The story of the Imperial State Crown

How does it feel to wear a crown? In this video, the Queen tells us some secrets about her very special Imperial State Crown.

Do the preparation task first. Then watch the video and do the exercises. Remember you can read the transcript at any time.

Preparation

Transcript

The most important items used in the coronation are the monarch’s two crowns. If the Queen has only worn St Edward’s gold crown once, she is much more familiar with this: the diamond-encrusted Imperial State Crown. She wore it at the end of her coronation and for most State Openings of Parliament since.

Queen: You see, it’s much smaller, isn’t it?

Interviewer: Significantly.

Queen: I mean, it was ... it was the same height. You know, it would be, it would have been up to about there when my father wore it.

Interviewer: I mean, it was huge then.

Queen: Yes, very un... unwieldy.

Interviewer: It’s difficult to always remember that diamonds are stones, so very heavy.

Queen: Yes. Fortunately, my father and I have about, about the same sort of shaped head. But once you put it on, it stays. I mean it just remains, itself.

Interviewer: You have to keep your head very still.

Queen: Yes. And you can’t look down to read the speech. You have to take the speech up. Because if you did, your neck would break or it would fall off! So there are some disadvantages to crowns, but otherwise they’re quite important things.

© BBC

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Discussion

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Average: 5 (3 votes)

Submitted by Evgeny N on Wed, 04/09/2019 - 15:14

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There is very interesting movie about monarch: The King's speech. About Queen's father King George VI.

Submitted by alunados on Mon, 17/09/2018 - 04:09

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A monarch should be a leader who puts the general interest before the individual. Someone who do not forget that his place is due to those who have allowed it
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Submitted by Dee on Fri, 03/08/2018 - 12:31

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The Imperial State Crown is one of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom and symbolises the sovereignty of the monarch.
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Submitted by Naz87 on Mon, 26/03/2018 - 16:33

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It's interesting to learn new iformation about corronation.

Submitted by nap on Wed, 21/03/2018 - 16:29

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A greatest leader, revolutionary thinker, courageous, fair, broad views and intelligent.

Submitted by Gurdeep on Sat, 17/03/2018 - 14:20

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As a king or monarch has lots of responsibilities and operate these a brave or honest man must require.maharaja ranjit singh in india was such a person.moreover.on that time he was renowned person all over the world.he was known as a loyal and humble.Also,he never acclaimed corrupt or violent people.however,he motivated the common man.

Submitted by GingerAle on Fri, 16/03/2018 - 11:53

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I must admit I don't know much about this topic but I suppose that a general royal monarch is expected to be able to maintain foreign relationships, committing to important human causes of his country first but not only. It should be a strong values person, not a politician but someone with genuine principles typical of the culture of its country. People under its kingdom should be proud to be represented by their monarch.

Submitted by angano1 on Tue, 13/03/2018 - 15:05

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I would remember here the late Saudi king Abdullah,whom he died 3years ago. Saudi Arabia kings are not wearing crowns as jewelry are prohibited for men in Islam. King Abdullah died at his late eighties, and he was flowed by his brother king Salman
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Submitted by dzvalentino on Fri, 09/03/2018 - 14:49

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I would expect this person to be an old and important person with a long coat and a crown of course with gloves and probably with a stick and many rings. There would be also servants near him who blow off the dust and every small piece of it. Also the other servants would carry the end of the long coat while the king walks. :)