Click to see the full image

Click to see the full image. Photo: Alexis Daflos

Lovisa Ulrika's Royal Crown

The queen replaced the 40 largest diamonds with cut Swedish rock crystal. She then pawned the diamonds to fund the coup d'état that was being planned to strengthen the royal power.

The coup d'état failed, and the Queen had to retrieve the diamonds, now back on the crown, under somewhat awkward circumstances.

The crown can be seen at the Treasury at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, and the hat can be seen at the Royal Armoury.

FACTS
Made by: Swedish goldsmith Andreas Almgren, to a design by architect Jean Eric Rehn.

Material: Silver with gilded inside and set with diamonds.

Year: Produced in 1751 in Stockholm