<p>Britain's 17th-century St Edward's Crown, the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels, has been removed from display to be altered for the coronation of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/king-charles-iii" target="_blank">King Charles III</a>, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.</p>.<p>The solid gold crown, encrusted with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines, will undergo "modification work" for Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6 next year, the palace said.</p>.<p>The crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels, a large collection of royal regalia housed in the Tower of London that attracts more than a million visitors per year. It has a purple velvet cap with an ermine band, is just over 30 cm (one foot) tall and very heavy.</p>.<p>It was last worn by Queen Elizabeth II, at her coronation in 1953.</p>.<p>Charles III, 74, will be crowned along with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla. The ceremony will be followed by a national holiday on May 8.</p>.<p>The crown was made for King Charles II in 1661 to replace a mediaeval crown though to date back to Edward the Confessor. The original had been melted down by parliamentarians after the execution of Charles I.</p>.<p>For hundreds of years afterwards, the crown was only carried in coronation processions because it was too heavy to wear.</p>.<p>It was altered to make it lighter for the coronation of King George V in 1911 but still weighs 2.23 kilogrammes (nearly five pounds).</p>.<p>Charles III will only wear it at the moment he is crowned.</p>.<p>When he leaves Westminster Abbey, Charles will wear the more modern Imperial State Crown, also used for occasions such as the opening of parliament.</p>.<p>Set with over 2,000 diamonds, the Imperial State Crown was created in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI, the father of Elizabeth II.</p>.<p>The coronation traditionally takes place some months after a new sovereign has ascended to the throne, following a period of national and royal mourning, and intense preparation.</p>.<p>Charles immediately became king when his mother died on September 8. He also took over as head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.</p>.<p>Concerned about public perceptions, he has reportedly requested a less lavish ceremony than the festivities held for Elizabeth II in 1953.</p>.<p>The queen, who was 96, died at her Balmoral estate in Scotland after a year of declining health. She reigned for a record 70 years.</p>
<p>Britain's 17th-century St Edward's Crown, the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels, has been removed from display to be altered for the coronation of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/king-charles-iii" target="_blank">King Charles III</a>, Buckingham Palace said on Saturday.</p>.<p>The solid gold crown, encrusted with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines, will undergo "modification work" for Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6 next year, the palace said.</p>.<p>The crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels, a large collection of royal regalia housed in the Tower of London that attracts more than a million visitors per year. It has a purple velvet cap with an ermine band, is just over 30 cm (one foot) tall and very heavy.</p>.<p>It was last worn by Queen Elizabeth II, at her coronation in 1953.</p>.<p>Charles III, 74, will be crowned along with his wife, Queen Consort Camilla. The ceremony will be followed by a national holiday on May 8.</p>.<p>The crown was made for King Charles II in 1661 to replace a mediaeval crown though to date back to Edward the Confessor. The original had been melted down by parliamentarians after the execution of Charles I.</p>.<p>For hundreds of years afterwards, the crown was only carried in coronation processions because it was too heavy to wear.</p>.<p>It was altered to make it lighter for the coronation of King George V in 1911 but still weighs 2.23 kilogrammes (nearly five pounds).</p>.<p>Charles III will only wear it at the moment he is crowned.</p>.<p>When he leaves Westminster Abbey, Charles will wear the more modern Imperial State Crown, also used for occasions such as the opening of parliament.</p>.<p>Set with over 2,000 diamonds, the Imperial State Crown was created in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI, the father of Elizabeth II.</p>.<p>The coronation traditionally takes place some months after a new sovereign has ascended to the throne, following a period of national and royal mourning, and intense preparation.</p>.<p>Charles immediately became king when his mother died on September 8. He also took over as head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.</p>.<p>Concerned about public perceptions, he has reportedly requested a less lavish ceremony than the festivities held for Elizabeth II in 1953.</p>.<p>The queen, who was 96, died at her Balmoral estate in Scotland after a year of declining health. She reigned for a record 70 years.</p>