DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER THE JEWELS IN THE CROWN

IN A BID TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE, CAMILLA, QUEEN CONSORT AND KING CHARLES III HAVE OPTED TO UPCYCLE EXISTING CROWNS FOR THE CORONATION RATHER THAN COMMISSION NEW ONES

- MOLLY RAYCRAFT

Camilla, Queen Consort, will wear Queen Mary’s Crown for her upcoming coronation in May, Buckingham Palace confirmed last week.

The stunning crown was made by Garrard for King Charles’ great-grandmother Mary of Teck, consort of King George V, for his coronation in 1911. Its design was inspired by Queen Alexandra’s Crown of 1902.

The piece has now temporarily been removed from display at the Tower of London so it can undergo modifications ahead of the historic event.

While a new crown is usually made for each coronation, Charles, 74, and 75-year-old Camilla have chosen to break with tradition by upcycling pieces already part of the Crown Jewels collection. The Palace explained that it is a move “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency”.

However, the Palace revealed that, “Some minor changes and additions will be undertaken by the Crown Jeweller, in keeping with the longstanding tradition that the insertion of jewels is unique to the occasion, and reflects the Consort’s individual style.