Crowning Wisdom: Queen Adelaide

The Crown of Queen Adelaide, wife of King William IV, was made because she had a dislike of the existing regalia available for the 1831 coronation. This was not just extravagance on her part; existing royal crowns from the seventeenth-century were considered too theatrical and were sometimes falling apart on account of age. Commissioning a new crown seems a huge expense when William and Adelaide’s coronation was deliberately intended to be inexpensive, a stark contrast to their predecessor's, George IV. William spent a mere £30,000 compared to his late brother’s £240,000. The Queen’s new crown was part of this cost, although its jewels were taken from the existing collection and were removed and repurposed soon afterward. Our current queen, Camilla, is the first modern consort to have used an existing crown rather than commissioning one of her own, which is cheaper still.

I cannot be certain whether we believers will literally wear crowns in the Kingdom of Heaven or whether they are merely symbolic for the exalted status and honour we shall be afforded. The cost of such honour, crowned or crownless, is incredibly expensive, but not for the British taxpayer; our crowns and robes were purchased by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus. His brow wore thorns that ours might wear dignity; He ‘became nothing’, that we, by grace alone, might be receive a glory that we do not deserve.

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands. Hebrews 2:7

A. D