The Crown Jewels

The Tower of London, as both a royal palace and a fortress, is a very secure location. As such, it is the site where valuable things are kept: the Mint, the Armory, and the Crown Jewels. Also known as the Coronation Regalia, the Crown Jewels have been kept in the Tower for over 600 years, and have been on display for 400 years. In World War II, fear of a German invasion led to the Crown Jewels to be hidden, but the exact location has remained a secret. The majority of the Jewels on display today date from the 1660’s, after the Restoration. Cromwell ordered the destruction and sale of the previous Crown Jewels, as symbols of the monarchy. Now only a few small items predate the Commonwealth period.

The Jewels on display include the Crown of St. Edward; the Imperial State Crown, worn at the opening of Parliament each year; and the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, symbolic of the monarch’s power and authority. There are also various other pieces used during the coronation ceremony on display.

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