The world is watching Queen Elizabeth II's monumental state funeral as the nation mourns in a day full of sadness and grand tradition.
Over the past few days where Her Majesty has been lying in state at Westminister Hall, her coffin was draped with the Royal Standard with the priceless Imperial State Crown.
The iconic crown was placed on a purple velvet cushion alongside a wreath of white flowers ahead of Monday's funeral.
After the funeral the Queen will be buried in the Windsor Castle's King George VI Memorial Chapel, alongside her father, her mother, and her sister’s ashes.
What to expect from the Queen's funeral
How much is the Queen's imperial crown worth?
The Imperial State Crown plays a prominent role as the beloved Queen is laid to rest in Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19.
It is actually the crown that the Queen wore when she left the Abbey following her coronation 70 years before.
Throughout her reign, the crown has been used on various State occasions, including the State Opening of Parliament.
The crown was made for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937 and replaced the crown made for Queen Victoria in 1838.
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It measures 31.5cm (12.4 in) and weighs 2.2lbs (1kg) and is constructed out of gold, 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and four rubies.
It contains some of Crown Jewels’ most famous and iconic pieces including the St Edward’s Sapphire, Black Prince’s Ruby, The Stuart Sapphire and the Cullinan II diamond.
The crown jewels are thought of as priceless and have never actually been insured.
Some experts estimate that it may be worth between £3 billion and £5 billion, according to the I.
What crown will King Charles III wear?
The Guardian reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury will place St Edward’s crown on Charles's head on the day of his coronation.
This is the iconic solid gold crown from the crown jewels at the Tower of London, which dates from 1661 and is studded with 444 coloured gemstones, including rubies, garnets, sapphires and tourmalines.
Additionally it has a purple velvet centre, trimmed with fur and weighs 2.23kg.
It is partly that reason why the monarch wears the crown only at the moment of coronation itself.
When will King Charles III’s coronation be?
Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm when the coronation will be, however, it is not likely to be for many months.
Typically, a monarch’s coronation will take place several months after their accession. This is due both to allow for a period of mourning for the new monarch as well as to give time for the many preparations that will be required for an event of such scale.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation took place in June 1953, 16 months after the passing of her father, King George VI.
According to The Telegraph, King Charles’ coronation is unlikely to take place until next year, possibly in the Spring or Summer.
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