Someone once gave me a princess magnet. One of my sons, when he was little, said, “that’s you Mom, a princess.” I quickly replied, “oh no, honey, I’m not a princess, I am the Queen!” I’ve always been outnumbered in my house with 3 sons and a husband, so it’s a title well-deserved. And really, who is going to argue with me? On display in a guest bathroom is my little collection of crowns fit for a woman of my status. If you want to know how to style a shelf like the pros, check out my video. Interior Design Tips – Decorating a Shelf
A year ago I was touring Scandinavia. And although I was sick most of the trip, I managed to visit a few sites including the Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark to see the royal jewels.
The crown of King Christian IV of Denmark (1595-1596) was fashioned for his coronation. The diamonds, pearls, gold and enamel along with other gemstones is mind boggling. You see copies in movies, but this is the real deal. It weighs 2895 grams which equals 102 ounces or more than 6 pounds of jewels and precious metal! I could rock that, no problem.
Not to be outdone, King Christian V, Denmark’s second absolute monarch had his own crown made by the German goldsmith, Paul Kurtz in 1671. It was inspired by the corona worn by Louis XIV of France.
This crown has two large sapphires, a spinel (a gemstone often confused as a ruby) and garnet along with diamonds. At the top is a globe, a sign of power and dignity and on top of the orb is a small, diamond studded cross, showing that only the church stood above The Crown. Not quite as showy, but I could pull this one out for less formal events!
I’m part Swedish so Stockholm was my favorite Scandinavian city (I was also feeling a little better by then). The Royal Palace also houses their ancient royal treasures. The crown of King Eric XIV was worn at his coronation in 1561 and is still used in official ceremonies today. (My photo didn’t turn out, so I borrowed one from a website and don’t know who to attribute it to. Sorry!)
No one beats the Brits in the number of gemstones under guard at the Tower of London. The last time I was there, the line was about 2 hours long. As much as I admire precious stones, we decided not to wait. If you saw them, let me know what I missed. My favorite crown is the Netflix show The Crown about Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. Have you noticed the Queen carries her handbag wherever she goes, even in Buckingham Palace? Where else would she put her hanky and lipstick?
The Crown Jewels at Rosenborg Palace, Copenhagen
The Treasury at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
The British Crown Jewels at The Tower of London
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