What is the Difference Between King Crown and Queen Crown

Crowns have been worn by monarchs for centuries as symbols of power, authority, and sovereignty. They are usually made from precious metals like gold and decorated with valuable jewels like diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds. Crowns are worn by kings, queens, and other royals. However, sometimes, there is a distinct difference between king crown and queen crowns.

What is the difference between king crown and queen crown? King crowns tend to be bigger and bolder, whereas queen crowns tend to be more delicate and elegant.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is a King’s Crown 
     – Definition, Features, Design
2. What is a Queen’s Crown
     – Definition, Features, Design
3. Similarities Between King Crown and Queen Crown
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between King Crown and Queen Crown
     – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: King Crown and Queen Crown
     – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

King Crown, Queen Crown

What is a King’s Crown?

A king’s crown is a special headpiece worn by male monarchs to symbolize their authority, sovereignty, and sometimes their divine right to rule. These crowns are usually made from precious metals like gold and decorated with jewels such as diamonds, sapphires, and rubies.

One of the most famous examples of a king’s crown is St. Edward’s Crown. This was used in the coronation of British kings. It is made of solid gold and set with 444 precious stones, including sapphires, garnets, as well as amethysts. It weighs almost 5 pounds. Moreover, it is a symbol of the monarch’s role as the head of state and is considered one of the most important of the British crown jewels.

Figure 1: St. Edward’s Crown

King’s crowns are generally bigger and heavier. Furthermore, they’re designed to look bold and strong, often to represent the king’s powerful leadership. King’s crowns also tend to be more angular or have a taller profile.

What is a Queen’s Crown?

A queen’s crown is a special headpiece worn by female monarchs or consorts. Unlike a king’s crown, which tends to be bigger and bolder, a queen’s crown is usually more delicate and elegant.

Sometimes, a queen’s crown might have arches that are a little bit flatter or more “depressed” compared to the more rounded arches you might see on a king’s crown. It’s a small design detail, but it can give the crown a slightly different shape.

Figure 2: Replica of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Crown

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Crown is an example of a crown specifically made for a Queen Consort. It was created for Queen Elizabeth (who later became known as the Queen Mother) for her husband King George VI’s coronation in 1937. Furthermore, a very famous part of this crown is that it holds the Koh-i-Noor diamond right in the front cross. Many of the other diamonds in it were actually taken from an older royal circlet (a smaller crown or headband). This crown has a very distinct design. Although it’s grand, it was specifically designed for a queen consort. You can often see the slightly flatter or more “depressed” arches.

Similarities Between King Crown and Queen Crown

1. Both are symbols of royalty and sovereignty.
2. They are made from precious metals like gold and adorned with valuable jewels.
3. Both crowns are worn during ceremonial events, such as coronations and state functions.
4. They are part of a nation’s royal regalia.

Difference Between King Crown and Queen Crown

Definition

• A king’s crown is a crown worn by a male monarch, typically larger, more solid, and designed to symbolize strength, power, and authority, whereas a queen’s crown is a crown worn by a female monarch or consort and is usually more delicate and elegant.

Design

• Kings’ crowns are often larger, more solid, and more elaborate, whereas queens’ crowns tend to be more delicate, refined, and elegant.

Arches

• King crowns often have rounded, higher arches that meet centrally, sometimes topped with an orb and cross, while queen crowns, especially those worn by queen consorts, can sometimes have flatter or more depressed arches.

FAQ: King Crown and Queen Crown

1. Is King Charles’ crown the same as the Queen’s?

King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II wore the St. Edward’s Crown at their coronation. This is the special royal crown used only for the moment a new monarch is crowned. For everyday official use, both King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II use/used the Imperial State Crown. In fact, this is the crown you see often at events like the State Opening of Parliament.

2. Do kings and queens wear the same crown?

Some main crowns, like the Imperial State Crown, are used by both kings and queens who are ruling monarchs (Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III both used it). There are also crowns made specifically for a Queen Consort (the wife of a king).

3. What is the most expensive crown in the world?

One of the most expensive crowns in the world is the Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom. In fact, this crown is a central piece of the British Crown Jewels. Moreover, it is adorned with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 269 pearls, with a total of 3,170 precious stones. The crown also features the 317-carat Cullinan II diamond, the second-largest cut diamond in the world.

Reference:

1. “Crown.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Saint Edward’s Crown” By Firebrace – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Crown of the Queen Mother replica at Royal Coster Diamonds exhibition” By AlinavdMeulen (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia