The Crown Jewels have often been called "the finest jewelry collection in the world." This book provides a dazzling mix of art and photography with entirely new views plus spectacular details. Individual pieces, gems, and carefully selected groups of objects: the royal jewels can be seen here as never before.<br /><br />The priceless objects in the collection were created to be the physical embodiment of English sovereignty, and their story is that of the English monarchy itself-from the spoon used to pour out the holy oil of St. Thomas Becket at the coronation to the crown that King Edward VIII took into exile after he abdicated in 1936. In addition to the specially taken photographs of the jewels there are paintings and photographs of monarchs wearing the regalia, coronation ceremonies, and royal events during which items from the collection are used.<br /><br />The Crown Jewels are visited at the Tower of London by more than two million people each year. Based on original research and written by an expert in English court history, this is the definitive record of a most remarkable collection.