Small Diamond Crown of Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria (1887)

Small Diamond Crown of Queen Victoria

The Small Diamond Crown of Queen Victoria was a piece of British royal jewellery created in the 19th century. It was made for Queen Victoria in 1870, following the death of her husband, Prince Albert. Unlike the more traditional and larger crowns, this crown was designed to be lightweight and comfortable for the queen to wear. It is notable for its size, design, and the circumstances under which it was created.

History

After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Queen Victoria entered a prolonged period of mourning and wore widow's weeds for the remainder of her life. She largely withdrew from public appearances and, when she did appear, she wanted to wear something less ostentatious than the traditional St Edward's Crown or the Imperial State Crown. In response to this need, the Small Diamond Crown was created in 1870. It was designed by the queen's jeweller, Garrard & Co, and featured a silver frame set with around 1,187 small diamonds. The crown was small enough to be worn atop her mourning veil, making it a unique piece among British royal crowns.

Design

The Small Diamond Crown measures just 10 centimeters in height and is made of silver and gold. Its design consists of a circlet with cross pattée and fleur-de-lis motifs, similar to traditional British crowns, but on a much smaller scale. The diamonds used in the crown were taken from a necklace owned by Queen Victoria.

Significance

The creation of the Small Diamond Crown marked a departure from the traditional large and heavy crowns worn by British monarchs. Its size and design allowed Queen Victoria to adhere to her mourning while still fulfilling her ceremonial duties as monarch. The crown became a symbol of Victoria's widowhood and her enduring love for Prince Albert.

Legacy

The Small Diamond Crown of Queen Victoria is part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, which are housed in the Tower of London. It remains a poignant symbol of Queen Victoria's personal style and her adaptation of royal protocol to her personal circumstances. The crown is occasionally displayed to the public among other British royal jewels.

See Also

• Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom
• Queen Victoria
• Garrard & Co
• British Royal Family

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