Symbols of Monarchy: the orb and sceptre
Victoria Howard
Seen as two of the most authoritative Monarchical symbols, the orb and sceptre are used at the coronation of each new Sovereign, full of symbolism and power. But why are they used and what do they mean?
The Sovereign’s Orb:
The Sovereign’s Orb, as this part of the
Crown Jewels is officially named, is a symbol of Godly power. A cross
above a globe, It represents ‘Christ’s dominion over the world’, as the
Monarch is God’s representative on Earth.
Made for Charles II’s coronation in
1661, the orb is a 30cm-wide hollow gold sphere, mounted with nine
emeralds, 18 rubies, nine sapphires, 365 diamonds, 375 pearls,
one amethyst and one glass stone. The pearls divide the orb into three
sections, which represent the three continents the medieval rulers
believed existed. The orb weighs 1.32 kg (roughly 43 oz).
Charles II spent £1,150 to have this
single piece created by Royal goldsmith Robert Viner, after Oliver
Cromwell melted down the Crown Jewels during the Interregnum of
1649-1660; Garrard fitted the stones. Originally, the orb was decorated
with imitation pearls but these were replaced in 1930; it has been used
at every coronation since.
Taken from the Royal Collection Trust’s
website, the orb is described as follows: “The monde [the attachment
between the cross and the sphere] is an octagonal step-cut amethyst,
surmounted by a cross set with rose-cut diamonds, with a table-cut
sapphire in the centre on one side and an emerald on the other, and with
pearls at the angles and at the end of each arm.
“…clusters of emeralds, rubies and
sapphires [are] surrounded by rose-cut diamonds, each in a champleve
enamel mount, between single rows of pearls.”
Royal Rewind: The Queen’s Coronation in 1952
It is presented to the Sovereign after
they wear the Imperial Robe. The orb is brought from the altar by the
Dean of Westminster, and given to the Archbishop of Canterbury, to place
into the Monarch’s right hand. There he says: “Receive this orb set
under the cross, and remember that the whole world is subject to the
Power and Empire of Christ our Redeemer.”
The Sovereign’s Sceptre:
The Sovereign’s sceptre is one of two
sceptres used in the coronation ceremony, and is also known as the
Sovereign’s sceptre with the cross, representing the temporal power of
The King or Queen, and is associated with good governance.
Measuring 92 cm, the sceptre holds the
world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan I, also known as the First Star of
Africa. Found in South Africa in 1905, then gifted to Edward VII in
1907 to help mend relations between Britain and South Africa after the
Boer War; then it was cleaved in Amsterdam, eventually into 9 parts, and
97 smaller brilliant diamonds. The largest part – a whopping 530 carats
– was set into the sceptre in 1910, and used at George V’s coronation.
The gold rod is comprised of three
sections,with the magnificent Cullinan stone atop, supported in
an enamelled heart-shaped structure. “This structure is surmounted by
enamelled brackets mounted with step-cut emeralds, and by a faceted
amethyst monde,” describes the Royal Collection, “set with table and
rose-cut diamonds, rubies, spinels and emeralds, with a cross above set
with further diamonds, with a table-cut diamond on the front, and an
emerald on the reverse.
“The structure which holds the diamond
is hinged so that the stone may be removed and worn separately, although
this has been done rarely. The sceptre also had to be reinforced as the
weight of the diamond is so large.
“Beneath the Cullinan diamond [and above
the blue enamel band] are further enamelled brackets, representing a
crown, mounted with rubies and diamonds.”
The pommel (hilt) of the sceptre is also
enamelled and mounted with rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds,
and George IV had an enamelled rose, thistle and shamrock were all added
to the monde for his coronation in 1820.
The sceptre weighs 1.1kg and was also
created by Robert Viner with help from Garrard. It is placed into the
left hand of the Monarch during their coronation, and carried out of the
ceremony with the orb, whilst the Sovereign wears the Imperial Robe and
the Imperial State Crown (St Edward’s Crown is returned immediately to
its box and home at the Tower of London).
All parts of the Crown Jewels are kept safely in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, along with the Queen Consort’s counterparts to all the Sovereign’s regalia. They can be visited year-round – get tickets to the Tower here.
