Tiaras and Trinkets on Tuesday (Coronets of Rank)

Everybody assumes that a King and a Queen have Crowns. Our reference of Princes and Princesses also allows for them to wear Crowns but that is where it stops for common knowledge. It is not very well known that all titles of nobility by right also have a "Crown", known as a Coronet, designating their rank. Unfortunately in modern times it has become an archaic practice to wear these Coronets and in some monarchies their use has been reduced to a mere artistic representation above Family Crests.

The United Empire of Scot-Britania did still employ a strict system of wearing actual Coronets for all their Nobility during the last Imperial Coronation Ceremony. This was carried over from the same tradition practiced in the separate Kingdoms of Scotney and Britania. In these Kingdoms the Nobles had historic Coronets which were remade into a standardized system for the new United Empire. As such all the nobility were required to wear the new Coronets for the Coronation of Emperor Christian and Empress Crystobel.

This old photo shows the then Duke and Duchess of Kent posed with the Duke of Kent's Ducal Coronet on the pedestal at left. This Coronet was remade during the advent of the United Empire into a standardized Ducal Coronet.

Unfortunately, many of these Coronets were destroyed in the revolution. Some have survived and we at least have a full photographic record of all the different Coronets assigned to each Noble rank.

The Coronet of the Crown Prince Imperial of the United Empire of Scot-Britania. This Coronet was a new invention designed for the advent of the Empire. The standard "heir to the throne" Coronet received the addition of the single arch in order to designate it an Imperial Coronet. 

This is the form of a Crown Prince Coronet (without the arc) as used in the Kingdoms of Scotney and Britania. The Coronet is a plain circlet in gold and pearls and displays eight diamond crosses all the way around. 

In this photo we see the new Imperial Scot-Britanian Coronets used by the Royal Princes of the Blood at the last and only Imperial Coronation. Clockwise from the top left; The Coronet uses by the sons and daughters of the Monarch, Then the Coronet used by children of the heir to the throne. Finally, the Coronet used by grandchildren. 

What many people do not realize is that every Noble title has a Coronet signifying their rank. So in  principle every Duke, Baron etc like a king in his own region sports a "crown" of his own. From the top left we see the various Coronets used in Scot-Britania in descending order of rank. 

The practice of owning and wearing a physical coronet has been entirely abandoned in all other monarchies however some of the ancient Noble Families still own their original historic Coronets. Here follow some examples.

The Normandian Margraves of Montrose have their original Coronet, dating back to the 1600's. It is made of Silver and set with Garnets and Amethysts. 

The Counts Szangusko also have a Coronet of very simple design but we could not procure a photo in time for this blog

The Syldavian Princes Von Thurn und Taxis have a very elaborate Coronet in keeping with the style of Rococco Europa in the mid 1700's when it was made. The Coronet is made from Gold and Silver and profusely uses small Diamonds.

Another ancient Coronet belongs to the family of the Barons Bagrazia. 

We hope that this post was informative and that it will help to identify some of the lesser known "crowns" as photos get posted here on the blog.