The History of Queen Mary’s Crown




Queen Mary's Crown
Photo by Handout/Royal Collection Trust via Getty Images

Queen Mary’s Crown was made in 1911 by Garrad’s for the coronation of King George V and his wife, Queen Mary. The design was inspired by Queen Alexandra’s Crown, which had been created in 1902. The famous Koh-i-Noor diamond featured in both crowns, which is now in Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Crown. It can be worn without the arches, making it a regal circlet. Queen Mary wrote this version for the coronation of her son, King George VI, in 1937.

Queen Mary wearing the Crown without arches (public domain)

The Crown has a silver frame lined with gold and set with 2,200 diamonds. When Queen Mary wore it for her coronation, it contained three large diamonds, the Koh-i-Noor and Cullinan III and IV. These were replaced with quartz crystal replicas after the coronation.1

Queen Alexandra’s Crown (public domain)
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Crown (public domain)

Before Queen Adelaide, Queen Caroline (of Brunswick) was not allowed to attend her husband’s coronation. Her predecessors, Queen Charlotte (of Mecklenburg-Strelitz) and Queen Caroline (of Ansbach), were crowned with Queen Mary of Modena’s Crown. This was also used by the Queens regnant, Queen Anne and Queen Mary II. However, the jewels were reset for the coronations of Queen Mary II, Queen Anne and Queen Caroline.

Crown of Mary of Modena (public domain)

All of these crowns are (usually) on display at the Tower of London.

  1. Royal Collection Trust






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About Moniek Bloks 2814 Articles
My name is Moniek and I am from the Netherlands. I began this website in 2013 because I wanted to share these women's amazing stories.

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