What crown will King Charles III wear at the coronation?

The King’s coronation is today – so what crown(s) will he wear? (Photo by Alastair Grant – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

King Charles III will officially be crowned today, alongside Queen Camilla.

His Majesty’s coronation will be a historic occasion, but he has been monarch of the UK since September 2022.

Naturally, many will be keen to know what crown the King will be coronated with during the Westminster Abbey ceremony.

We already know that Queen Camilla will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown, but reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds.

So, what crown will be used for the King’s coronation? And will he wear any other crowns during the celebrations?

Here’s all you need to know.

What crown will King Charles III be coronated with?

King Charles III will be crowned with St Edward’s Crown.

It is tradition for the monarch to wear the solid gold St Edward’s Crown – often dubbed the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels – at the moment of coronation.

St Edward’s Crown, pictured in 2013 (Picture: JACK HILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Indeed it was worn by the King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, during her own coronation in June 1953.

And by the King’s late grandfather, King George VI, at his coronation in May 1937.

The crown dates back hundreds more years – to 1661, when it was made for King Charles II.

A previous, medieval version of the crown was melted down in 1649 following the English civil war.

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It was thought to date back to the 11th century and Edward the Confessor – the last Anglo-Saxon King of England – which explains the name.

In December 2022, St Edward’s Crown was removed from its place among the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London to undergo ‘modification work’ ahead of the coronation.

St Edward’s Crown is the star of the Crown Jewels, and is historically worn by monarchs at their coronation (Picture: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

King Charles when he was invested as The Prince of Wales in 1969 – having been given the title in 1958 (Picture: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)

And in February 2023, Buckingham Palace confirmed that work was complete and the crown was back at the Tower of London.

St Edward’s Crown will once again be on the move today (Saturday, May 6), as it will travel to Westminster Abbey for the coronation ceremony, to play its historic role.

However, that isn’t the only crown we’ll see atop Charles’ head.

During the coronation, the King will also wear the Imperial State Crown.

One of the Crown Jewels’ best known pieces, it was poignantly featured among the regalia placed on the late Queen’s coffin during lying-in-state and funeral proceedings.

It is also present during every State Opening of Parliament.

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This crown dates back to 1937, and was made by jewellers Garrard & Company for the coronation of George VI.

It is encrusted with diamonds, and adorned with many precious stones – among them a sapphire believed to have belonged to Edward the Confessor.

It was also worn by Elizabeth II towards the end of her coronation, as it is lighter to wear than St Edward’s Crown.

Still, in a clip broadcast by the BBC, the late Queen described the Imperial State Crown as ‘unwieldy’ and joked that ‘your neck would break’ if you tried to look down while wearing it.

Back in 1969, when the King was invested as The Prince of Wales, he wore the Investiture Coronet – made of a gold frame, purple velvet, and elements of platinum, silver and emerald.

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The big day is today!