Coronation jewels, regalia provide dazzle, link with ancient past

The coronation of King Charles III will showcase unusual relics and the world's finest jewels, which not only bedazzle but provide a physical and symbolic link with the ancient past.

Here are some items to look out for:

The St Edward's Crown - the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels - will be placed on Charles's head during the ceremony.

Used only for coronations, it was last worn in 1953 by his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The crown was made for the coronation of the king's namesake, Charles II, in 1661.

The solid gold crown is set with semi-precious stones, including rubies, amethysts and sapphires.

It is trimmed with a purple velvet cap hemmed with an ermine band and features four crosses-pattee and four fleurs-de-lis.

"It's really a sacred symbol of the authority of monarchy," Eddie LeVian, chief executive at jewelry brand Le Vian, told AFP.

"Many people have accumulated wealth and try to buy the best of everything," he added.

"But those people can never get their hands on this quality of rubies and sapphires."

The crown, which has recently been resized to fit Charles's head, weighs more than two kilograms (nearly five pounds).

The king will also wear the Imperial State Crown, which was last seen at the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September last year.

Created in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI, Elizabeth's father, it is also used at the State Opening of Parliament.

Weighing 1.06 kg and measuring 31.5 centimeters (12.4 inches) in height, it is set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls and four rubies.

The crown includes the Cullinan II diamond, the second-largest stone cut from the Cullinan diamond, which the Royal Collection...