Unlike of the treasures in the royal jewellery box, the provenance of this particularly striking brooch remains unknown. However, its clear regal ties have led many to assume it must be a gift from the monarch himself.
The design of the crown is particularly significant as it depicts the Tudor heraldic crown, which features in the individual royal cyphers of the King and Queen, as well as their joint cypher. The Tudor crown, also known as Henry VIII’s crown, the lost royal treasure that was destroyed during the civil war of 1649. It replaces the St Edward’s Crown in Queen Elizabeth II’s coat of arms.
Made for either Henry VII or Henry VIII, the original Tudor crown was worn by Henry VIII at Hampton Court and was later used at the coronations of each of his children. The dazzling creation featured 344 rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and pearls, and is set with four miniature sculptures of royal saints, plus one of the Virgin and Child. However, it was destroyed in dramatic fashion in a symbolic moment during the civil war. ‘As a potent symbol of power and religious authority, the original crown was melted down at the Tower of London in 1649 on the orders of Oliver Cromwell,’ the Historic Royal Palaces explains.
The crown could be interpreted as a show of support for King Charles on a weekend when the news was rife with reports of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s association with Jeffrey Epstein
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