The Queen has been taken to Westminster Corridor, the place she’s going to lie in state for 4 days.
The Queen’s coffin was draped with the Royal Commonplace and adorned with the glittering, priceless Imperial State Crown on a purple velvet cushion and a wreath of white flowers for the procession to the mendacity in state.
The flowers have been white roses, spray white roses, white dahlias and foliage, together with pine from the gardens at Balmoral and pittosporum, lavender and rosemary from the gardens at Windsor.
Right here’s every thing it’s essential know concerning the crown.
What’s the Imperial State Crown?
The Imperial State Crown was the crown the Queen wore when she left Westminster Abbey after her coronation.
It was additionally used on different State events, together with the State Opening of Parliament, and even when the Queen wasn’t in attendance it will be there on a cushion.
The Imperial State Crown was made for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937 by Garrard and Firm, changing the crown made for Queen Victoria in 1838. However a number of the jewels date again as early because the 1400s.
It measures 31.5cm (12.4 in) and weighs 2.2lbs (1kg).
In a BBC documentary in 2018 about her coronation, the Queen amused viewers by manhandling the heavy crown, pulling it in the direction of her, turning it spherical and declaring: “That is what I do after I put on it.”
“I just like the Black Prince’s Ruby,” she added.
The crown was altered for her, and he or she additionally advised the BBC: “You see, it’s a lot smaller isn’t it? It will have been as much as about there when my father wore it’ – pointing to the highest of diamond-encrusted orb on high.
The Queen additionally referred to as the crown “very unwieldy” and quipped: ‘Fortuitously my father and I had the identical form of formed head, however as soon as you set it on it stays.”
The crown is saved within the Tower of London beneath armed guard.
What jewels are on the crown?
Product of gold, it’s set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and 4 rubies.
It incorporates a number of the Crown Jewels’ most well-known and iconic items, a few of that are listed beneath.
St Edward’s Sapphire
St Edward’s Sapphire, set within the centre of the topmost cross, is claimed to have been worn in a hoop by St Edward the Confessor and found in his tomb in 1163.
Black Prince’s Ruby
This ruby is a spinel, or a semi-precious stone, and is believed to have been as soon as owned by Peter the Merciless = and in 1367 given to Edward, Prince of Wales.
It weighs 170 carats and is among the oldest components of the crown.
The Stuart Sapphire
This sapphire weighs 104 carats (20.8 grams) and is believed to have originated from Asia, doubtlessly present-day Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar or Kashmir.
Some consider it belonged to Charles II, nevertheless it was confirmed to have been among the many jewels that his successor James VII and II took when he fled to France after the Superb Revolution in December 1688.
The Cardinal York inherited it and, amongst different issues, put it up on the market within the 1700s, nevertheless it was bought again by George III in 1807.
Cullinan II diamond
The Cullinan Diamond is the biggest gem-quality tough diamond ever discovered at 3,106.75 carats.
It was unearthed in 1905 at a mine owned by Thomas Cullinan in South Africa. It was bought two years later and introduced to the British monarchy by the South African prime minister.
It was then lower by Joseph Asscher & Co. in Amsterdam.
The biggest Cullinan I, or the Nice Star of Africa, is 530.4 carats and is the biggest clear lower diamond on this planet. It’s mounted within the head of the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.
The second-largest is Cullinan II weighs 317.4 carats is delight of place within the Imperial State Crown.
Pearl earrings
The 4 pearls hanging within the centre of the crown are literally earrings, and are considered Scottish.
It’s believed they have been as soon as owned by Mary Queen of Scots.
How a lot is it price?
That is the billion greenback query.
The crown jewels are regarded as priceless. They’ve by no means been insured, in order that they have by no means been appriased.
Nevertheless, some specialists consider it might be price between £3bn and 5bn.
The Cullinan I by itself is estimated to be price as a lot as £400m.
