Preparations for the coronation of King Charles III begin with the removal of the crown from the Tower of London

King Charles will be crowned on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey, where he will be crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla. Preparations have already begun – with the tiara that will be the centerpiece of the ancient ceremony being removed from its home in the Tower of London in preparation.

St Edward’s Crown, which is used to crown the monarch during coronations, is now subject to “works of adjustment” prior to the May service. The tiara, which is part of the Crown Jewels, will be placed on Charles’ head by the Archbishop of Canterbury during the investiture portion of the coronation ceremony. It will then be removed and replaced with the imperial crown, which Charles will wear to leave the abbey and appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

The Historic Royal Palaces, which manages the Tower of London, described it as “the most important and holiest of all crowns”, weighing 2.23 kg with a frame of pure gold and 444 stones. Like many current crown jewels, it was made for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661 after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. The original set of jewels was destroyed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell when the monarchy was abolished and King Charles I executed in 1649. It is believed that the crown The original St. Edward’s dates back to the eleventh century.

“The Crown was commissioned from the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Viner, in 1661,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement today. “Although it is not an exact copy of the medieval design, it follows the original in having four crosses patées, four fleurs-de-lis, and two bows. It is made of a solid gold bezel set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topazes, and tourmalines.” .

The king’s coronation will include the essential elements of the thousand-year-old ceremony, but it is also expected to reflect the modern era. Queen Camilla will be crowned next to him, but it has not yet been confirmed which crown she will wear. The tiara worn by the Queen’s last consort, the Queen Mother, when she was crowned in 1937 sparked controversy because it contained the Kohinoor diamond. This was offered to Queen Victoria at the height of the British Empire, but her ownership is a hotly contested subject, with those in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan claiming the stone.

Other insignia used at coronations include the Cullinan diamond, which was found in South Africa in 1905. These features in both the scepter and crown of the state’s empire and ownership sparked debates when these appeared on Queen Elizabeth’s coffin as she lay in the state.

Town and Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British royal family since 2010. She has met Prince Harry and traveled the world covering many royal tours. she was The Daily MirrorOur royal correspondent and frequent contributor to Good Morning America.