The Crown Jewels of England

In Short

This authoritative work surveys the physical treasures of the British Monarchy, detailing their historical origins, craftsmanship, and symbolic roles in the coronation rite. Written following the First World War by the Keeper of the Jewel House, the book chronicles how royal emblems survived medieval battles, total destruction during the Commonwealth, and subsequent restoration. It combines careful antiquarian analysis of individual crowns, sceptres, vestments, and church plate with an overarching tribute to the permanence of British sovereignty. It endures as a primary window into the material culture and ceremonial traditions surrounding the Crown.

The Story

The narrative follows the physical lineage of England’s regalia from its earliest recorded custodianship to the modern era. In the reign of Edward the Confessor, the royal treasures rested in the Treasury of England at Westminster Abbey under the care of local monks. Early monarchs frequently carried these emblems directly onto the battlefield: Henry V wore his crown at Agincourt, where it deflected a blow from the Duc d’Alençon, while Richard III lost his crown at Bosworth Field, only for it to be retrieved from a hawthorn bush to crown Henry VII.

This physical vulnerability changed as national security shifted. During times of danger, treasures moved to the Tower of London, leading Henry III to appoint the first official Keeper of the Regalia. The greatest catastrophe struck under the Commonwealth in 1649, when Parliament ordered the royal emblems totally defaced and destroyed. King Alfred’s ancient crown was broken up and sold for scrap metal, while relics deemed worthless were cast aside.

Restoration required complete renewal. Following the return of Charles II, the monarchy commissioned goldsmith Sir Robert Vyner to remake the regalia at immense expense, recreating St. Edward’s Crown alongside essential sceptres and orb. Later reigns expanded this collection. James II commissioned additional regalia and meticulous historical records, while William and Mary added magnificent silver-gilt church plate, including a massive alms dish depicting the Last Supper.

Beyond locally forged gold, famous gemstones accumulated around the throne through conquest and inheritance. The Koh-i-Nur diamond traveled from Indian mines through the hands of Shah Jehan, Nadir Shah, and Afghan rulers before reaching Queen Victoria. The Stuart Sapphire moved across generations of monarchical exile, while the ancient Sapphire of St. Edward—believed to possess miraculous healing powers—was recut to adorn the top cross of the Imperial State Crown.

Alongside the jewels, the text details the sacred coronation liturgy itself. The sovereign takes a solemn oath before the altar, receives anointing with holy cream poured from the solid gold Ampulla, assumes the sacred vestments—including the Colobium Sindonis and Imperial Mantle—and receives the Holy Bible before being inthronized by the clergy and peers.

How It Unfolds

Monarchs field their treasures Early English kings carry their crowns directly into battle as visible emblems of leadership. Henry V survives a blow to his headpiece at Agincourt, while Richard III’s fallen crown is retrieved from a hawthorn bush after Bosworth Field.

Parliament orders total destruction Following the execution of Charles I, the Commonwealth parliament orders all royal emblems to be defaced, melted, and sold. Ancient crowns, including the golden headpiece attributed to King Alfred, are broken up and sold for scrap metal.

Sir Robert Vyner remakes the regalia With the restoration of Charles II, the Crown spends tens of thousands of pounds to replace the destroyed treasures. Master goldsmith Sir Robert Vyner crafts new crowns, orb, and sceptres, establishing the essential pieces shown in the Tower today.

Legendary gems join the collection Historic diamonds and sapphires pass through generations of conflict and intrigue to enter the sovereign’s crowns. The Koh-i-Nur diamond arrives from India after centuries of royal theft, while ancient sapphires are recut to adorn modern state headpieces.

The sacred ceremony takes shape The physical objects find their purpose inside Westminster Abbey through an elaborate coronation service. The Archbishop anoints the sovereign using the golden Ampulla, invests them with sacred vestments, presents the Holy Bible, and seats them upon the throne.

The People

• Major-General Sir George Younghusband

Serves as the Keeper of the Jewel House at the Tower of London. He seeks to compile a definitive, permanent record of the Crown Jewels so future generations will not lose their history as earlier centuries did.

• Cyril Davenport

Acts as co-author and antiquarian authority. He provides technical descriptions of the regalia’s artistic evolution, analyzing Great Seals, heraldic badges, and jewelry construction across centuries.

• Sir Robert Vyner

The royal goldsmith commissioned by Charles II. He faces the massive task of recreating the destroyed regalia from scratch, forging the gold crowns, sceptres, and ceremonial gear that define the modern collection.

• Nadir Shah

The King of Persia who captures Delhi in 1739. Knowing the King of Delhi conceals the Koh-i-Nur in his headwear, he cleverly proposes an exchange of turbans during a banquet to secure the famous diamond.

• Edward the Confessor

The Saxon king whose early reign establishes the original sanctuary for royal treasures at Westminster Abbey, and whose personal ring sapphire survives down to the top cross of the modern Imperial State Crown.

In Its Own Voice

“The Crown of England is older than any Crown in Europe, and is worn by a Sovereign with more ancient a lineage than any of the Royal families of the Western world.”

Context: The authors establish the historical preeminence of the British monarchy and its regalia in the opening preface.

“Having conquered Delhi and collected the booty which was due to a conqueror, the Koh-i-Nur, the existence of which was well known, failed to appear amongst it.”

Context: Describing the Persian conquest of Delhi and the secretive search for the world's most famous diamond.

“Stand firm, and hold fast from henceforth the Seat and State of Royal and Imperial Dignity, which is this day delivered unto you, in the Name and by the authority of Almighty God...”

Context: The traditional liturgical benediction pronounced by the Archbishop of Canterbury as the King is lifted into the throne.

What It's Really About

The book examines how tangible artifacts project intangible authority, continuity, and sacred legitimacy across centuries. By tracking items that survived medieval battlefields, civil war destruction, and political revolutions, the authors argue that the regalia serves as the physical memory of the nation. The text contrasts the fragile, mortal lives of individual rulers with the enduring nature of the emblems they carry. Beneath the technical descriptions of carat weight, enamel work, and heraldic design lies a deep preoccupation with preservation—an effort to ensure that the material symbols of imperial identity and religious consecration are recorded before time or conflict can erase them.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers fascinated by British history, royal ceremonial, and material antiquities. It offers an insider view of the Tower of London’s collection, written by the very official charged with guarding it. The text combines high-level imperial history with precise, item-by-item inventories that bring individual object histories to life.

Reading it feels like taking a guided tour through a high-security vault with a knowledgeable, formal host from the early twentieth century. The prose is dignified and structured, reflecting the patriotic atmosphere immediately following the First World War.

Readers should expect period-specific attitudes, including an unreservedly imperial outlook and an uncritical acceptance of colonial acquisitions such as the Koh-i-Nur. The narrative also includes dense, technical lists detailing medieval inventories, liturgical garments, and silver-gilt dimensions. Yet for those who appreciate detailed craftsmanship and historical lore, the book remains a rich, captivating record of one of the world's most famous collections of treasure.