An Overview
After her dear Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria wore a mourning veil permanently. When it was time to come back into public view in 1870, she found the Imperial State Crown was difficult to wear with her veil. Besides that, it hurt. As ever an independent spirit, Queen Victoria decided to create her own crown. R & S Garrard and Company was charged with the making of it. She found that the smaller crown worked well.
So, what was the crown made of? She had a diamond necklace comprised of 1,187 diamonds that she used for it. Diamonds were proper to wear, when in mourning. The metal used was silver. The crown was quite small, only 9cm across and 10cm high!
Officially first worn on February 9, 1871, technically it was not part of the royal jewels….it was hers and hers alone. But, she did will it to the British Crown Jewels, enabling future Queens the right to wear it.
Alas, in the ‘30s the Queen consort Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon ended it all, by declining that right. The beautiful crown of that famous queen Victoria then found a home in the Tower of London, were it remains on display.
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