St Edward’s Crown
444 stones make up the coronation crown
DID YOU KNOW? The anointing oil contains oils of orange, rose, cinnamon, musk and ambergris
1 ERMINE £30
The crown has an ermine fur band. These weasel-like animals symbolise moral purity. A traditional view of ermine is that they would do anything to prevent tainting their bright-white coats.
2 22-KARAT GOLD £74,000
The crown’s base, headband, crosses, arches and fleur-delis are all shaped out of gold.
3 VELVET £3
To keep the monarch’s head warm, there’s a velvet cap attached underneath the golden headpiece. Purple traditionally portrays elite status because the dye needed to produce the colour was once very rare.