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There are different crowns -

The crown worn during the coronation is called the St. Edward's Crown, and it's only used for that purpose. The newly crowned monarch wears a different one when leaving Westminster Abbey.

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Crown number two -

The second crown is known as the Imperial State Crown, and it's also the one worn on state occasions, such as the yearly Opening of Parliament.

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Some of the early Crown Jewels were lost -

It's believed that King John lost an early collection of the jewels in 1216, while traveling across an estuary known as the Wash.

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Lost forever -

There have been many attempts throughout the centuries to find the lost jewels. But all the efforts have been without success to date.

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The oldest surviving piece of the Crown Jewels is the coronation spoon -

Estimated to be from the 12th century, the coronation spoon is the oldest of the Crown Jewels.

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During the coronation -

During the coronation ceremony, the spoon is filled with holy oil, which has been consecrated in Jerusalem. The oil is then used to anoint the monarch.

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Oliver Cromwell had many of the Crown Jewels destroyed -

Following the English Civil War (1642-1651) and the execution of Charles I, the monarchy was abolished, and Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.

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The fate of the jewels -

Cromwell ordered the Crown Jewels to be melted down or sold. The coronation spoon survived because its buyer returned it after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

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The majority of the current Crown Jewels were created after the restoration of the monarchy -

Because only a few items had survived, a new set of Crown Jewels were needed following the monarchy's restoration.

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The new Crown Jewels -

In 1660, Charles II ordered the creation of new regalia based on the originals, which were used at his coronation the following year. The majority of the Crown Jewels used today are from this time.

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The Scottish Crown Jewels were hidden for safety following the destruction of the English ones -

The destruction of the English Crown Jewels sparked fear among the Scots. So they hid their Crown Jewels around Scotland until the English monarchy was restored.

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The Scottish Crown Jewels were hidden for safety following the destruction of the English ones -

The Honours of Scotland were eventually returned to Edinburgh Castle, where they were locked away after England and Scotland came together as the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. Sir Walter Scott rediscovered them at the castle in 1818.

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There was an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671 -

Just a decade after they were created, the Crown Jewels were almost stolen. A wanted man at the time, Thomas Blood and his accomplices managed to seize St. Edward’s Crown, the Sceptre with Cross, and the Sovereign’s Orb before getting caught.

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No punishment for Blood -

Surprisingly, instead of sending Blood (pictured) to prison, King Charles II pardoned him and granted him land in Ireland.

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The largest clear-cut diamond is part of the Crown Jewels -

In 1905, the 3,106-carat Cullinan Diamond, the largest uncut diamond ever found, was unearthed in today's South Africa. The two largest clear-cut diamonds from the gemstone are part of the Crown Jewels.

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Cullinan I -

The largest, Cullinan I, forms part of the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.

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Cullinan II -

The second largest, Cullinan II, is embedded in the Imperial State Crown.

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The controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond -

Known as the Koh-i-Noor, the famous diamond has been part of the crowns worn by many women in the royal family.

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Origins of the Koh-i-Noor -

The original diamond belonged to the Sikh kingdom, but the British East India Company forced them to surrender it in 1849 during the Second Anglo-Sikh War.

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In the monarchy's hands -

Lord Dalhousie, the Governor-General of India, then gave the Koh-i-Noor diamond to the monarchy.

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Koh-i-Noor as a Crown Jewel -

After Prince Albert had it recut, his wife, Queen Victoria, wore the Koh-i-Noor as a brooch. The stone later became part of the Crown Jewels.

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Still a controversial diamond -

For several decades, many countries have claimed ownership of the Koh-i-Noor, but the British government has refused to return it.

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The most recent item joined the collection in 1953 -

The latest addition to the collection is a set of 22-karat gold armills, which were gifted to Queen Elizabeth II for her 1953 coronation.

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The Crown Jewels during World War II -

With the threat of both bombings and a potential Nazi invasion of Britain, the Crown Jewels had to be kept safe during WWII.

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An unlikely hiding spot -

This led to gemstones from the Crown Jewels being hidden inside a biscuit tin, which was buried under Windsor Castle. They remained there for the duration of the war.

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There are many Crown Jewels -

The Crown Jewels collectively refer to 23,578 precious and semi-precious stones owned by King Charles III.

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They're found on a total of 140 items -

From robes to swords, and, of course, crowns, the Crown Jewels are embedded in over 140 items.

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They used to be kept in Westminster Abbey -

The Crown Jewels were previously kept in Westminster Abbey, but a number of attempted thefts saw them transferred to the Tower of London in the 14th century.

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Technically, they're not worth anything -

Seeing as the Crown Jewels have never been put on sale, and probably never will, it’s practically impossible to accurately value them.

Sources: (Mental Floss) (Culture Trip) 

See also: Treasures of the Royal Collection

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