The dazzling crown resting on top of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin
The Queen's coffin is now lying-in-state in Westminster Hall having been escorted from Buckingham Palace by King Charles, Princes William and Harry, and other senior royals. On top of the coffin sits the Imperial State Crown, perhaps the most familiar item in the Crown Jewels - a priceless collection of tens of thousands of gemstones collected over the centuries by British Kings and Queens.
"It can be quite hard to look at sometimes because of the sheer light that comes off them. It's literally dazzling… visually overpowering," says historian and author of The Crown Jewels, Anna Keay. During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II would wear it annually for the State Opening of Parliament - as she sat on a golden throne reading out her government's key legislative plans for the year ahead.The Queen, with the Duke of Edinburgh by her side, wearing the crown at the State Opening of Parliament in 2016"You can't look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up, because if you did your neck would break," explained Her Majesty.
The Queen was particularly keen on a large red gemstone in the crown - known as the Black Prince's Ruby. It is thought to have been worn in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt - when English forces beat the French to the south of Calais.
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