St Edward's Sapphire Cut for Charles II

St Edward's Sapphire in the Maltese Cross

The St Edward's Sapphire is one of the oldest gemstones in the royal collection. This blue gemstone is mounted in the Maltese Cross at the top of the Imperial State Crown.

The Imperial State Crown was worn by Queen Elizabeth II after her coronation. It was placed on the late monarch's coffin during the laying-in-state at Westminster Hall and remained there throughout the funeral ceremony. It was removed shortly before the coffin was lowered into the royal vault in St George's Chapel.

The crown, along with the orb and sceptre, symbolises the monarch's power. Its removal signified the end of Queen Elizabeth II's seventy-year reign.
St Edward's Sapphire is named after Edward the Confessor, King of England, who is believed to have worn the sapphire in a ring. The ring is said to have been buried with him in Westminster Abbey in 1066. It was then apparently removed when his body was re-interred in 1163.   

The St Edward's Sapphire was cut into its present form for Charles II. At Queen Victoria's request, it was later mounted on the Maltese Cross. 

The Imperial State crown is housed in Jewel House in the Tower of London.

The crown, decorated with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 269 pearls, is worn by newly appointed monarchs as they leave Westminster Abbey after the coronation and during the State Opening of Parliament.

The large, uncut red gemstone mounted above the Cullinan II diamond in the Imperial State Crown is the Black Prince's Ruby, but it's actually a spinel. The smaller ruby fills a hole that was once drilled so it could be worn as a pendant.

The large, oval-shaped, deep blue gemstone towards the base of the Imperial State Crown is the Stuart Sapphire.