The British Crown Jewels, are a symbol of monarchy for the British people.
They have been used by English kings and queens since 1660 or earlier.
The British Crown Jewels are part of the national heritage and held by The Queen as Sovereign.
The collection includes regalia, other crowns and pieces donated by various sovereigns, church and banqueting plate, orders, insignia, robes, a unique collection of medals and royal christening fonts.
Edward the Confessor may have been the first monarch to assemble a regalia.
Edward III was the last monarch to pawn them, in order to pay his troops during an overseas campaign.
In 1649 Cromwell, through his Parliamentary trustees, ordered that the regalia 'be totally broken'.
Certain pieces were sold intact and later returned.
However, detailed records of the old regalia survived, and replacements for the lost regalia were made at a cost of nearly £12,185 for Charles II's coronation in 1661.
The British Crown Jewels have been housed in the Tower of London since 1303 following a theft from Westminster Abbey.
After the Restoration of Charles II, the regalia were kept in a locked cupboard at the Tower of London and shown to visitors by the unpaid custodian in return for a viewing fee.
In the eighteenth century, visitors were locked into the windowless room with an armed guard outside and viewed the regalia from their seats.
In 1841, a serious fire in a neighbouring storehouse led to the Crown Jewels being forcibly removed from their display cases through bent bars (the keys could not be found) for safety.
The Jewel House of 1842 enabled visitors to view the jewels in a glass cage in the middle of the room, but security was inadequate and a new Jewel House was opened in 1868 in a different part of the Tower of London, where the jewels remained for a hundred years.
An underground Jewel House was built in 1967, but this display could not cope with the number of visitors.
The British Crown Jewels are now kept in a Jewel House, opened by The Queen in 1994.
ST EDWARDS CROWN :
Made in 1661.
It is believed that the gold in St Edward's Crown may have originally come from the crown of Edward the Confessor.
Refurbished for Charles II's coronation from an old crown.
SOVEREIGN`S SCEPTRE :
Held in the Sovereign`s right hand.
Dating from 1660, with later additions and alterations, the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross signifies the Sovereign's temporal power.
The sceptre is 36.5 inches (92.2cm) long, mainly gold, and it is decorated with champlevé enamel and 393 precious stones, including the Cullinan I diamond.
At just over 530 carats, Cullinan I is the largest top quality cut diamond in the world.
AMPULLA :
The ampulla is made from gold.
8.1 inches high.
Contains the oil with wchich the Soveriegn is annointed.
There is a small hole in the beak through which the oil is poured.
ORB :
Made from unmarked gold and set with over 600 precious stones and pearls.
6.5 inches in diameter.
It was made for Charles II's coronation in 1661.
ARMILS :
Bracelets worn at corinations.
Their origin is obscure.
SWORD OF STATE :
Symbol of authority.
Carried before the Monarch at the coronation.
British Royalty
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