Stolen, Smashed, Survived: The Crown Jewels’ Wild History

Origins

The Crown Jewels, held in trust by King Charles III, are not privately owned and can never be sold. While they symbolise tradition, the collection itself is far from static. Each generation contributes to its evolution — continuing a legacy of royal adornment that stretches back thousands of years.

The earliest-known English crown comes from the tomb of the Mill Hill Warrior, buried around 200 BCE in Kent. Unearthed in 1988, the warrior was discovered wearing a bronze diadem engraved with swirling patterns. Though simple in construction, the wearer would have been a priest, a military leader, or a king - perhaps all three.

In Roman Britain, influential individuals wore crowns that echoed the laurel wreaths of ancient Rome. At an archaeological site in Norfolk, a plaque shows a Roman official holding a sphere and a curved staff. In time, these evolve into ceremonial objects called an orb and sceptre.

Yet for centuries, there was no permanent set of Crown Jewels. Each monarch would commission their own regalia for coronation. The earliest detailed record of such a ceremony comes from 973 CE, when King Edgar was crowned in Bath. His anointing with holy oil from the Holy Land inspired a poem in the Anglo-Saxon chronicles, which lays down the tradition followed to this day.

Revolution and Restoration

The story of the Crown Jewels is one of loss as much as legacy.

In the 13th century, King John lost most of the original Crown Jewels when the sea washed away his carriage. 

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians abolished the monarchy. Following the execution of Charles I in 1649, Cromwell ordered the destruction of the medieval regalia. The crown was melted down, the sceptres dismantled, and the gold sold off.

When Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660, new regalia had to be created for his coronation. Much of what exists in the collection today dates from this time. It is said that Charles II spent the equivalent of three warships on his new collection.

One remarkable survivor from before the Civil War is the Coronation Spoon, purchased by collector Clement Kynnersley for just sixteen shillings during Cromwell’s fire-sale. He later returned it to the monarchy. This 12th-century treasure is still used today to anoint monarchs with holy oil — and is the oldest object in the Crown Jewels by more than five centuries.

Coronation

Far from being museum pieces, the Crown Jewels are still used in royal ceremonies. Key items appear at the State Opening of Parliament and formal state banquets. But the most sacred function is during the coronation — as witnessed by the world in 2023 at the crowning of King Charles III.

The orb, surmounted by a cross, represents the monarch’s divine right to rule, while the sceptres denote royal authority. The coronation ring, sometimes called the Wedding Ring of England, symbolises the monarch’s commitment to the people.

Each item is steeped in symbolism. The orb, surmounted by a cross, represents divine sovereignty. The sceptressymbolise the monarch’s authority. The coronation ring, sometimes called the Wedding Ring of England, reflects the sovereign’s commitment to the people.

The most sacred moment comes when the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the monarch with oil, using the ancient Coronation Spoon. He then blesses the regalia and places St Edward’s Crown on the sovereign’s head. This crown, used only at the moment of coronation, is later swapped for the Imperial State Crown, a lighter version used for official duties. The use of two crowns echoes a time when regalia was split between Westminster Abbey (spiritual power) and the Tower of London (secular authority).

Jewels of the Empire

Perhaps the most awe-inspiring part of the collection is its gemstones. Chief among them is the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found. Discovered in South Africa in 1905, the original stone weighed an extraordinary 3,106 carats. It was gifted to King Edward VII as a gesture of reconciliation following the Boer War.

The diamond was cut into nine major stones and 96 smaller fragments. Two of the largest — Cullinan I and Cullinan II— are now part of the Sovereign’s Sceptre and the Imperial State Crown. Cullinan I, or the Great Star of Africa, remains the largest clear-cut diamond in the world.

In recent years, some of the gems in the Crown Jewels have become subjects of controversy. Countries such as India and South Africa have called for the return of certain stones, most notably the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is set into the Queen Mother’s Crown. Critics argue that the diamond was taken under dubious circumstances during the height of British imperialism.

Security and Scandals

Today, the Crown Jewels are kept under armed guard in the Tower of London, protected by bulletproof glass, CCTV, and round-the-clock surveillance. The Tower Guard, made up of active-duty soldiers, protects the collection alongside the iconic Yeoman Warders — the Beefeaters — who have guarded the Tower since Tudor times.

Yet, history shows that these precious items haven’t always been so secure.

In 1303, a thief named Richard Pudlicote tunnelled into Westminster Abbey and made off with a vast haul of gold. He was caught after stolen items began surfacing in pawn shops, and he was later executed for the crime.

Perhaps the most infamous attempt came in 1671, when a man named Thomas Blood disguised himself as a clergyman to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower. He smashed St Edward’s Crown with a mallet, sawed the sceptre in half, and shoved the orb down his trousers — but was caught before he could escape. Bizarrely, Blood charmed King Charles II so successfully that he was not only pardoned but granted land in Ireland. Some speculate he was rewarded for spying on political rivals at court, despite killing a man during the robbery.

Enduring Legacy

The Crown Jewels endure not only as priceless artefacts, but as vibrant symbols of the British monarchy and nationhood. Whether viewed through the lens of awe, history, or controversy, they represent continuity, ceremony, and a visual thread linking modern Britain with its medieval and imperial past.

The fact that we still have a coronation ceremony which would have been recognisable to William the Conqueror in the same spaces, with the same group of items, following the same rubric, is amazing.

Anna Keay, former curator at the Tower of London and author of the Official Illustrated History of the Crown Jewels.