Short answers, pulled from the story.
The original St Edward's Crown was destroyed in 1649 when Parliament ordered it to be melted down into coinage. This act of iconoclasm erased the monarchy's physical symbols and ended the era where regalia were treated as sacred objects.
Historical claims state that Alfred the Great was the first monarch to wear the crown, though this belief lacks historical evidence. The 13th-century historian Robert of Gloucester claimed Alfred was crowned by Pope Leo IV during his visit to Rome in 853.
The current St Edward's Crown weighs 2.23 kilograms and stands 30 centimeters tall. This weight was a significant factor in its replacement by lighter crowns for most coronations since 1689.
Sir Robert Vyner crafted the new St Edward's Crown for the coronation of Charles II in 1660. The new crown featured a heavy gold base and clusters of semi-precious stones with distinctly Baroque arches.
The 444 precious and fine gemstones were permanently set into the St Edward's Crown in 1911 for the coronation of George V. These stones include 345 rose-cut aquamarines, 37 white topazes, and 27 tourmalines.
The St Edward's Crown was used to crown George V in 1911, George VI in 1937, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and Charles III in 2023. The crown was modified to fit George V, reducing its weight from 2.54 kilograms to 2.23 kilograms.