Crowning Wisdom: Queen of Bavaria

This beautiful crown was made for Caroline of Baden, the first Queen consort of Bavaria, who reigned from 1806 to 1825. She died in 1841, and her funeral was conducted with minimal royal dignity by order of the Romanist Archbishop of Munich, who decreed that all participating Catholic clergy wear plain dress rather than the more usual, colourful vestments. Protestant clergy were prevented from entering the church, such was his disregard for the Protestant royal. 

Ironically, this shameful behaviour softened Caroline's stepson, Ludwig I of Bavaria, towards Protestantism despite his fervent commitment to the Church of Rome. Of course this meant little to Queen Caroline, who lost one crown only to gain one of greater value (we trust). Better to be loathed by the world and loved by heaven; better to forfeit a crown of gold and receive a crown from Christ.

The crown of the wise is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is folly. Proverbs 14:24, NKJV