The crown jewels are some of the most iconic and valuable objects associated with the British monarchy. They consist of regalia, vestments, and jewels that are worn or used by the monarchs during coronation ceremonies and other important state events. Given their immense material and symbolic value, the question arises – could the Queen legally sell the crown jewels if she wanted to?
Quick Answers
The short answer is no, the Queen cannot sell the crown jewels. Here are some key points:
- The crown jewels do not personally belong to the monarch – they are part of the Royal Collection which belongs to the nation.
- Parliament passed the Crown Jewels Act in the 14th century which made it illegal for the monarch to permanently sell or pledge the jewels.
- The Queen holds the jewels in trust for her successors and for the nation – she does not own them in a private capacity.
- Selling parts of the crown jewels would require an Act of Parliament – something highly unlikely to happen.
- The Queen is guardian of the jewels but cannot treat them as private property.
So in summary – the Queen does not have legal authority to sell the crown jewels which are protected by law and held in trust for the nation.
The Nature of the Crown Jewels
To fully understand why the Queen cannot sell the crown jewels, it is important to first understand the nature of the crown jewels and what they represent. Here are some key characteristics:
- The crown jewels are royal regalia – material objects used in the monarchy’s ceremonies and functions.
- They are made up of crowns, orbs, swords, rings, sceptres and other objects used in coronations.
- Most of the regalia dates back hundreds of years and is associated with monarchical tradition.
- The regalia are decorated with precious stones including diamonds, sapphires, rubies and pearls.
- They represent the continuity and authority of the monarchy.
- They do not personally belong to each monarch but are passed down from one generation to the next.
From this we can see that the crown jewels are not the private property of the Queen – they are part of the heritage of the monarchy itself and are of great national importance.
Key Individual Crown Jewels
Some of the most iconic individual items that make up the crown jewels include:
- St Edward’s Crown – the crown placed on the monarch’s head at the moment of coronation. It dates back to 1661.
- The Imperial State Crown – worn after coronation and at the annual State Opening of Parliament.
- The Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross – held at moment of coronation.
- The Royal Sceptre – also held when being crowned.
- The Imperial Crown of India – contains over 6000 diamonds and was made in 1911.
These give a taste of the most important objects within the collection of crown jewels that have deep significance for the monarchy.
Legal Status of the Crown Jewels
The core reason the Queen cannot sell the crown jewels is because of their special legal status. The main elements are:
- They are part of the Royal Collection which is held in trust by the monarch for the nation.
- The Queen does not personally own the crown jewels – she cannot dispose of cultural items in the Royal Collection as she chooses.
- Parliament passed the Crown Jewels Act in 1328 which made it illegal for the monarch to permanently sell or pledge the jewels.
- They are not private heirlooms – the Queen must pass them down intact to her successors.
- Altering or selling the crown jewels would require an Act of Parliament.
Therefore, the Queen’s hands are tied by both legislation and tradition. She has no legal right to sell of parts of the crown jewels as they are not her private property.
The Crown Jewels Act 1328
The key legislation governing the status of the crown jewels is the Crown Jewels Act 1328 passed during the reign of Edward III. Some key facts:
- It came about due to Edward II pledging some crown jewels as security on loans.
- The Act prohibited the monarch from permanently selling or pledging any part of the regalia.
- It placed the crown jewels legally in the category of heirlooms belonging to the nation.
- It stated the jewels should remain in the possession of the monarch to be passed down intact.
- The purpose was to maintain the dignity of the crown jewels for perpetuity.
This key legislation means the Queen would require repeal of this long-standing Act before she could dispose of any items of the crown jewels.
The Queen’s Powers and Privileges
As monarch, the Queen does enjoy various powers and privileges. But these do not enable her to sell national heirlooms like the crown jewels. Some points on this:
- The Queen cannot veto legislation passed by Parliament, so cannot block repeal of the 1328 Act.
- She cannot by herself pass an Act allowing sale of the jewels.
- Her role requires preservation of the crown jewels for her successors.
- Her powers come with restrictions when it comes to cultural preservation.
- She can temporarily lend out items of the jewels but not dispose of them.
So in the end, the Queen’s role is as guardian and trustee of the crown jewels on behalf of the nation. She has no legal authority or personal right to sell parts of the historic royal regalia.
Symbolic Significance
Beyond the law, the crown jewels also have deep symbolic significance that provides further barriers to any sale by the Queen:
- They represent continuity and stability of the British monarchy.
- They are part of the monarchical tradition and heritage.
- They are a historic reminder of past kings and queens.
- They represent national identity of tradition stretching back centuries.
- Sale would provoke controversy as a break with history and tradition.
With this symbolic importance, any sale of the crown jewels would attract major criticism as undermining national heritage. This means it is highly unlikely any government would propose or agree to a sale.
Tourism Revenue
The crown jewels also attract significant tourism revenue that may be jeopardized by a sale:
- Millions visit the Tower of London each year to see the jewels.
- In 2018, over 2.8 million people visited the crown jewels at the Tower.
- The entrance fees and sales from exhibitions generate major income.
- Symbolically removing parts of the jewels could deter tourists.
- The UK government would not want to lose this revenue stream.
This income generation provides further disincentive for any policy change to allow sale of the crown jewels.
Could an Act of Parliament Enable Sale?
Given these barriers, could the Queen legally sell the crown jewels if an Act of Parliament was passed to allow or compel her to do so? Some points on this scenario:
- Parliament is sovereign and could in theory pass an Act approving sale of the jewels.
- This would overrule the 1328 Crown Jewels Act.
- Passing such an Act may require a referendum due to the sensitivity.
- It is highly unlikely Parliament would ever propose or approve such an Act.
- There would need to an exceptional circumstances to even consider this.
- It could provoke a constitutional crisis between the monarch and Parliament.
Overall, the chances of Parliament taking the drastic step of facilitating the sale of the crown jewels remains extremely remote. There would need to be hugely compelling political reasons to make such a controversial change to centuries of tradition around the regalia.
Conclusion
The Queen has no legal right to sell the crown jewels which are held in a public trust for the nation. Parliament has protected the jewels from sale for centuries and this is highly unlikely ever to change. The immensity of the constitutional and political barriers make any sale practically impossible under normal circumstances. While situations may arise where Parliament might consider a partial sale, this remains entirely theoretical. For all intents and purposes, the crown jewels are inalienable symbols of the heritage and dignity of the British monarchy.