British Crown Jewels

[Elspeth]

Well, one of the sites on a Google search says that "by ancient custom" the Crown isn't supposed to leave the country. So there may not actually be a law.

Have you tried e-mailing the Palace?

[Lord Glencairn]

Originally Posted by Lord Glencairn

Can anyone help PLEASE - its driving me wild with frustration!!!!!

Well I tried ALL recognised sources... so then I thought I would email the Crown Jeweller (H Collins)... his reply is as follows (which I thought I would share with you all):

"I have done some research into this and had no luck, so I asked Sir Hugh Roberts, Director of the Royal Collection, who found the following:

As often is the case with such matters, it seems there is no hard and fast Law or Statute that one can put one's hand on. I have always assumed that the 'custom and practice' (for such I think it really is) of not allowing the State Regalia to leave the country arose at the time of the deposition of James II, when, I think there was a real fear that he might make off with the Regalia. Certainly by the time that the Delhi Durbar was being thought about, the King's Private Secretary (Sir Arthur Bigge) was in no doubt that a new crown would have to be made: 'Nor is it possible' he wrote to the Viceroy 'to take the State crowns out of England (9 Feb 1911).

This opinion was not questioned by the Viceroy and on 27 March 1911 the Private Secretary wrote to the Viceroy again: 'As no Regalia can be taken from England, the King has ordered a crown...from Garrard'. Three days after he telegraphed the Viceroy: 'There are two indisputable facts, viz., a crown must be available and none of the Regalia can be brought from England' (30 March).

I do hope this helps with your enquiry, please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any further assistance.

Yours sincerely

Harry Collins

Crown Jeweller"

Hope you found this interesting.

Glencairn.

[Warren]

** HM Presents the Imperial State Crown **

Credit for this wonderful find goes to Alex G at RJOTWMB.
It was filmed in conjunction with the Royal Heritage book in 1976.
The clip finishes with a rousing version of Zadok the Priest.

YouTube - The Imperial State Crown by Queen Elizabeth II

[PrinceOfCanada]

I've been to the Smithsonian & seen their breathtaking collection of jewels - but security there seems almost non-existent compared to the Tower of London

The best security is invisible. If you can't see it, it's harder to evade.

[PrinceOfCanada]

You might do better to call the Tower of London or Buckingham Palace. I'm trying to dig through stuff online to find the actual law.

Actually, better: call Westminster. The archives there should be able to help.

[Lord Glencairn]

Originally Posted by PrinceOfCanada

You might do better to call the Tower of London or Buckingham Palace. I'm trying to dig through stuff online to find the actual law.

Actually, better: call Westminster. The archives there should be able to help.

I have already tried the Parliamentary Archivist, the curator of the Tower of London and have asked the question via Royal Insight (on the Royal website). No one seems to know. In fact the curator of the Tower asked if I found out, could I let them know?????

Ive looked through the on-line UK Legal Database - and nothing... which makes me think, is it the law or not????

[Thomas Parkman]

If my memory serves me she is wearing Queen Alexandria's kokoshnik tiara, the family orders of her father George VI and her grandfather George V and the star and sash of the Order of the Garter. You cannot get more bedecked than that. The only thing that is about as grandiose and magnificent is the Queen of Denmark bedecked in tiara, jewels, etc and the Order of the Elephant, the oldest order of chivalry in Europe I believe. Cheers.

[Lady Marmalade]

I could not agree more, Thomas. She just drips in the jewels. WOW!!!

[Thomas Parkman]

Ah, but Elspeth, Most Noble, Oh She Who Must Be Obeyed, do you not, oh Noble One, understand that Great Britain does not have a written constitution, that is a single document in one written form. There are numerous laws on the books which serve as the constitution along with "ancient custom" and established custom. It is simply understood that this is how things are done and certain things are "just not done." Lovely. One of those things is that the regalia do not leave the shores of the kingdom. That is about as ironclad as any law in written form on the books. Cheers.

[rubies]

Warren, just .........Extrodinary!!! Thank You.