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Crown, Orb, and Sceptre Relive Monarchy Glory

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By Lillian Zheng

September 20, 2022
3:32 pm
Los Angeles, CA

"If you’ve been waiting for an invitation, this calligraphy is it. Commissioned by Facebook, this is a hand-lettered design for a poster. Quote is Facebook mine "

- Massimo Vignelli

When the royal jeweler removed the Crown, Orb, and Sceptre from Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, the simple ritual left even the most senior royals and ceremonial clergies in awe. During Queen Elizabeth’s committal service at St. George’s Chapel on September 19, 2022, the world relived once more this mighty tradition. The Queen received the Crown, Orb, and Sceptre, the instruments of State, at her Coronation. As she lay in waiting, these treasures, the symbols of worldly power, were collected back by the Dean of Windsor, thus formally marking the end of Elizabeth’s 70-year reign. The power of purity and grandeur bestowed on the Queen through these jewels were demonstrated fully through the service. Yet the majority of the population may have just been learning of this traditional farewell for

The Queen received the Crown, Orb, and Sceptre, the instruments of State, at her Coronation. As she lay in waiting, these treasures, the symbols of worldly power, were collected back by the Dean of Windsor, thus formally marking the end of Elizabeth’s 70-year reign. The power of purity and grandeur bestowed on the Queen through these jewels were demonstrated fully through the service. Yet the majority of the population may have just been learning of this traditional farewell for the first time. The last one occurred with King George VI’s death in 1952.

No other jeweler has such a privilege to transfer these very royal treasures from the Queen’s coffin. Under the eyes of world dignitaries and royal families, his meticulous movements allowed no mistakes, the royal jeweler performed the most symbolic episode during the Queen’s farewell. This sobering and divine ritual captured not just eyes but also engaged the souls inside the silent Chapel.

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, is carried from her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey in London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022.

As the royal jeweler held his breath to remove the last jewel, the Crown, the stunned royal audience, the Queen’s family, and world dignitaries could not take their eyes off it. As BBC’s anchor read: The Imperial State Crown, Archbishop of Canterbury placed on her [Queen Elizabeth II] head in Westminster Abbey, with the words: ‘May She be filled with abundant grace and princely virtues.’

Indeed, that very blessing had given Elizabeth 70 years of constitutional rule in modern Britain and marveled through social turbulence and world changes, stabilized Britain’s commonwealth territory, and quietly revived the British Monarchy.

With her devotion, she made the oath on her 21st birthday, to give her whole life to serve her country. She practiced calmly and steadily with her humble nature and religious faith.

Though she was rich, she wasn’t proud; she was beautiful but paid attention to others, and her life could be as luxurious as any billionaire. Still, she spent most of her leisure time in the countryside with nature and animals. She could be surrounded by social elites like other leaders, but her off-duty time spent well with her families, and she was always the first to visit troubled communities and be with her people when they needed her. That’s why everyone is moved by her passing, and even the world most powerful leaders struggled to secure a seat at her state funeral.

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre, is carried by the Bearer Party the royal family look on (front row) King Charles III, the Queen Consort, the Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex, the Countess of Wessex, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall, (second row) the Duke of Sussex, the Duchess of Sussex, Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie, Sarah, Duchess of York, the Earl of Snowdon, Viscount Linley and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones (third row) Samuel Chatto, Arthur Chatto, Lady Sarah Chatto, Daniel Chatto, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent, the Earl and Countess of St Andrews, Edward Windsor Lord Downpatrick, Lady Amelia Windsor and Lady Marina Windsor during the State Funeral at Westminster Abbey in London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022.

On Monday, September 19, 2022, as the head of states from 90 countries gathered inside Westminster Abbey for the Queen’s state funeral, those most powerful of people found themselves sat behind the succession of British royalty and the Queen’s long-serving staff and friends. All could not drive in their own cars but arrived by coach pool. That experience might also be once in a lifetime experience for these social elites. Only US President Biden and his wife were transported by their armored limousine at the very end. When they came in, the Biden couple were placed in the far back 14 rows. Evidentially, the seating was arranged by royal ranks and social virtues, money and power could not influence this sacred occasion. In fact, they shall appreciate that their participation of this humble congregation which wasn’t designed as a typical political photo op, nor for celebrities to engage their social followers.

Queen Elizabeth II united the world in mourning since her passing. Generational Britons have come together to recollect their relations with the Queen. While hundreds of thousands of people stood along the streets to say goodbye to their beloved Queen, thousands of soldiers and army men performed their best throughout the funeral procession from Westminster Abbey to Windsor Castle. And the royal family did not forget the other members of the Queen’s family: her pony, Emma, and her corgis Sandy and Muick have been standing by at the ground of Windsor Castle to await their owner’s last homecoming.

The Queen’s two corgis, Muick and Sandy, are seen during the Ceremonial Procession through Windsor Castle to a Committal Service at St George’s Chapel. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022.

The Queen’s intense and elaborate funeral services performed during the last ten days were new to most of our current generations. Still, they are also easily understood and connected with. These old traditions refreshed our interpretation of the Queen and Monarchy, and how Elizabeth cultivated throughout her life in Britain and elsewhere, and the world witnessed simultaneously on TV and online.

If the past ten-day national mourning is a grand parade of British traditions with royal pageantry, the final separation of the Crown, Orb, and Sceptre from Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin would be a showcase of the given power of the Monarchy and the divine will that lies beneath Elizabeth’s devotional lifelong service to her people.

The Crown, Orb, and Sceptre do not belong to Queen Elizabeth II nor to her family, they are part of the Monarchical system, which Britain once again practiced its tradition faithfully and diligently. That engaged, connected, and inspired everyone in Britain and elsewhere. During times of conflicts, wars, and chaotic modern transitions, Queen Elizabeth II has demonstrated the best of Monarchy through her reign. Now, she faultlessly concluded her duty, and left the most magnificent Monarchy to our modern world.