Restoring Britain's Crowns
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- čas přidán 5. 05. 2024
- In this video on the first anniversary of the coronation of Charles III, I look at the changing shape of the crowns at the centre of the ceremony and how they have been restored in the past, and were prepared and refurbished in 2023 for the beginning of a new reign.
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It’s easy to forget just how big the Cullinan diamonds are. But when you see the C2 removed from the crown and in a hand like that it, really puts it into perspective, it’s enormous! And the C1 is even bigger!
The crown restoration was one of my favorite parts of the documentary that aired about the Coronation year. They did and excellent job. Thanks Allen
My pleasure!
Closeup shots really enhance the story and emphasize the artistry of the jewelers. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I do agree with you, if they were going to be interventionists and remove half the arches from the queen's crown for some obscure reason that escapes me they should have raised the king's to an equivalent height. Those squared shoulders look rather as though someone sat on it by mistake.
I've always thought of the crowns as being circular, but seeing them without the caps of maintenance, it was a surprise to see that they are head-shaped.
Fascinating video. As an American, I have no concept of a monarchy, but your videos have helped me begin to understand the sense of history behind the Crown Jewels. The level of craftsmanship from the 17th through the 21st century is also astounding.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed these videos and have found them enriching in this way!
As an American you have the concept of being ruled by some super rich. Basically the same like having an aristocracy ;-)
This was such a fascinating video! These artisans are truly gifted. They handle these delicate and precious objects with such skill that when they're done everything looks perfect! Thank you for posting this.
Allan, I'm a history student, I adore all of your videos. I'm fascinated by our country's history. A soft spot particularly are the crown jewels; I love items or places (like the crown jewels, personal possessions or buildings like Westminster Abbey) where you are looking at/holding a piece of the past, or walking across the stones, in the same space and near-enough same view as our ancestors. London is brilliant for it, though I feel just as much excitement exploring my grandfather's loft at generations of belongings. For my eighteenth birthday, I received my long passed great-great grandfather's pocketwatch (dated about 1903) with an 1817 sovereign attached to the chain - my own little 'crown jewel'. Things like that positively connect us to the past- and I feel this way when seeing the crown jewels so up close and personal.
That’s what it’s all about! Glad you feel like that about our history and are enjoying my videos!
Thank you for your binge-worthy channel, AB! It's a real treat.
It must be a humungous honour for a goldsmith/jeweller to be chosen and named Crown Jeweller, as otherwise, the Sovereign and the Archbishop of Canterbury are the only ones who can handle the crown.
Having said that, however, I agree with you that the arches on the Imperial State Crown were not adjusted to suit KC3's height. To me, the ISC looked like it barely sat on the king's head and the arches squashed. There were no opportunities to do fittings with bands of thick paper to get the measurements right.
So glad you’re enjoying my channel! 😊
Fascinating, thank you for documenting the history of the craftsmanship behind this priceless work of art.
Glad you enjoyed it!
A very interesting video thank you 😊
Allen, please indulge this rather esoteric contradiction to one moment from your narrative: At one point you mention that St. Edward's Crown is made of "solid gold," suggesting that the content is pure 24 karat. However, during the original BBC video, Martin Swift states that the crown is made of 18 karat gold. Pure 24 karat gold is not only significantly heavier than 18 karat gold (100% gold vs. 75% gold) but it possesses the highest golden appearance a gold object can display. Anyone who has seen and handled pure gold jewelry will appreciate this distinction. This is a small point, but as a lifelong American Anglophile, jeweler, and Graduate Gemologist (GIA), these previously unknown details of the Crown regalia fascinate me, and I also suspect fascinate many of your viewers. Thank you again for your tireless research and production of world class educational content.
Thank you very much indeed. I’m using the term ‘Solid’ in the art historical sense to describe massy, cast or rolled gold as opposed to wirework (which the Imperial State Crown). They have apparently used 18 carat for the crown, which rather surprised me too. It is a truly wonderful example of the Baroque goldsmiths work.
@@allanbarton Thank you for your kind reply. Once again, I have learned from you something new, in this case that the term "solid" has a discrete meaning when applied to precious metals over the centuries.
My understanding is that 24 carat gold is very soft, and therefore not suitable for (relatively) large objects like crowns, where over time the weight would lead to distortion of the shape. As well as being cheaper and lighter, I believe 18 carat gold is stronger (since it is a kind of alloy).
I’ve always understood the term “solid gold” to refer to gold that is less than 24k, and therefore harder, or, more “solid.”
I took Solid as to be not plated or wire work but a continuous sheet, in this context.
Even though I joke about the British Monarchy (being American), I do find it very interesting all of the history and all the work that goes into preparations for the crowning of the new King & Queen. Nobody does pomp and circumstance like the Brits!!
We do have a way with these things - I suppose we’ve been practicing for a thousand years.
@@allanbarton indeed!!
@allanbarton though it seems to have taken and 850 out of those 1000 years to get it right- thinking of Queen Victoria’s coronation and some others!
@@ericsukumaran2651 sadly I think it’s going downhill now, 1953 was the high point.
Couldn’t agree with you more- I think your video on thoughts post coronation captured what I was feeling. I think people who didnt know much about coronations thought it was spectacular but I confess it seemed reduced compared to 1953- less confident somehow.
Another info-packed video. Thank you again! Like the crowns, your videos are most valuable.
Fascinating! Thank you once again for your hard work and delightful posts.
My pleasure!
Wow Fantastic. Republican Australian here but this is wonderful shared history - thank you
This was wonderful. But your content always is! ❤😊
Thanks very much!
Great history I fully enjoyed ❣️❤️❣️
I loved this so much. My favorite part of the Coronation documentary was the section on the Crowns. "In a secret undisclosed location " 😄 Thanks Dr. Barton.🤴👸
Glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely fascinating, thank you sir. 🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺
Glad you enjoyed it!
Allan, as always, an interesting video and as someone who knows not a lot about the crowns and how they are worn, your explanations are spot on. Thank you for this video.
Glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for an enlightening and interesting history of the royal crowns! I always learn so much from your videos.
Glad you found it interesting, thanks for watching!
What a lovely video. Thank you.
Thank you, Allan!
My pleasure!
What a great video. So fascinating to watch this. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
My direct ancestor Francis Grose , jeweller, fashioned the crown for George 111 coronation 1761.
This was a lovely run trough of the crowns and processes, have a lovely day
The women in teal holding the sword throughout the service almost stole the show! She looked and carried herself magnificently. U know she wholds a high position in Parliament.
She is Lord President of the Privy Council and as such leader of the House of Commons.
I think it's a pity that they didn't retain the pieces removed from St Edward's crown in 1911. If they had done so, then in 2023 the original pieces could have been put back in, instead of needing new ones to be made. Also, if they did not keep the bits taken out of the state crown's arches in 1953 in order to lower them, that might go some way to explaining why the arches were not raised again in 2023, as presumably new bits would have needed to be made, and (to judge from the pictures of the removed bits) that would probably have been quite expensive at a time when there was great pressure to cut costs.
Coming back to this wonderful video with a brainstorm: I visited the Jewel House for the first time a few months after the coronation of Charles III, so only have ever seen Queen Mary's Crown with Queen Camilla's adjustments. Mary's crown was initially set with the Koh-i-Noor, and after it was placed in Queen Elizabeth's 1937 Crown, we saw her use the crown as a circlet, with the Cullinan V brooch in its place, as we saw Camilla wearing it. Queen Elizabeth II often wore the Cullinan V brooch, so leaves me asking this: what was the centrepiece of Mary's crown in the Jewel House display prior to the 2023 coronation adjustments? A replica Koh-i-Noor? The Cullinan V which was removed and left an empty space in the crown at the request of the late Queen when she wished to wear it? And where are the four additional arches stored - could it be within a Royal Trust warehouse or somewhere deep within the protected vault at the Tower of London? Cheers Allan. Michael.
Very interesting exploration of the crowns used in fairly recent times. I agree, the crown worn by King Charles looked rather flat, especially when he was next to Queen Camilla and the crown did look too big at Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Did the king make the decision himself? Outstanding renovation work by the Imperial jewellers! Thanks as always Allan!
Thanks!
Fascinating video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Fascinating to see the crown dismantled.
Amazing vídeo, Allan
Thanks, glad you liked it!
Fascinating! I wonder if that BBC documentary is available on CZcams. I'd love to watch it. Anybody know?
It's the documentary also traslate in ather languages?
When it came out it was. Search for coronation doc maybe.
I love your documentaries! They are so well done and so informative.
I have a question about the crown for Queen Camilla. In the photos from coronation day, it looks way out of proportion to her head, almost cartoonish, it's so much too large for her. Yet when one sees it on Queen Mary on the occasion of her coronation, it looks perfectly proportioned. Do you know the reason for this seeming imbalance? Thank you
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Fascinating video as usual. I also thought the Imperial State Crown could have done with it's arches raising. Maybe cost prevented it?
On George VI it looked rather like a top-hat. Now it's more like a trilby or panama.
Hi Allen I was wondering if I could ask you a question is there any information about the Saint Edwards Crown because when you think about it why aren’t they not doing a restoration project to re-create the old crown from the time of Edward the Confessor? Why don’t they remake that can they not do that anymore?
My favourite subject. As you know I have my own copies of The Imperial State Crown and The Edward Crown. So have a question everyone that I have never been able to answer. As most of you will know The Imperial State Crown used to have the Stuart Sapphire at the front, but, with the arrival of the Cullinan II diamond which was placed at the front, the Stuart Sapphire was relegated to the back. The question is this. When the Stuart Sapphire was in the front which stone or stones where at the back. Even historical dramas just put the replica crown on back to front and carefully avoid a back view.
So, onto Queen Mary's crown worn by our present Queen, Camilla. Four arches removed, one Kohinoor Diamond removed and replaced by the Cullinan V brooch along with the real Cullinan III and IV being reset into the crown. It is strange that no official photos seem to exist of this new version. I therefore wonder if the crown in the Tower of London has been restored to its former 8 arch version with the copy Cullinans in place of the real ones. If you have paid a visit to see the Crown Jewels since the Coronation last year, I would be fascinated to know. Well done Alan you just keep on delighting us all.
A very interesting question. But it's amazing what you can do with chips and so convenient to have had them hanging around.
I agree, the arches of the Imperial State Crown need to be raised higher - it looks squashed on Charles III's head
Maybe he has his own preferences for smaller crowns. It looks already totally excessive
I had a chuckle when certain countries asked for jewels in back and such after the passing of our late queen Elizabeth II, meanwhile. Scotland……can we have our stone back after your finished, thanks 😂 it’s an ancient ceremony indeed….
I cringed watching the blade slice through the crown, 👑 but I loved learning how these regalia pieces are maintained.
I wonder if the reason the Imperial State Crown wasn't raised to the original height was because those extra oak leaf motifs had gone missing. It's not as if new ones couldn't be made, but perhaps it was all getting a bit too expensive and only absolutely necessary changes were made.
I do wish they had done more with Queen Mary's crown. It was made to sit on top of her massive pile of hair, and it was simply too big for Queen Camilla. I'd have liked to see the band resized for her, but also perhaps a bit of change in the arches, lowered perhaps. I don't doubt that the arches on the Fleur-de-lis were removed because the general public may be confused as to why her crown had more arches than his. The use of the Cullinan brooch in place of the Koh-i-noor was inspired.
I agree with your assessment that the arches of the Imperial State crown should have been restored to their elevated position for Charles III. But not because of Charles's stature. I always thought the crown had a flattened, rather squashed look to it after it was altered for her Late Majesty, as if someone had inadvertently sat on it, and just caught themselves before crushing the thing entirely with their full weight. IMHO, the arches actually look bent, at right angles from where they join the band, instead of gracefully arching from it, as they formerly did when worn by King George VI. I enjoyed this video immensely. Thank you for the opportunity to view and discuss the work maintaining the crowns.
Question; what is the red and white material used in the setting of the stones on the St. Edward's Crown? Seeing the settings in close up, starting at 7:39, it's appearance puts me in mind of piped peppermint frosting. Is it ceramic?
It is beautiful Baroque enamel work. The settings, if not the stones, are original.
@@allanbarton Thank you for answering! It is indeed beautiful!
Could you repeat the current royal jeweller
Mark Appleby.
@@allanbarton Thank you
Perhaps a bit immature for my laughing at CIII's large head, but an enjoyable video. Thank you, Allan 👑
HM's star trek prince crown needs to make a comeback
This is very interesting; thank you for sharing this. I was a bit disappointed that King Charles did not have the Imperial State arches raised (perhaps not necessarily as high as they were for his grandfather), and it seemed like Queen Camilla's crown was somewhat larger. Also, would you know why one of the stones In St. Edward's Crown is etched, and what the significance is: 10:07? Are other stones in the band also etched? Thank you very much.
fab xxx
I was delighted when Queen Mary’s Crown was used to crown Queen Camilla but then disappointed that some of the arches were removed. I can’t think of any good reason for removing arches. To me, the crown looks far better as Queen Mary originally wore it.
👋💎 thanks 💎😀
You’re welcome, thanks for watching!
I keep forgetting that Charles II was a giant, and get surprised every time I hear it...
He was tall. I’m 6 foot 2, I must be a giant too.
Moral of the story - HM King Charles III has a huge head
Isn't St Edward's crown considered a relic of sorts? I'm surprised they'd allow it to be altered given that status
Cheers for the great videos as always
No, the medieval crown was a relic - this is a pseudo relic if you like. Crowns have always been altered, it is part of the tradition.
6:46 when diamonds gets THAT big they almost look fake; it mind blowing to think that there really exists such huge diamonds! 😳🤯
What was the meaning of the 6 lv carved into the ruby on the band?
I think it's just a catalogue/location sticker. But Indian and Moghul stones were often engraved with religious scripts. A large example is the spinel in Victoria's "Timur Ruby Necklace" in the Royal Collection Trust (which was also designed to take the Koh-i-Noor for a change)
I don't think it's engraved otherwise they could just polish the stone back. Maybe it is temporary and for the jeweller to know we're it goes.
God Bless King Charles the III.
Madass badass
?
Which jewels are from India? Just wondering thanks :)
I think a new Imperial State Crown would be in order for the future coronation of King William V. There should definitely be a piece representing the 21st century in the regalia. As far as I know, that piece has not been created.
I think the Imperial state crown was reduced in size for Queen Elizabeth's coronation but not returned to full size for King Charles's. Compare the coronation photos - in 1937 the crown is larger than the queen consorts crown but in 2002 the consort's is higher.
It was reduced in height but not in circlet size in 1953, this was discussed by the crown jeweller in the BBC documentary. The band was resized in 2022, but not reheightened.
I can't help finding some of this odd. How many times the various crowns have been broken up, recycled, and refurbished, sometimes with rented jewels. And some just left to molder in Royal Vaults.
Thank you for this video, not having a television I missed that documentary, looks interesting. But am I the only person who thinks the King's crown is on crookedly as if it doesn't quite fit him?
OMG the size of that diamond!!!!! , my mouth hung open (and my lunch almost came out)
thank you, very interesting, may we always have coronations
And that is the small one.
I was under the impression that the 'pendant pearls' once belonged to Mary Queen of Scots.
True
It was definitely a shame that the Imperial State Crown did not have its arches restored to their King George VI form. Surely they will have to do so for King William V as he is much taller than his father. Frankly, they wasted an opportunity to not completely redesign it in 1937. I have always disliked the 'crazy paving' style of the arches and it looks rather flimsy. A new ISC based on the crown of George IV would be much better.
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Hmm. 4:25 Crania?? I beg to suggest 'craniums'. I will grant you, the OED says either is acceptable, but still... Anyway: very nice video. Your videi are always enjoyable. :)
I have to make at least one mistake! This is a fairly modest one compared to the occasion when I referred to Prince Albert as Queen Victoria’s wife.
@@allanbarton Wasn't a mistake. I was just being picky for some reason. But the PA/QV citation is wonderful!
@@allanbarton😂😮
@@allanbarton And whom is to say that he didn't identify? ;-) That was a good one! I really enjoyed your coronations specials on the run up. Thank you.
I studied Latin in school. It always irritates me when people use an English ending for a Latin word. I would prefer 'crania.'
Deyaana kim teahyung 🤗🤗💞 🇬🇧👑️✝️👀🖕❤️
Queen Mary's Crown looked better in its original format with its 8 half-arches (as Queen Mary wore it in 1911) - it was disappointing that 4 of these were removed for Queen Camilla
What is the difference between a European and a Asiac race of people
5:05 Wait what? Someone took parts of the Crown Jewels (paid for by the state) and kept in his ‘personal effects’ and these were just sold off? So many questions here my head feels like it’s going to pop. Isn’t that theft? Why is there no come back on this to the company he worked for? Why were they not taken back into storage? I deplore the litigious culture we seem to be developing but this seems a totally bizarre response.
I agree! Surely they stole that? And then they just sell stolen goods for personal profit!
Yes, Sotherbys should be charged with receiving stolen goods. The other two pieces are still somewhere along with the diamonds that should be set in them.
Perhaps this is why Garrards are not the crown jewellers anymore.
What is it to be exiled.....?????
A polite way of saying 'chucked out'.
The crowns are so pretty and ornate that it seems to me they look better on women.
I don't like the style of these modern crowns. If they were mine I would have them dismantled and re done in a medieval style like the Princess Blanche one or the very early crowns. Much prettier imho!
Most of our monarchs are kings!
just make it adjustable already. use one of the jewels as a spiny bit like on a hard hat lol.
"Workaday crown" 🤣
😂 Richard II had a crown for every day of the week.
@@allanbarton Really? Have you done a video on that?
When King Charles was being crowned he was holding the septor with the huge star of Africa backwards.
Same for Elisabeth, they are the center, not the jewel.
It will be interesting if, when the crowns are refurbished, they use some lab grown gems
I don't think they need to. They have the stones already
I have britsh old plate ,Any one like to buy,Thanks
Thanks Allan, Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away
a very expensive jigsaw
That’s one way of looking at it 😆
looks like its worth about a fiver
There is no restoring a crown,when that crown has never in power to begin with....
With the clowns in politics, I was hoping this was "restoring Britain's crowns" in a different sense.
chaarles should not be king.
Everything stolen should be returned.
What do you believe to be stolen?
What a daft comment.
@@allanbarton 😁They can never answer with facts!
The Africans didn't give a fuk about diamonds, not once in thousands of years. They wore the bones of their nearest tribes around their necks after eating them. The British paid the Africans to help mine the unwanted and useless diamonds. That is not stealing. Every African Commonwealth nation thank God that it was the British and not the Belgium's, French , Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch that colonized them.
I'd like to thank George Washington & the Continental Army for not giving a shit about this utter nonsense.
Things of beauty are never nonsense.
You'll find the US presidential White House has such "nonsense" in it to. I once saw a documentary about the art and crockery, and cutlery etc in the White House.
Yet you clearly do. 😂😂. It wasn't a fight against monarchy, but for independence which lead also to divorce from monarchy. Some of your states, including one named after King Charles I, have CROWNED maces still in use! So much for not caring about none of this "utter nonsense". Americans tune into royal events, like The Coronation and weddings, funerals, etc. in the MILLIONS!! You aren't fooling anyone with those claims because your countrymen prove the opposite.
You mean "England's crowns", surely.
You think the house of Windsor only rules over England?
@derrickstorm6976 do you think that the kingdom of Scotland is not a part of the so-called united kingdom? Have you ever seen the oldest crown in the so-called UK?
Is it not imperial crown, Gibraltar and Australia are part of the show.
I need a crown no gold