Norwegian Crown Jewels

While no longer used for coronations, we take a look at the Norwegian Crown Jewels as a new monarch takes the throne in Norway.

The last Norwegian monarchs to be crowned were King Haakon VII and Queen Maud in 1906. The monarchs that followed were not crowned and did not don the jewels during their reigns. They are put on display for funerals and consecrations.

The Royal Crown of Norway, the Sword of State and the Royal Sceptre and Orb were taken to Oslo following the death of King Harald and are on display while he is lying in state in the Palace Chapel. They will then be taken to Oslo Cathedral for the funeral.

The regalia dates back to 1818 when King Carl III Johan (born Jean Baptiste Bernadotte) was named King of Sweden and Norway. Earlier Norwegian crown jewels have been lost to history, and not much is known about them.

The Norwegian Crown Jewels consist of nine items: King’s Crown, Queen’s Crown, Sword of the Realm, King’s Sceptre, King’s Orb, Queen’s Sceptre, Queen’s Orb, the Crown Prince’s Coronet, and the Anointing Horn.

The King’s Crown. By Olaf Martin Peder Væring – Digitalt Museum, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

The collection also includes the thrones, banners, and garments.

The King’s Crown was made in Stockholm by Olof Wihlborg and is made of 20-carat gold. It’s encrusted with pearls, amethysts, chrysoprases, a topaz and an alexandrite.

The Queen’s Crown was modelled after the Swedish Queen Consort’s crown and created by Erik Lundberg. It also includes amethysts, topazes, chrysoprases, and pearls.

The Sword of the Realm has oak leaves engraved on the bronze scabbard, hilt and grip. Legend states that it was a gift to King Carl III Johan from French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

The King’s Sceptre is a 75 cm rod of gilt silver that was made in Stockholm by Adolf Zethelius. Like the sword, oak leaves are engraved, as well as roses.

The sceptres and orbs of the King and the Queen and anointing horn. By Olaf Martin Peder Væring – Norwegian Museum of Cultural History: accession number NF.04562-005, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

The Queen’s Sceptre has four rows of five faceted oval amethysts and is made of a 70 cm rod of gilt silver. Acanthus leaves are embossed on the grip.

The King’s Orb is made of gilt silver and decorated with small roses. A miniature orb and cross sit on the top.

The Queen’s Orb, like the King’s, is made of gilt silver and is set with faceted amethysts. A small pearl cross is placed on the top with a miniature blue enamelled orb.

The Anointing Horn is made of gilt silver with an upturned form. Modelled off its Swedish counterpart, it has an open end closed with an acorn-topped chain lid.

The Crown Prince’s Coronet was made in Norway by Herman Colbjørnsen Øyset in 1846. Its design is based on a crown from the Middle Ages. It has multiple spikes and a green peridot, freshwater pearls, and an amethyst.

The Crown Jewels can be viewed in the Archbishop’s Palace in Trondheim, where they are on permanent exhibit.