State Crown of Mary of Modena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids State Crown of Mary of Modena |
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| Details | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Made | 1685 |
| Weight | 700 g (1.5 lb) |
| Arches | 4 |
| Material | Gold |
| Cap | purple velvet with an ermine band |
| Other elements | Silver, pearls, diamonds |
The State Crown of Mary of Modena is a special crown made in 1685 for Mary of Modena. She was the queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland because she was married to King James II and VII. This type of crown is called a consort crown, meaning it's for the king's wife.
This beautiful crown was worn by queens who came after Mary until the late 1700s. When it was first made, it sparkled with real diamonds that were rented for the occasion. Today, to protect the real jewels, the crown on display has clear crystals instead. You can see it in the Jewel House at the Tower of London.
Besides this state crown, Mary also had a smaller headpiece called a diadem, which is also at the Tower of London. She also had a coronation crown, which is now kept at the Museum of London.
Contents
What Does Mary's Crown Look Like?
This gold crown was originally covered with many precious stones. It had 523 small diamonds, 38 large diamonds, and 129 large pearls. Now, these have been replaced with clear quartz crystals for display.
The crown stands about 19 centimetres (7.5 in) tall and weighs about 700 grams (1.5 lb). It is decorated with special shapes called crosses pattée and fleurs-de-lis. It has four curved pieces, called half-arches, that meet at the top. At the very top, there is a small globe, known as a monde, with another cross pattée on it.
How Was This Crown Made?
It's a long-standing tradition for a king's wife to be crowned queen during his coronation ceremony. However, in 1649, the monarchy in England was stopped after a big civil war. The Crown Jewels, which are the special items used by kings and queens, were either sold or melted down.
The coronation of Mary of Modena and her husband, King James II and VII, was a very important event. It was the first time a queen was crowned after the monarchy was brought back. King Charles II, who became king in 1660, was not married when he took the throne.
For Mary's coronation, three special headpieces were created:
- A diadem: This was a smaller crown she wore during the procession to Westminster Abbey.
- A coronation crown: This was the crown used for the actual crowning ceremony.
- A state crown: This is the crown we are talking about, which she wore when leaving the Abbey.
Richard de Beauvoir made the state crown. It was covered in diamonds that were worth a lot of money, about £35,000. The cost to rent these diamonds was £1,000. Mary paid for these crowns and the diadem herself. She also ordered two new sceptres and a special coronation ring for the ceremony.
Mary's diadem was also very fancy. It had 177 diamonds, 78 pearls, 1 sapphire, 1 emerald, and 1 ruby. Today, it has fake gemstones and man-made pearls, and you can see it at the Tower of London. It is about 8 centimetres (3.1 in) tall and weighs around 300 grams (0.66 lb).
Her coronation crown, which is now empty of its jewels, was bought by the Museum of London in 1956. It had been sent for repairs to the Crown Jewellers, Rundell & Bridge, in the 1800s but was never given back to the Royal family. Originally, this crown weighed about 600 grams (1.3 lb). It was set with 419 diamonds, 46 large pearls, 7 rubies, 7 sapphires, and 2 emeralds.
Who Else Wore Mary's Crown?
After Mary of Modena, her state crown was used by other queens. This included queens who ruled on their own, like Mary II and Anne. It was also worn by queens who were married to kings, such as Caroline of Ansbach and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
By 1831, the crown was thought to be too old-fashioned and in poor condition. So, a new crown was made for the new queen, Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. However, some people believe that Queen Adelaide might have still used one of Mary of Modena's crowns for her own coronation.
See also
- Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
- Crown of Queen Mary
- Crown of Queen Alexandra
- Crown of Queen Adelaide
