Short History Of... The Crown Jewels

Podcast: Short History Of...
Host: John Hopkins
Episode: The Crown Jewels
Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode examines the remarkable—and tumultuous—history of the British Crown Jewels, tracing their evolution over more than a millennium. Listeners are transported through pivotal moments: destruction, theft, political upheaval, and restoration. The episode delves into their symbolism, the drama of celebrated heists, the sometimes controversial origins of key gemstones, and their role in royal ceremony and national myth. Expert commentary and vivid historical storytelling reveal how the Crown Jewels, far from being mere relics, are living witnesses to power, continuity, and change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Purge of the Crown Jewels (1649–1660)

• Setting the Scene (01:18–03:56):
  The episode opens during the English Commonwealth. Sir Henry Mildmay, Master of the Jewels, is overseeing the destruction of the regalia after King Charles I’s execution.
  • He watches as goldsmiths break apart Henry VIII’s crown—adorned with miniatures of saints and 344 precious stones.
  • Jewels are sold to private buyers; metals melted for coinage.
  • Notably, even ancient relics like the crown of Alfred the Great are not spared.

“Destroy the Crown Jewels. In this day and age, there is no need of souvenirs commemorating a line of succession that has been well and truly broken. The days of the English monarchy are over.”
— Narrator (03:56)

• Survival of a Relic: The 12th-century coronation spoon survives, purchased for 16 shillings by Clement Kinnersly and eventually returned.

2. Origins and Evolution of Royal Regalia

• Ancient Beginnings (06:07–07:27):
  The earliest known English crown comes from a 200 BCE tomb, worn by a leader buried with ceremonial diadem.
• Converging Traditions (07:27–08:47):
  Anna Kaye, a historian and former curator at the Tower of London, explains three foundational traditions: Roman (authority), martial/barbarian (military power), and Christian (sacred anointing).

“One of the things that's so extraordinary about the Crown Jewels is that...they’re really, really ancient. Three traditions converged—Roman imperial, martial, and Christian.” — Anna Kaye (07:27)

• Ceremony Roots (09:39–10:46):
  The coronation’s anointing and acclimation (the people's cheer) predate the Norman Conquest.
• Westminster Abbey Tradition:
  From William the Conqueror onward (1066), coronations are held at Westminster Abbey.

3. Notable Losses and Restorations

• King John’s Disaster (11:05–15:00):
  In 1216, King John loses the Crown Jewels in a tidal estuary called the Wash—his baggage train is swept away.
• Replacements and Historical Continuity:
  Henry III is crowned using his mother’s bracelet, later performing a proper coronation with St. Edward’s crown.

4. Destruction, Restoration, and Replication

• Cromwell’s Regicide and Sale (16:48–18:48):
  Cromwell calls for “monuments of superstition” to be melted down.
• Restoration Era (18:48–20:02):
  Charles II’s return prompts a full remake—down to forgotten relics, using meticulous records.

“There was clearly a conversation about, is this the moment...to do a bit of modernization? Not a bit of it, it's quite the opposite. The instructions were very clear...a replica, effectively, of everything that had been destroyed in 1649.”
— Anna Kaye (20:02)

5. Structure and Symbolism in Ceremony

• Components (21:13–26:17):
  • Super tunica (ceremonial cloth), armills (gold bracelets), spurs, jeweled sword of offering, orb, and scepters—a blend of martial and sacred significance.
  • The St. Edward’s staff: purpose long forgotten, but still replicated for ritual's sake.
  • “Cullinan I,” the largest cut diamond in the world, is set atop the Sovereign’s Scepter.

“The orb represents the world. The cross...articulation of Christ’s command over the globe. Then these two amazing scepters...and the physically most impressive jewel...the First Star of Africa.”
— Anna Kaye (24:28)

• Coronation Chair:
  Built in 1308 to hold the Stone of Scone, symbolizing both English and Scottish lineages.

• Two Crowns:
  St. Edward's (holy) for crowning; the Imperial State Crown (secular) for daily ceremonial wear.

“Imperial just means it has arches that go over the top...the state crown was designed to be used day to day.”
— Anna Kaye (26:17)

6. Jewels with Legendary Histories

• Black Prince’s Ruby (29:34–32:26):
  Actually a spinel, not a ruby—acquired in the 14th century through violence and intrigue, present on Henry V’s helmet at Agincourt, and front-and-center on Queen Victoria’s crown.

• The Koh-i-Noor Diamond (32:26–34:13):
  Its journey from Mughal India through Persian, Afghan, Sikh, and finally British hands is recounted, highlighting its modern controversies.

“I think it would have been a provocative thing to do to use [Koh-i-Noor] in the coronation ceremony...”
— Anna Kaye (34:13)

7. Thefts, Heists, and Security

• Richard Pudlicote’s 1303 Westminster Heist (35:51–37:39):
  Dug a tunnel under the abbey, with inside help, stealing treasures valued at a year’s tax revenue—but caught and hanged.
• Thomas Blood’s 1671 Attempt (37:39–41:00):
  Blood, disguised as a parson, smashes and attempts to steal the regalia, famously stuffing the orb down his trousers. He is arrested but inexplicably pardoned by the king.

“The thieves hammered down the crown with a mallet...the orb is dented from being shoved down his trousers.”
— Narrator (41:00)

8. Modern Times and Wartime Safeguarding

• World War II:
  Crown Jewels are hidden in Windsor Castle, gemstones wrapped in cotton and stored in a biscuit tin, safe from London’s bombing.
• Televised Coronation:
  Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation marks a new era; seventy years later, King Charles III's is rooted in the same ancient traditions.

9. Legacy, Controversy, and Reflection

• Calls for Repatriation:
  The episode touches on the post-colonial debate around artifact restitution.
• Continuity and Change:
  Anna Kaye closes by reflecting on the collection's paradox: representing both thousands of years of tradition and the tumult of political and social transformation.

“They are the expression of thousands of years of history and tradition, but also of change...a coronation ceremony that would have been utterly recognizable to William the Conqueror ... is amazing. It’s a kind of monument to how change, continuity, and tradition and adaptation can all coexist.”
— Anna Kaye (44:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the enduring mystique:

  “We have to think of our tradition and the kit that we've got in the Tower of London now being the sort of range of objects...with these three things colliding.”
  — Anna Kaye (08:47)

• On legend versus fact:

  "Any legend that's attached...before 1649, it is very difficult to be confident...because everything was sold."
  — Anna Kaye (27:48)

• On the Koh-i-Noor controversy:

  “It would have been a provocative thing to do to use it in the coronation ceremony, which is a kind of present day political as well as ceremonial occasion.”
  — Anna Kaye (34:13)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Purge of the Crown Jewels, 1649: 01:18–04:50
• Ancient traditions & regalia: 07:27–10:46
• Loss of the Crown Jewels (King John): 11:05–15:00
• Restoration of the monarchy/New regalia: 18:48–21:13
• Coronation ceremony explained: 21:13–26:17
• Crown legends (Black Prince’s Ruby, Koh-i-Noor): 29:34–34:13
• 1303 Westminster Heist: 35:51–37:39
• Thomas Blood’s audacious theft: 37:39–41:00
• World War II safeguard measures: 41:00–43:00
• Modern reflections on legacy & meaning: 44:47–45:59

Final Reflections

Ending with a discussion on the meaning and relevance of the Crown Jewels today, the episode argues that these treasures are more than static symbols of monarchy—they are an evolving narrative thread linking the ancient, the historic, and the present. Listeners are left to ponder the intersection of spectacle, tradition, and historical reckoning embodied in the gleaming regalia of Britain’s kings and queens.

Next Episode Teaser

A short history of Alexander the Great: political intrigue, violence, and legacy—likened to “Game of Thrones.”
(Trailer at 45:59–46:40)