St Edward's Crown Gets First Outing In 60 Years

The St Edward's Crown with which the Queen was crowned will today be removed from the Tower of London for the first time since 1953.

The solid gold crown will symbolically rest on the High Altar of Westminster Abbey during the Coronation Service attended by the Queen and more than 20 members of her family.

The Duke of Cambridge and a heavily pregnant Duchess of Cambridge will also be among the 2,000-strong congregation. It's the first time they have attended a public event at the Abbey since they were married there two years ago.

Prince Harry, the Duke of York, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall will also attend.

Designed to reflect the original Coronation, the service has been divided into the Recognition, Anointing, Homage and Thanksgiving.

And as the Queen arrives at the Abbey, the Choir will sing Psalm 122 - "I Was Glad" - just as it did 60 years ago.

The Queen was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury on June 2, 1953, before a congregation of more than 8,000 invited guests.

Weighing 2.23kg (nearly 5lb), the St Edward's Crown is the heaviest crown in the collection of Crown Jewels.

Dr Geoffrey Fisher placed it on the monarch's head and later recalled: "By a glance she indicated it was steady."

The crown was made for the coronation of Charles II in 1661 and was a replacement for the medieval crown which was melted down on the orders of Oliver Cromwell in 1649.

The Dean of Westminster, the Very Rev Dr John Hall, will conduct the service, while the new Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby will give the address.

Prime Minister David Cameron is to give a reading, as will the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma.

After the service the Queen and members of the royal family will attend a private lunch in College Hall.