Why see them?
They are a working collection
- They are the greatest working collection of Crown Jewels in the world and priceless symbols of British monarchy (watch for the ‘in use’ signs).
They include the world’s most famous diamonds
- The enormous Cullinan I and the notorious Koh-i-Noor are part of the collection that numbers 23,578 in total.
Stop, thief!
The Crown Jewels were nearly stolen in 1671. The dashing and impudent Irishman Colonel Blood almost carried out a successful raid on the Jewel House.
Having knocked the Jewel House keeper on the head with a mallet, he squashed the arches of Charles II’s state crown so as to hide it under his cloak.
He was only discovered at the last moment.
