its
eclipse by the Cullinan Diamond, the chief gem ornamenting the crown
was a ruby, valued according to an estimate at about $500,000; this
famous gem is the one presented to the Black Prince by Spain, in the
year 1367, and was worn by Henry V. in his helmet at the battle of
Agincourt.
The
royal regalia are safely deposited in a chamber of the Wakefield Tower
in the Tower of London. The valuable addition resulting from the
partitions of the Cullinan Diamond added nothing to the precautions
against theft which previously existed. The crown jewels are thoroughly
lighted and guarded by night and by day, never, for an instant, being
exempt from the scrutiny of armed and uniformed gentries. The jewels
are kept in a glass case within a double cage of steel, and cleaned
semiannually under the supervision of high officers of the British
realm. The Cullinan Diamonds were on November 1, 1908, delivered to
their Majesties, King Edward and Queen Alexandra, at Windsor Castle by
Mr. Joseph Asscher of the Amsterdam firm which successfully cut the
famous stone. Two secret service men of the Holland government,
accompanied by several Scotland Yard detectives, guarded Mr. Asscher's
