Jewel-encrusted crowns, swords and sceptres may glitter the brightest at Charles III’s coronation, but of all regalia the most significant from a historical perspective may be a simple spoon.
When the 2,000 guests witness the crowning at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the regalia – sacred objects symbolising monarchical duties and powers – will play the part they have played in this same theatre for almost 1,000 years.
Yet most of these priceless objects are no older than 350 years, after the crown jewels were destroyed, and the gold and silver melted down for coin, following the English civil war and Charles I’s 1649 execution. They were recreated by the royal goldsmith on the orders of Charles II in 1660-1 after the Restoration.
One rare survivor is the silver-gilt coronation spoon, the oldest of all the regalia to be used, details of which were released by Buckingham Palace on Sunday.
Dating from the 12th century, the spoon – into which the chrism oil, consecrated at the Holy Sepulchre church in Jerusalem, is poured before the anointing of the new king and queen – survived Oliver Cromwell’s regalia purge.
It was sold for 16 shillings to Clement Kynnersley, an official who looked after Charles I’s wardrobe, then Cromwell’s. Kynnersley returned it – some say for a small profit – for Charles II’s coronation. Thought to have first been supplied to Henry II or Richard I, the spoon has an oval bowl divided into two lobes that enables the archbishop of Canterbury to dip two fingers easily into the oil to then makes crosses on the hands, breast and head of the new monarch.
“Although perhaps the most humble in the [royal] collection it is the oldest … [and] is the one real great survivor,” said Kathryn Jones, senior curator of decorative arts at the Royal Collection Trust. Jones believes perhaps because it was just a spoon, it was not automatically associated with a the grandest of royal ceremonial occasions.
While the spoon may be the oldest, one of the most controversial item of regalia may be the aueen consort’s rod with dove. Used in coronations since James II’s in 1685, the sceptre is made of ivory, with gold mount, is almost a metre long and surmounted with an enamel dove, representing the holy spirit.
Reports it would be absent from this coronation are unfounded, royal officials have said, despite the controversy over ivory and the fact Prince William has reportedly said in the past he would like to see all ivory owned by Buckingham Palace destroyed.
Separately, the government has announced new screening sites for the coronation, bringing the total to 57. More than 32,000 coronation big lunch packs have been ordered, with about 50,000 neighbourhood events planned, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said. The government’s official coronation website has so far showed 1,030 public events/opportunities and 251 street parties or private events registered on its interactive map by Easter Sunday morning.
Guide to coronation regalia and its significance
The Procession
Two silver maces dating from 1660 and 1695 are carried before the monarch as ceremonial emblems of his authority.
Also carried is the golden St Edward’s staff (1660), thought to be associated with Edward the Confessor. Three swords, which escaped the 1649 destruction, are carried by peers, points upwards and unsheathed: the sword of temporal justice, signifying the monarch’s role as head of the armed forces; the sword of spiritual justice, signifying him as defender of the faith; and the sword of mercy or curtana, which has a blunted tip, symbolising the sovereign’s mercy. The swords were first used at the coronation of Charles I in 1626.
The sword of state (1678) symbolising royal authority is carried before the monarch, and is used after the coronation in place of the jewelled sword of offering, which is kept with other regalia at the Tower of London.
The Anointing
Chrism oil is poured from a solid-gold eagle-shaped ampulla (1661) into the coronation spoon. The head of the eagle is removable and oil dispensed through a tiny hole in the beak.
The Investiture
Gold spurs are among objects given to the monarch during the ceremony since Richard the Lionheart. They symbolise knightly values such as protecting the weak, protecting the church, and bringing justice. These gold and red velvet spurs were made for Charles II. Traditionally fastened to the sovereign’s feet, since the Restoration they have simply been held to the ankles.
The jewelled sword of offering is symbolically offered by the monarch at the high altar, then bought back for 100 shillings. Made in 1820 for George IV, richly decorated and adorned with diamonds, rubies and emeralds it has a blade of blued and gilt steel.
Two armills, gold bracelets with enamelled national symbols, are put around the monarch’s wrists. Traditionally known as the Bracelets of Sincerity and Wisdom, they date back to 1661.
The Sovereign’s orb (1661), which is hollow and made of gold, is divided into three sections, representative of the three continents known in medieval times. Symbolic of the sovereign’s Christian power, it is placed into the right hand of the monarch and moved to the high altar before the moment of crowning.
The Sovereign ring is a symbol of dignity and faith. Made for William IV’s coronation (1831), it features sapphire and rubies in the shape of St George’s cross and surrounded by diamonds. The ring is placed on the monarch’s finger.
Sovereign sceptre with cross. Made in 1661, it was adapted in 1910 to hold the huge drop-shaped Cullinan I, or the Star of Africa, a 530.2-carat diamond. The sceptre represents the sovereign’s temporal power and is associated with good governance.
Sovereign’s rod with dove. Traditionally known as “the rod of equity and mercy”, it is symbolic of the spiritual power of the monarch. The enamelled dove represents the holy spirit. This is placed in the left hand during the ceremony and held for the crowning and enthronement.
The Crowning.
The St Edward’s crown, named after Edward the Confessor, is only ever used for the moment of crowning, and weighs nearly 2.28kg (5lbs). Made for Charles II in 1661 as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down. Topped with an orb and a cross, symbolising the Christian world, and is made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines.
The Queen Consort
The consort undergoes her own coronation alongside the king though not on the same scale. The queen consort’s ring, a ruby in a gold setting, made for the coronation of King William IV and Queen Adelaide in 1831, is placed on her finger. The queen consort’s rod with dove is symbolic of “equity and mercy“. The queen consort’s sceptre with cross was originally supplied for the coronation of Mary of Modena, Queen Consort of James II, in 1685.
Queen Mary’s crown, chosen by the queen consort for the coronation, is the first instance in modern times of an existing crown being used for the coronation of the consort. Minor changes and additions to the crown for this occasion include the removal of four half-arches, and the addition of the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds, which were part of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection. The design was inspired by Queen Alexandra’s crown of 1902.
The Departure
At the end of the coronation, the St Edward’s Crown is exchanged for the imperial state crown. Made for George VI in 1937, this is the “working crown”. Set with 2,868 diamonds (of which the Cullinan II is the largest at 317.4 carats), 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 269 pearls. Also set with some of the most historic jewels in the royal collection, including the 14th-century Black Prince ruby – actually a spinel – which legend says was worn by Henry V to hold his helmet plume at Agincourt, and the St Edward’s sapphire, which legend says was buried with Edward the Confessor before being removed when he was moved to a new shrine.
