![]() Amended wording for this ceremony chooses to interpret this as the king being “a brave advocate for those in need”. Gold spurs, part of the coronation regalia since 1189, are used to symbolise knightly values such as honour and courage. “Swords in this context are not used as violent weapons,” notes the order of service, in case of ambiguity. This reflects a tradition in early coronations where monarchs donated a sword to the abbey the Royal Collection Trust understandably wants to keep this one. The fifth is called the jewelled sword of offering (it has many jewels) it will be blessed by the archbishop and clipped on to the king, then unclipped and laid on the altar, before it is “bought” back with a symbolic payment of 100 shillings. How many swords does one king need? For the purposes of a coronation ceremony, the answer is five – including the swords of state (symbolising royal authority), mercy (which has a blunted tip), spiritual justice and temporal justice. Photograph: Print Collector/Getty Images The swords The jewelled sword of offering was commissioned for the 1821 coronation of George IV. The king’s regalia also includes another sceptre, the sovereign’s sceptre with dove (to be carried by the former children’s TV presenter Floella Benjamin) two will also be carried for the queen. Extra points for spotting Cullinan II (317 carats) in the Imperial State crown, and numbers III, IV and V (a mere 94, 64 and 19 carats) in the crown worn during the ceremony by Queen Camilla – her official title after the coronation. Cullinan I is the largest of a number of outrageous jewels struck from a vast South African gem, the largest rough diamond ever found, that was presented to Edward VII in 1907. Its symbolism is somewhat outshone by the boggling 530-carat diamond set in one end, though. The sovereign’s sceptre with cross, a gold rod made in three sections, is included to symbolise the monarch’s temporal power and is “associated with good governance”, according to the Royal Collection Trust. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust/© His Majesty King Charles III 2023/PA The sceptre Then great finds in South America and elsewhere made it more plentiful.The sovereign’s sceptre with cross features the 530-carat Cullinan I diamond. For some time, true amethyst was valued equally with the diamond. The twelfth foundation of the Holy City was built of amethyst. It was also one of the twelve precious stones in the high priest Aaron’s breastplate. There are a number of Biblical references to the amethyst. The stone is also a symbol of Saint Matthias. Saint Valentine was thought to wear a ring set with an antique Amethyst carved with an image of Cupid. The royal purple colour used to symbolize Christ. ![]() Amethyst saw its place in the Christian church, worn on Bishop's’ rings. The ancient civilizations prized the stone more than many gems, which today, enjoy more recognition and value. ![]() During the Middle Ages, Amethyst stood for piety and celibacy and was therefore worn by members of the Catholic Church clergy and was used to adorn crosses. ![]() The Apostle Matthias and the Guardian Angel Adnachiel spirit are associated with Amethyst. Amethyst later has stood for the tribe of Dan, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Amethyst has religious connotations, as well. ![]()
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