Buzz
During King Charles III’s coronation this weekend, the monarch will wear two distinct crowns. Initially, the Archbishop of Canterbury will place the St. Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head during the formal coronation at Westminster Abbey. Later, Charles will exchange this crown for the Imperial State Crown, which he will wear while leaving Westminster and leading the ‘Coronation Procession’ back to Buckingham Palace.
But why the use of two crowns? The simple answer is ‘tradition’—though the tradition and the reasoning behind it are more intricate.
The St. Edward’s Crown is thought to originate from the era of St. Edward the Confessor, who reigned over England from 1042 until his passing in 1066. Henry III, a devoted admirer of St. Edward, was the first known king to wear the crown during his second coronation in 1220. This practice was continued by succeeding monarchs. However, because St. Edward was a saint, his crown was regarded as a sacred relic and thus remained at Westminster Abbey. Consequently, the newly crowned monarch would switch to a different crown for the rest of the ceremony.
The tradition was disrupted in 1649 when Oliver Cromwell’s Parliamentarians overthrew the monarchy and destroyed almost all of its regalia. A new St. Edward’s Crown was created (possibly using remnants of the original) for Charles II’s coronation in 1661. This is the same crown still used today in coronations, though it has undergone some modifications.
The St. Edward’s Crown is no longer permanently stored in Westminster Abbey; it now resides with other valuable relics in the Tower of London. Therefore, King Charles III won’t be changing crowns just because the St. Edward’s Crown can’t leave Westminster. It’s a centuries-old, jewel-encrusted artifact that likely shouldn’t be paraded through London, but the main reason it’s worn only briefly is that it weighs nearly 5 pounds.
Queen Anne decided not to wear the cumbersome crown during her coronation in 1702, and it wasn’t worn again until George V revived the tradition in 1911. He concluded the ceremony wearing what’s known as the Imperial State Crown, the latest version of which was created for George VI’s coronation in 1937. Queen Elizabeth II also wore both crowns during her 1953 coronation.
The Imperial State Crown weighs just over 2 pounds, and King Charles III will likely wear it during other special occasions, such as the annual State Opening of Parliament.
