With a provenance dating back to the 15th century, the Imperial State Crown, which sits on top of Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin as she lies in state in Westminster Hall, is steeped in history.
It is one of the most recognisable pieces of the Crown Jewels and was placed on the queen’s coffin when it was brought to London, where hundreds of thousands of mourners will pay their respects.
The crown throughout history
Although the crown on the queen’s coffin was made in 1937 for the coronation of her father, King George VI, the history of monarchs wearing an Imperial State Crown dates back more than 700 years.
The current iteration weighs 1.06 kilograms, and, although it was designed to be lighter than the previous crown which was created for Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth spoke about how difficult it was to wear.
“You can't look down to read the speech, you have to take the speech up, because if you did your neck would break,” she said in 2018. “There are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they’re quite important things.”
When did the queen wear the Imperial State Crown?
The crown was worn by the queen after her coronation in 1953. Crowned with St Edward’s Crown, named for St Edward the Confessor, at the ceremony — a tradition dating back to the 13th century — afterwards she switched to the Imperial State Crown.
The piece was then worn annually for the state opening of the UK Parliament when the queen would sit on a golden throne and read out the government’s plans for the coming year.
By 2019, the monarch switched to a lighter crown. Last year, she opted not to wear one.
The jewels in the crown
Many of the gems in the priceless crown are as famous as the crown itself.
It features the 317-carat Cullinan II diamond, also called the Second Star of Africa, which was cut from the largest gem-quality rough diamond discovered — a 3,601 carat stone found in 1905.
The Cullinan II was given to Edward VII by the government of the Transvaal, a former British colony in present day South Africa, for his 66th birthday.
The stone in the centre of the cross on top of the crown is the oldest jewel in the royal collection — a sapphire thought to have been part of a ring worn by St Edward the Confessor who ruled from 1042 to 1066.
Another standout stone is the Black Prince’s Ruby set at the front of the crown just above the Cullinan II. The gem is said to have been worn by Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, a famous English victory over the French during the Hundred Years’ War.
The ruby also comes with its own legend, that Henry drilled a hole into it on his helmet in order to stick a feather into it
“It’s fun to see,” the queen told the BBC in 2018. “The idea that his plume was put into the stone on his helmet. Bit rash, but that was the sort of thing they did, I suppose, in those days.”
At the back of the crown sits the Stuart Sapphire, a stone which was once placed at the front below the Black Prince’s Ruby. Debate continues over where it originated from, ranging from present day Afghanistan to Sri Lanka. The 104-carat gem was moved to the back of the crown to make way for the Cullinan II.
In addition to the main stones, the crown also features almost 3,000 stones, which includes 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and five rubies.
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
The biog
Fast facts on Neil Armstrong’s personal life:
- Armstrong was born on August 5, 1930, in Wapakoneta, Ohio
- He earned his private pilot’s license when he was 16 – he could fly before he could drive
- There was tragedy in his married life: Neil and Janet Armstrong’s daughter Karen died at the age of two in 1962 after suffering a brain tumour. She was the couple’s only daughter. Their two sons, Rick and Mark, consulted on the film
- After Armstrong departed Nasa, he bought a farm in the town of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1971 – its airstrip allowed him to tap back into his love of flying
- In 1994, Janet divorced Neil after 38 years of marriage. Two years earlier, Neil met Carol Knight, who became his second wife in 1994
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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THREE
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
DUBAI WORLD CUP CARNIVAL CARD
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
The National selections
6.30pm: Gifts Of Gold
7.05pm Final Song
7.40pm Equilateral
8.15pm Dark Of Night
8.50pm Mythical Magic
9.25pm Franz Kafka
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience
by David Gilmour
Allen Lane
MATCH INFO
Osasuna 1 Real Madrid 4
Osasuna: García (14')
Real Madrid: Isco (33'), Ramos (38'), Vázquez (84'), Jovic (90' 2)
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
More from Neighbourhood Watch
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
