Charles Reveals Why the Queen Wore Her Coronation Crown While Supervising His Bath Time as a Child
King Charles once shared a funny anecdote about his mother, Queen Elizabeth, that offered royal enthusiasts a rare glimpse into how she balanced motherhood and royal duties. At a time when the Queen was preparing for her coronation in 1953, she wanted to get used to wearing the heavy St. Edward's Crown. But rather than just rehearse in formal settings, she also donned the crown for mundane everyday tasks, such as supervising bath time for Charles and Princess Anne.
As reported by the BBC, Charles said, "I remember it all so well then, because I remember my sister and I had bath time in the evening. My mama used to come up at bath time wearing the crown to practise. You have to get used to how heavy [the crown] is. I have never forgotten; I can still remember it vividly."
Charles shared the anecdote when he invited and met with 12 women who were sponsored by the Canadian delegation in 1953 to attend his mother’s coronation. In his sitdown with them, he explained, "It is very important to wear it for a certain amount of time because you get used to it then. But the big one that you're crowned with, the St. Edward's Crown, it weighs five pounds. It is much heavier and taller, so there's always that feeling of slight anxiety in case it wobbles. You have to carry it, you have to look straight ahead."
The St. Edward’s Crown today is a priceless historical artifact. To figure out its value, a group of researchers once examined each part, using the International Gem Society’s guide. The seven sapphires in the crown alone are worth about $2 million, and the 26 tourmaline stones are worth over $345,000. As reported by Showbiz Cheatsheet, the experts concluded that the crown today is valued at around $4.5 million. It was made in 1661, over 363 years ago, and worn only during coronations. Both the Imperial State Crown and St. Edward's Crown are kept at the Tower of London under strict security. The Imperial State Crown has 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 269 pearls, and it is displayed every year at the State Opening of Parliament.
In a 2018 documentary, The Coronation, the Queen herself opened up about her experience of wearing the crown during the State Opening of Parliament. She said, "You can't look down to read the speech; you have to take the speech up. Because if you did, your neck would break, and it would fall off. So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise, they are quite important things."