A diamond weighing 530 carats known as the Star of Africa is set in the royal scepter. And the 317 carat diamond called the Lesser Star of Africa has been set into the Imperial State Crown. These two diamonds are among the most famous of the crown jewels.
The crown jewels consist of over 2500 of the best diamonds in the world. They have been kept in the Tower of London for five centuries after they were stolen in the early 1300’s. After they were recovered they were removed from their previous home at Westminster Abby because they were deemed safer and more defendable in the tower.
Rumor has it that all of the crown jewels were shipped secretly overseas to Canada during WW II to protect them from the incessant bombings of the Germans. That rumor has been contradicted by the rumor that they were kept at Windsor Castle during these turbulent times. At any rate the jewels, like the monarchy survived that deadly era in history.
It is a famous misconception that the crown jewels date back to antiquity. Indeed there are less than a handful of them that can be traced beyond the mid 1600’s. Oliver Cromwell melted down and destroyed the original crown jewels during the mid 1640’s as he attempted to end the monarchial reign of the royal family. He nearly succeeded in his position as Lord Protector and for two decades until his death and the failure of his son to retain the power he gained, he had successfully ruled the empire which he called the Commonwealth.
Prior to that great loss of the crown jewels in the early 1200’s they were lost by the King and not replaced completely until the end of that century. So hopefully for the royal family the old adage that you often hear that the “third time is the charm” will hold true and they will be able to hold onto the crown jewels.
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