While Shakespeare’s classic quotation from Henry IV, Part II suggested ‘uneasy is the head that wears a crown,’ the late Queen Elizabeth II certainly made it look easy and dignified throughout her extraordinary life.
Ruling for 70 years – the first British monarch to reach that milestone – her death on September 8 ushers in a huge change for the nation as the longest-serving monarch is replaced by the reign of King Charles III.
With Charles’ coronation expected some time in the near future, will the crowns need to be resized and customised for him?
Will they resize the crowns for King Charles III?
Yes, it is most definitely the case that the crowns previously associated with the Queen will need to be resized ahead of Charles’ coronation.
Charles’ head is larger so it’s only logical that the crowns will need to be resized and, in some cases, restyled.
The circlets on the crown may need to be enlarged significantly and additional stones will be added – the opposite of what was done to make them smaller for the late Queen in order to achieve a more feminine look.
The Crown of Queen Elizabeth, made for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s mother for the coronation of George VI, may also need to be resized.
This crown is going to be worn by the new Queen Consort Camilla.
While Queen Elizabeth II often opted for tiaras instead of crowns, it’s yet to be determined what sort of jewels Charles will opt to wear for public engagements and state visits.
Who will likely resize the crowns?
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Though not confirmed, it’s likely that either royal jewellers The House of Garrard or Mark Appleby of Mappin & Webb will be involved in customising the crowns for King Charles.
Mark Appleby is the current Crown Jeweller of the United Kingdom, appointed by Her Majesty the Queen in 2017.
He is the 10th Crown Jeweller.
Victoria’s Golden Jubilee necklace was created by the house in 1888, and the prestigious company’s patrons have also included Grace Kelly and Marie Antoinette.
The House of Garrard, meanwhile, has served every monarch since the mid-18th century, and, most recently, created the sapphire engagement ring worn by Kate Middleton.
Queen Victoria first appointed the company as an official royal jeweller in 1843 and the company has been closely associated with the royal family ever since.
In fact, the House of Garrard was tasked with resizing the crown for each coronation since Victoria.
For Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, their job was to resize the Imperial State Crown, which had been worn since George V’s era, to fit the young Queen’s head and lower the arches to make it more feminine.
The luxury jewellery house has also helped maintain the standard of many of the jewels that make up the monarch’s regalia kept in the Tower of London, including a redesign of the Sovereign Sceptre in 1910 to incorporate the world’s largest clear-cut diamond, the 530 carat Cullinan I.
MORE : King Charles is 73 years in the making, but what kind of monarch will he be?
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