# The size of the Queen's crown **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531 "2017-07-31T19:32:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/1 "2017-07-31T19:32:25Z")
So one of the main things associated with monarchs is the crown. My question is how do they adjust the size of the crown to fit the monarch. For example I wear a size 8 hat and if somehow I became King it is likely the thing wouldn’t fit on my head. Do they have a jeweler adjust the size like you would a ring or how exactly do they fit the thing? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/2 "2017-07-31T19:40:36Z")
I suspect the use of a padded inset of some sort which is what sizes the crown to the current wearer’s head. Recall that the current royal crown of Great Britain was not made for the current wearer but rather her predecessors, most of whom were fairly large men. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/3 "2017-07-31T19:45:13Z")
Fold a couple of pieces of newspaper and stuff them in the sweatband. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/4 "2017-07-31T19:54:51Z")
So there’s an actual crown that gets passed down? I thought it was symbolic, and they each got to design one specifically for themselves for when they had to look all kingly/queenly. Interesting… ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/5 "2017-07-31T19:56:43Z")
The Queen has two crowns - the St Edward’s Crown, which is used only at the coronation, and the Imperial State Crown. The former is solid gold and, although adjustments have been made to it over the centuries, an individual cap is usually hidden inside it to ensure that it fits. In contrast, the Imperial State Crown is made from a wired frame into which the jewels are set, which makes it easier to adjust for each new owner. In 1953 the shape of its arches was altered to lower its overall height. That was to allow for the fact that the present Queen is relatively short. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/6 "2017-07-31T21:04:35Z")
Here’s a nice summary, with pix: [The Crown Jewels](http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/crown_jewels.htm) ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/7 "2017-08-01T01:13:18Z")
Staple gun? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/8 "2017-08-01T02:09:33Z")
Duct tape ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/9 "2017-08-01T04:20:32Z")
Staple gun? Duct tape? For God’s sake this is ENGLAND. They must have some gutta-percha laying around. Dennis ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/10 "2017-08-01T10:09:20Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > So there’s an actual crown that gets passed down? I thought it was symbolic, and they each got to design one specifically for themselves for when they had to look all kingly/queenly. Interesting… It is different for a British queen consort (a queen who is the wife of a king) as traditionally a new crown is made for them from scratch. But this is usually done by breaking up the crown of the previous consort and re-using the jewels. However, this is not done if that previous consort is still alive. That’s what happened the last time there was a new queen consort (the present Queen’s mother) to be crowned - in 1937 her mother-in-law (Queen Mary) was still around, so both their crowns survive. But the most important gemstone in Queen Mary’s crown, the Koh-i-Noor, was moved to the new queen’s crown, just as it had been moved from Queen Alexandra’s crown when Queen Mary’s crown was made in 1911. > **[Garrard & Co - Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother's Crown](https://www.rct.uk/collection/31703/queen-elizabeth-the-queen-mothers-crown)** > > The crown has a platinum frame set with 2,800 diamonds, mainly cushion-shaped but with some rose-cut and some brilliant-cut. The band, comprising alternating clusters formed as crosses and rectangles, is bordered with single rows of brilliant-cut... > **[Garrard & Co - Queen Mary's Crown](https://www.rct.uk/collection/31704/queen-marys-crown)** > > The crown is composed of a silver frame, lined with gold, and set with 2,200 diamonds, mainly brilliant-cut, with some rose-cut. The crown has an openwork band, set at the front with a detachable rock crystal replica of the diamond, Cullinan IV, a... ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/11 "2017-08-01T14:56:17Z")
It’s not like they wear them for everyday use\*, and given that HMQ didn’t wear it for this year’s State Opening of Parliament, it may be that, perhaps apart from the initial Coronation ceremony, they will move towards just bringing them out for display as symbols of state on the key occasions, as they do in, say, the Netherlands. \*I was told she used to have the crown sent over for a few days before State Openings so she could get used to the weight of it again. Early one morning, a policeman on security duty was patrolling past their private rooms when the corgis were let out for their morning run, and started yapping and nipping at his ankles: suddenly, there was a piercing whistle and as they slunk off, the copper turned to see Herself, with her fingers in her mouth, in her nightie and curlers with the crown on her head. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/12 "2017-08-01T18:49:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Fold a couple of pieces of newspaper and stuff them in the sweatband. Horses sweat, men perspire, ladies dew…but Monarchs? Say it ain’t so. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/13 "2017-08-02T03:02:59Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > It’s not like they wear them for everyday use\*, and given that HMQ didn’t wear it for this year’s State Opening of Parliament, it may be that, perhaps apart from the initial Coronation ceremony, they will move towards just bringing them out for display as symbols of state on the key occasions, as they do in, say, the Netherlands. Just for curiosity’s sake and since I couldn’t recall JC or Felipe ever wearing a crown, I checked Spain and we don’t even have a wearable crown. There is a ceremonial crown that’s trotted out for the coronation but it’s just left on a pillow along with its accompanying scepter: the regnant doesn’t get to wear it. Queen consorts and princesses may have tiaras; no crowns. Except for Isabel II (19th century), regnants of Spain haven’t worn crowns since Their Catholic Majesties (turn of the 16th century). ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/14 "2017-08-02T04:49:26Z")
Liz wore the St Edwards Crown at her coronation. We had a picture of her from the coronation in every class room in my elementary school. ---
**Author:** ![galen\_ubal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galen_ubal/32/4440_2.png) [@galen\_ubal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen_ubal)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/15 "2017-08-02T04:56:53Z")
Was anyone else hoping the OP was asking about the Queen’s hat size? I’d think it was great, to send her a hat. Maybe a nice fedora… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-size-of-the-queens-crown/792531/16 "2017-08-03T18:44:32Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > …I was told she used to have the crown sent over for a few days before State Openings so she could get used to the weight of it again… Both Elizabeth II and her father George VI wore the crown around the palace before their respective coronations to get used to the weight. I’ve read that before in several royal bios, and it was also shown in the very good Netflix series _The Crown_.