The Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels are a collection of royal ceremonial objects kept in the Tower of London, which include the coronation regalia and vestments worn by British monarchs.
Most of the present collection dates from around 350 years ago when Charles II ascended the throne. The medieval and Tudor regalia had been sold or melted down after the monarchy was abolished in 1649 during the English Civil War. Only four original items predate the Restoration: a late 12th-century anointing spoon (the oldest object) and three early 17th-century swords.
At a coronation, the monarch is anointed using holy oil poured from an ampulla into the spoon, invested with robes and ornaments, and crowned with St Edward's Crown. Afterwards, it is exchanged for the lighter Imperial State Crown, which is also usually worn at State Openings of Parliament. Wives of kings, known as queens consort, are invested with a plainer set of regalia. Also regarded as crown jewels are state swords, trumpets, ceremonial maces, church plate, historical regalia, banqueting plate, and royal christening fonts.
The Commonwealth Armills (Most recent of the Crown Jewels, prior to Charles III)
A set of Armills were used at every coronation from 1661 until 1953.These oval hinged gold bracelets were each decorated in champlevé and basse-taille enamel with the national emblems (roses, thistles, fleurs-de-lis and harps) and dark blue fleurets and red pellets between light blue enamel herring-bone borders. They were lined in red velvet.
However already by 1661 their exact purpose during the coronation ceremony was unclear. Nevertheless the wording of the ceremony refers to the 'bracelets of sincerity and wisdom' and the Armills are thought to relate to ancient symbols of knighthood and military leadership and they are still presented to the Sovereign.
A new pair of Armills or oval, 22 carat gold bracelets, chased on the outside with two foliated scrolls and pellets were created for Elizabeth II’s Coronation. Each is fitted with an invisible hinge with a spring catch operated by a cast Tudor rose standing proud of the surface and has a red velvet lining. They are engraved inside 'Presented for the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Ceylon and Southern Rhodesia' and were a symbolic gift from the Commonwealth.