majesty, The Star OF Africa" The
larger portion OF the diamond will be added
to the scepter which King George holds
during the coronation ceremony.
| According to the Times Il is probable
that the smaller portion Of the Cullinan
diamond Will take the place of the great
prince regent sapphire Immediately be-
| meath the black prince ruby, the great egg
shaped jewel which was worn in his he'll
met by the Black Prince at many battles,
including Crecy and Poiters, the great
sapphire being transferred to the back of
| the crown.
| 1t might be mentioned that when the Gull
! Imam diamond which, before cutting was
no less than one and one-quarter pounds in
weight, was cut into two portions, a great
number of smaller diamonds were made
from its "shavings." which were set in var
/ ious designs for the use of Queen Alex
andra
The kings crown is simply one gorgeous
mass of jewels, and so closely set that II
is almost impossible to see anything of the
frame gold setting. The base of the
crown. two inches In depth, is formed OF
a bandeau Of large round pearls and vari-
colored jewels. Above are four great
arches, which spring from the pearl-rimmet
bandeau and surmount the purple-crimsor
velvet cap. These arches are simply
masses of splendid diamonds, which give
the impression Of being thrown on in grea
heaps. Then comes the orb, which sup
ports the ST. Andrews cross. both being
composed OF immense single-stone diamond
OF the finest water.
Perhaps two OF the most interesting
Jewels in the kings crown are Queen Eliza
beth's earrings, two pear-shaped pearls
which were brought out from among tn
disused crown Jewels by special command
} of King Edward to adorn the crown at hi
! coronation. Exactly as worn by the virgil
queen at her own coronation in 1855 thes
Jewels were. by King Edwards orders, lef
t untouched and fastened high on each sid
Of the arches Of the crown and directl
under the ORB.
In the case Of Queen Alexandra's crown
p this was composed entirely Of diamonds
not a single colored stone finding it's wa
into the design. 1t is possible that Quee
Mary viii follow out the same plan. Man
diamonds privately owned by Queen Alex
andra we're momentarlly removed fror
their settings and inserted in the crown. .
few Of the crown diamonds, including tn
Koh-lnoor, were brought into requisltior
and the crown jewellers temporarily SUP
piled any deficiency.
" Immediately after the coronation Quee
AleXandras crown was taken to pieces
) Koh-i-noor were brought into requlsitior
as a brooch or pendant for Queen Alex
andra's use, whilst her own diamonds wer
reset m their previous forms.-London Tit
Bits