King Edward deposited his Royal ornaments for safe-keeping in Westminster Abbey. It is believed that he was the first monarch to assemble a royal regalia. In 1649 Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Realm, ordered that the regalia be broken up as he claimed they were a symbol of the 'detestable rule of kings'. The precious stones were sold separately and the gold and silver was sent to the Mint to be coined. Records of the old regalia survived however, and replacements were made for Charles II's coronation in 1661. It is believed that parts of the crown and the gold it was made from, came from the original Crown of Edward the Confessor and for this reason it is now known as St Edward's Crown.
The crown, being of solid gold weighs nearly 5 lbs and in 1911 it was permanently set with 444 semi-precious stones, diamonds, pearls and gems.