Queen’s Speech: Why didn’t the Queen wear her crown?
The 93-year-old monarch wore a diamond diadem while the crown rested on a table beside her. …
Image copyright Reuters The Queen was clad in full ceremonial robes as she delivered her speech at Parliament’s State Opening.
But one thing was missing from her elaborate outfit: the jewel-encrusted Imperial State Crown.
Instead, she wore the diamond diadem recognisable from her profile on British stamps and coins, while the crown rested on a table beside her.
The decision didn’t go unnoticed on social media.
The choice was a matter of personal preference for the 93-year-old monarch.
The diadem is much lighter than the crown.
The tiara is traditionally worn for the journey to and from Parliament.
The crown, which was commissioned for the Queen’s father, George VI’s, coronation in 1937, boasts nearly 3,000 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and around 270 pearls – in addition to the large diamond, ruby and sapphire that adorn the back and front.
The rim of the George IV State Diadem, however, is about a quarter of the width and set with around 1,300 diamonds and 170 pearls.
The Queen’s Speech is the key part of Parliament’s State Opening – when the monarch reads a speech written by ministers setting out the laws the government hopes will be approved by Parliament during the coming session.
Since 1852, it has been tradition for the monarch to arrive at Parliament in a gold carriage escorted by the household cavalry – about 120 horses – and in full traditional dress.
The crown and ceremonial accessories were absent from the Queen’s outfit in 1974, following then-prime minister Ted Heath’s decision to call a snap election.
The whole event was also scaled back in 2017, three weeks after former prime minister Theresa May also called a snap election.
Then, the Queen arrived in a car rather than her carriage – there was too little time to rehearse the horses because Trooping the Colour had taken place four days earlier.
She wore a blue jacket and hat, much remarked-upon in the wake of the Brexit vote, rather than the crown.
This year the crown was delivered to Parliament in its own carriage and remained at the Queen’s side as she delivered the speech.
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